LIVING IS CONSTANT LEARNING! MAY 2011

Dear Manna, I don't know whether you will read this,because, in UR very BZ life,you may not find the time,or,perhaps you won't think it worthwhile, to spend it, on the musings an 'OLD' person.Specially UR mother!It is a strange fact of life, that most children, think their mothers to be,someone necessary around the house,but never think of her as a person,an individual,who has dreams,hopes,aspirations,and capabilities, beyond household work.Who loves her home,and family above ALL else,but also,loves to live her life,according to her vision,and is actually a very multi-faceted person.Anyway,instead of ranting,I will come straight to the point of my effort today.You have helped, me sort out a situation in my life,which was giving me a lot of worry,and I just didn't know what to do.But you have shown me the way,and I am really happy.I'm back on the rails once again.

After I shifted to Aundh,going for a walk had become a nightmare.This is a new,upcoming area,so there is a lot of construction going on, everywhere.There are no pavements,one has to walk on the roads,where the traffic is very heavy,being the Bombay-Pune highway.Having spent 32 years opposite the beautiful Kamala Nehru Park,was making it more miserable.There, I used to go for my walk around 9-30 AM,and loved every moment.The huge trees provided cool shade,so I could enjoy walking.But how was I going to sort this out here?In the evenings, it is impossible to walk anywhere, because of crowds,heavy traffic,and, because I live alone,for which I am the cynosure of all eyes,I didn't feel like doing it.But,not being able to go for a walk,was making me miserable.
But, my dear, you showed me the way,and I've learnt an important lesson from my child.You must be wondering what I'm raving,and ranting about?(MOTHER'S!) From early childhood,you've always been an ardent sports person,skilled at many,and enjoyed exercising.And you have continued that,inspite of a very gruelling skejule,and innumerable committments.Today when I see you, never missing out on UR exercise,no matter what, and whether it is going to the gym,or swimmimg,cycling,jogging,or playing some sport,you will do it,no excuses there.Just like your father!And I'm really proud of you,for being so dedicated about this.Because health IS wealth,no two ways about that.But what lesson have you taught me?

I thought about my problem at length,and wondered what you would have done.And then it clicked!I decided to get up at 5AM,go for a walk around 5-30,walk briskly for 45/50 mins.and return.And I've been doing that, successfully,for some time now.The weather at that time is lovely,very cool,no traffic,no horns blaring,no one coming in the way.Only lovely birds chirping away,and I am perfectly tuned to myself.Its a beautiful feeling.I'm thrilled to have found a way out from a situation that was bothering me,and you have taught me a very valuable lesson. Where there's a will,there's a way,and I've fought all problems, of heat,congested roads,too many people,a suitable timing, and found my way out.I'm happy,and enjoying myself,and I'm sending you a BIIIIIG hug, for showing me the way out.

MOTHER'S DAY, AN ETERNAL CELEBRATION--MAY 2011

Mother's Day is just around the corner,and the western world celebrates this day,with great fervour.In fact,these celebrations were virtually unknown in India, till a few years back,thanks to the publicity done by the card companies.And today, it has become a big occasion,with a lot of hype,and hoopla attached to it.But, I feel, that a mother is a mother, till the end of her days,and she plays her role to perfection,till the end of her days.The age,status,success,name,and fame of her child is totally immaterial,she always looks at him as her child,and nothing else matters,everything is unimportant.And the relationship between a mother and child, is sacred,special,unconditional,constant,and permanent,and it will NEVER change.
Today, Ashis is near 50,thats how the world sees him, also as the smart, hot shot executive,intelligent,capable,holding a good position,in a leading company.But to me, he's the tiny,wriggly baby, I brought home on a very stormy day,and both of us didn't know a thing about babies,how to handle them,or what to do.We learnt as we went along,and love was our only guide,mentor,and trainer.And he started his life, totally dependent on me.When he cried, he looked at me to soothe him,and when happy,he wanted to share it with me.I accompanied him on his first day at school,held him to my heart, to reassure him,and waited outside the classroom door to pick him up,after school,knowing he would feel lost, if he didn't see me.And his eyes were full of tears when he saw me,as if he said,"Why did you leave me here?"

From school to college,and further,he kept taking every step, with great confidence,and academic brilliance,but behind it all,mother and son shared innumerable soft,sweet, touching moments,which are the threads, that bind this very precious, relationship.I was always there, to soothe his fears,give him courage to go in his chosen direction,and applaud him,for his innumerable achievements.And he too,always stood with me,for everything,all the time.I was excited as a child when he got married,thrilled beyond measure when his children were born,enjoyed a lovely comraderie with his wife,and lived my role to the hilt,in all its various colours.He was my son, and I would be with him throughout his life,whenever,and wherever the need.And not only for the need,but because I will always be his mother.

Manna was a very thin,very fair child,with pitch black eyes,born early one morning,in the middle of a huge storm, in Chennai,and I took permission from the doctor, to allow Ashis to stay with me, in the hospital,while his father was away at work, so that he didn't feel lonely,and lost.And he loved his brother.He kept looking at him,wanted to hold him,and was curious as to why he didn't say anything.And then started a relationship that amazed everyone,Ashis was an exemplary elder brother,and mothered Manna, till he left home, for IIM Kolkata,when Manna was almost 18.And a beautiful friendship grew between us.We were very happy being together,and had lots of very enjoyable moments, as well as very tough, tragic ones too.Amid broken bones, hits, hurts, gashes,they grew up,and so did our relationship,and I've always stood with them,at every moment of their lives,watching their success, and also, their problems.But my love for them continues unchanged,unwavering,and is constant.

Today,as I get ready to celebrate Mother's Day,Innumerable little incidents flash before my eyes, like the scenes of a movie,that remind me, of our life together,which is our real strength.And when the world tells me, that they have their own lives,and I should stay away, I only want to say, that no matter where I am, or what I do,I will always be their mother, nothing,or no one ,can change that, and I will happily,proudly, stand up in this role,and celebrate every day as Mother's Day, because once a mother,always a mother.