Mum’s back. And with her
return, the home is crackling with energy again. With warmth, and with smiles.
Radiating life.
Was she gone for just “three
days”!!!! It definitely seemed much longer than that.
All these days, it was
just me, my granny and my disastrous cooking experiments. Beyond that nothing. No
one to talk to, share my heart out and seek guidance. Take inspiration from.
Mum, I was not able to cook
the sweetrice on Basant Panchami properly. Ma, I could not iron dad’s shirt. The
curd did not set properly. Harjas does not eat properly when I cook. And I did
not clean all the rooms. I ran a few errands and missed a few. And this is just
the beginning of the mess I made in her absence.
Every passing moment brought
her return closer. And my relief. But …
Mother was supposed to return
yesterday night. The elections in Punjab played spoilsport. The delay, though only
in hours, seemed an eternity.
And now that she is back, we
are back to being our regular selves. We have all been speaking at same time.
It has been tea and some more tea and some more tea all evening to drive that
travel weariness of hers away. She has been playing Santa all evening,
showering gifts on all of us (yes, me included). Things just keep coming out of
her suitcase. Things she knows we needed. Things we will cherish for all times
to come. And how warm and cozy her lap seems. No pillow can give that kind of
comfort.
Ain’t
no sunshine when she’s gone
It’s
not warm when she’s away
Ain’t
no sunshine when she’s gone
Ain’t
no sunshine when she’s gone
And this
house just ain’t no home
Anytime
she goes away.
And
it says all that I wanted to say but could not.
Love
you, ma. I am so glad to have you around me. All is suddenly bright again.
And
yes thank you for that designer coat, that Archies bracelet and the coffee mug
and the purse … and this life.