Three Little Words

Have you ever been in a situation where you know that just saying the obligatory ‘three little words’ is a must, but it will never be quite enough?

The best examples of these would be:

• “I love you!”

• “I am sorry!”

• “Happy Mother’s Day!”

Well, today, I am in that situation where I will need to say all those three separate sentences together. And hope that the wonderful woman who is my mother, shall forgive me for not having any other ‘real’ plans with her on this Mother’s Day.

Somewhere between my constant travels in the last fortnight, and her impending travels this coming week – the memory of the day slipped by. So, this is me, trying to make up for it, whilst knowing that the words shall fall short, anyway!

Because my mother is indeed, an extraordinary woman.

Every child on Mother’s Day would acknowledge that their mother is the best – but perhaps fewer would say, that their mother is all the family that they really have! (That link will redirect you to an essay I penned earlier this year which shall prove that I say it often.)

Whatever I do, or think, and emulate is consciously or subconsciously because of her. Amusingly, maybe that is why I am always somewhere in between saying ‘I am sorry’ and ‘I love you’ to her.

A strong, competent and compassionate woman to the core – her professional aura, as a career bureaucrat, administrator and manager of numerous things is always something to behold. Personally, she is like a coconut – a tough no-nonsense exterior that shields a soft heart of pure gold.

But what I like best is that she is all mine.

Am so privileged to be her only child, and she my only parent. I would not have had it any other way.

There have been so many critical moments in my life, both as a child and as an adult, when I have realised that if I had any other mother – perhaps my choices would have been far more limited, and my personality an entirely 'someone else'.

Am grateful that she empowers me - Every. Single. Day!

As I write this today, at the ungodly hour of 3.58 am, I recollect this day last year.

It was at the median of India’s brutal second wave of the pandemic. Death was abounding and all around us. Five of our neighbours in Ahmedabad, had passed away and many others were recovering, but with some aspect of their health forever altered.

I remember thinking to myself that - "Life is too short to leave things unsaid! "

So, I penned a few words to my Ma, and also made her a promise that by July 15th, 2021 (my birthday) my blog would go live and I shall begin writing again.

Needless to add, my mother has been a champion of my writing, especially this blog and has advocated that I remain consistent with the habit, irrespective of how my life unfolds.

My mother - my family!

These words were my first attempt at prose-that-could-be-poetry-but-not-quite-there-yet.

There are Mothers…

There are mothers who are strong. Their strength is in their eyes. You can almost see it every single time they make a decision about their child, their time, their work, their home.

There are mothers who are brave. They can step into the darkness. They know just how to reassure you. They make their choices – bold ones, careful ones, strategic ones – but each choice is theirs.

There are mothers who are compassionate. They put everyone else’s needs above their own. They see the hurt and pain, when no one else can. Sometimes, they can even sense it from a thousand miles away.

There are mothers who are just beautiful. They stand tall. They know just what looks good on them. They change into a saree and you see that they could be a whole different person. That lipstick is powerful – that one kajal-flick is the difference between “I have to” and “I simply can.”

There are mothers who are self-reliant. You do not need to define it once you meet them. You know that they navigate their own course – 3 parts hard work, 1-part destiny/fate/luck – whatever you call it.

They do not compromise; they do not dawdle – they just do things and it gets done.

And then there is you. All of the above and a whole lot more. I have stopped trying to define you.

I am thrilled that with each day, you are still becoming a new person.

You are one of the few people whom I know has a capacity to incessantly learn and unlearn.

I am so grateful that I am your daughter.

Wishing you health, peace, love and happiness - always!

Love,

Bugsy (It is what my mother calls me!)

So, in my roster of ‘three little words’ that I would always like to say to my mother – I will add and combine them to say – “There are mothers, and then, there is you!”

Thank you for being my mother – Happy Mother’s Day!

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Warmly,

Chiteisri