MOTHER IS MATCHLESS

R.D. Bhardwaj
My mom only had one eye. I hated her…. She was such an embarrassment. She was working in a school and cooked for students & teachers to support the family.
There was this that one day during elementary school where my mom came to Say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, ‘EEEE, your mom only has one eye!’ I wanted to hid myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, ‘ If you’re only gonna make me a Laughing stock, why did you go there ?’ My mom did not respond…. I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings.
I wanted run out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadn’t seen me for years and she didn’t even meet her Grandchildren. Infact, she was yearning to see her grand-children. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I also yelled at her for coming over there, uninvited. I screamed at her, ‘How dare you come to my house and scare my Children!’ GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!’ And to this, my mother quietly answered, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,’ And she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old house , just out of curiosity. My neighbours told me that she has died. I was sad but did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.
‘My dearest son, I think of you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your children. I was so glad when I heard that you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I’m sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up. You see……..when you were a little boy, you met with an accident, and lost your eye. The Doctor told me his eye can be rectified, if you manage to get one eye in donation from someone. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up, just with one eye. So I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye….. All mothers love their children and out of love, they can go to any extent. Whatever I have done for you, is just any mother would do for her child. But dear, mothers too yearn for seeking love, respect and some regards from their children…. And I was not so lucky to have that from you …….. Yes! As I am dyeing, I have only one wish…… I want to be reborn ……. not as a mother, but as your daughter….. so as to enable you to bestow all your love and affection on me …… and my yearning and craving for your love gets fulfilled….. No vacuum remains in my heart …….
With all my love to you, and your kids…… Your mother !