MA, THAT was the first thing that came to my mind, as I sat there alone at the platform... dad had just left for my hometown... I was in a new place, a new city…A destination that I had chosen for myself… I thought about a hundred things… about my new hostel... about my internship that was going to begin the next day, and I found myself coming back to Ma…
 
Back at home, I had struggled with her, packing in thing for my stay. In the afternoon, I managed to have a siesta, while my Ma meticulously wrote out a list of things she had packed and what to find where. She had woken me up an hour and a half later, with cookies and a hot cup of tea and we sat down in our garden talking about how fast life moves on. We had then moved over to other things, jumping from topic to topic, talking about a hundred million things.
 
My chain of thoughts got disconnected when I saw a newspaper vendor saying something to me in Kannada. I looked up, tears almost welling in my eyes and hastily bought a magazine from him and realized it was time to move on…
 
By the time I found my way out of the station, it was dark… I hurriedly took an auto and muttered out confidently the new address that I would be unwinding at everyday from now on…
 
On my way back, I wondered about the next day… I reached my hostel and the next morning with a churning stomach and loads of anxiety, reached my new office. I saw people, who quickly metamorphosed into monsters for me but safely and happily I sailed through the day and also through the internship. I learnt a lot. It was no coincidence that I was returning back home on Mother’s Day. My two months away had taught me one very important thing -- as I saw my mom’s pretty face at the platform eagerly waiting to see me, I gave one of my most amazing smiles -- never did I feel more proud. Staying away had taught me how well my Ma had brought us up. Each day, I automatically followed what she had always taught us. Moreso, because in this new city with no one around, I missed my home… and miraculously, Ma’s life’s lessons were a strength for me…

I got up with a smile and no matter how bad the day was, slept with one too…
Ma – my cornerstone, my powerhouse, my cereal and my cuppa coffee, three cheers to you!

Happy Mother’s Day!