The MOTHER

It was the mid of a long, oven-hot June day. A girl with a patch over her eye and a boy with a plaster on his left leg were waiting for their turn in the hospital ward.  As she came out from hospital holding her pregnancy reports in hands, a board of family planning was glaring at one’s face with its standard logo; ‘Hum Do, Hamare Do.’ Another board was showing all the important information required to have various vaccinations for various diseases or check-ups along with the appropriate schedule for a healthy child.

In scorching heat, she unlocked the blue-colored umbrella and licked her dried lips. Feeling thirsty, she went to a cold-drink vendor just outside the hospital and ordered for a shikanji (lemonade) with strong masala. She sat on the empty bench with her back to the faded wall. For 5 solid seconds, she observed the surrounding like a spy would do in an emergency-like situation. Her eyes stuck on a lady cuddling her baby girl. She gave a polite motherly smile to the baby girl, secretly wanting to take the baby in her hands and play with her.  

Her dream was on the way to come true. The pregnancy report was positive. Her two-month pregnancy was confirmed by doctor today. She wanted to relish every bit of these moments. She was eager to have the small wonder (of joy) of her life in her arms. Tears welled up in her eyes.

After all she only knew how her whole existence depended on the motherhood. She always loved kids. People want to be Doctor, Engineer, Pilot, Scientists and so on, but she always wanted to be a mother. She was full of maternal love and affection for other kids, even when she was not married.

Three and half years back, she married to Vishal. It was a perfect match. She was a beauty-with-brain kind of personality. An all-rounder in sports and study from her college days, she was having everything, a man could die for. On the other hand, Vishal too was a handsome, intelligent and well-settled guy, overall a lively individual. Everyone was happy to see the perfect couple.

Life was beautiful and even more beautiful for both of them to experience it together. She always had a naughty smile on her face while imagining how she would tease Vishal during her pregnancy months and would make him do small-small things for her; she would just chill and use this to her advantage. "Darling, can you get me a glass of water..?" "...Sweetheart, can you hand me that pillow..." "Love.......Better do it for me! I got your baby inside me!" hahahahaha…J

First two years passed in a blink. Life was rocking on all fronts, both professionally and personally. She was working as an English professor in D.A.V. College and Vishal was promoted to the Assistant Vice President post in his company.  Now she wanted to start the family. Everything was perfect to start the family, great bonding, parental maturity, financially sound position. ‘What more you want?’ she asked Vishal.

However Vishal was not too keen on children. He insisted on enjoying life with each-other without having children. Initially, she accepted his view as a temporary solution to momentary arguments.  But gradually, these arguments started converting into prolonged fights and they would go on without any verbal or even eye-to-eye communication for several days. A feeling of strong void was creeping in her heart. She was incomplete without motherhood.

One day, she had a helluva of fight with Vishal. Vishal told her that he had made his choice long ago of not having children. She could see her world tumbling before her like a house of cards. She was unable to accept the hard truth of her life! Tears sprang to her eyes. She wept the whole night alone hiding her face in the pillow. 

She had so many dreams for her child. She would give her baby everything.  She would do anything to make the unborn baby happy. After all, mother’s love for her child is totally unconditional and purest in the world, isn’t it? There is something divine that keeps a mother lovingly devoted to her children for a lifetime. A mother's constant love becomes the bedrock of security for her children, she knew this too well. A mother's relationship with her child begins with love, continues with love, and ends one day on earth with love only.

And now, those dreams were near to fulfill. She was pregnant herself. She could feel the frustrating void was gone. She could sense the flowers, chocolates, teddy bears, toys, delivery pain and last but not least, the joy of having her own child. Who says that dreams didn’t come true! There was a pleasant quality of despair to that joy.

Doesn’t matter if Vishal didn’t want this child! Doesn’t matter if he was not the father of her child! She knew that is what she wanted! She was complete today! She was a MOTHER today!