Editorial Carnatic Music & Art Humour Travel Music & Art Book Review Mother's Day Special Science Fiction Reflections Poetry Prev Issue Next Issue

Mother's Day - Sunanda Vashisht Sunanda Vashisht was born in the beautiful valley of Kashmir, India when Kashmir was known for its unparalleled natural beauty and not as a cauldron of fear and terror. She did most of her schooling in Delhi and dabbled with several professions before moving to U.S last year. she is currently pursuing higher studies here. she likes to introduce herself as an explorer because she wants to spend all her time in this world exploring unknown. Writing for her is a cathartic experience. She can't remember when she began writing first but she does know that writing has always helped her to be at peace with herself and with the world around her.

Two and a half years ago when I landed in United States, like every immigrant I experienced various things that I had never known or never celebrated back in India. Mother's Day, Father's Day and Thanksgiving were a few holidays I had just read about or heard from my American born Cousins. It really was a big thing for them, rightly so, since they had been raised in this culture.

Initially I didn't know what to make of these holidays. Then some of my friends who were not new FOB'S(fresh off the boat) as I was, suggested that I could begin by calling my mother on Mother's day. ' I call her every Sunday anyway" I retorted. "Well you can call her little longer and also send her a card"., my wise friends suggested. I was little unsure since I knew my mother would think that her daughter has become too Americanized for her liking. So I didn't send the card nor did I wish her Happy Mother's day. I thought it was safe to be indifferent.

Slowly the awkwardness of the FOB wore off and I seemed to be more comfortable in the humungus malls looking for clearance sales and "Buy one get one free Offers'. Mother's day and Father's day became another opportunity to shop since most things I needed were on sale. What more could I ask for. In the meantime I kept arguing the futility of these holidays. 'In India we don't need a Mother's day or a Father's day to tell our parents that we love them. We love them anyway." I would often find myself telling my American Colleagues with a slight sarcastic tone evident in my speech.

Few days ago I strayed into a supermarket to buy some stuff when I chanced on Mother's day cards. I started reading them and was soon filled with a lump in my throat because some of them were so beautifully written. Suddenly I saw a young teenager browsing through the cards and she saw a card in my hand. "I love that one" , isn't it beautiful." I was slightly taken aback because it is quite unusual for a stranger to talk to you in a super market, in this country. I nodded my head and then she asked me again ' Are you buying that?" 'No, I replied "I was just looking. Did you want to buy this one. " 'No, not really I am only browsing," she replied and then I saw her wiping a solitary tear from her eye.

'Are you O.K" I found myself asking her. ' yes. My mother died a few days ago in a rehab center, I have no one to buy this card for" Saying that she walked away and soon disappeared among the crowd. I was shocked for a second. I couldn't believe her. The pain in her eyes was evident and she seemed to be falling apart at such a young age.

I came back to my house with a very heavy heart. I thought about my mother and how I had never even once said "Thank you" to her for everything that she had done for me. Not that I didn't appreciate it but never felt the need to, because at some point we all take our mothers for granted. Just because she was with me every waking minute made me think that she was there all the time. I didn't even once think that she had a life of her own that she was willingly sacrificing to be with me.

She thought nothing of missing some important family occasions to be with me for my exams. She thought nothing of missing her sleep for me when I was sick and couldn't sleep. She was there with me every time I needed her and I never even once said "Thank You" because it never occurred to me that I should thank her for everything.

That's why we need a Mother's Day and a Father's Day to remind us that our parents are special and we must show them that , so that we don't take their love for granted.

This mother's day I plan to say 'Thank You' to my mother for bringing me into this world, for making me the person I am, for giving me the values that define me, for being my mother. I also pray for the teenager in the supermarket who reminded me that we need to say Thank You to our mothers once in a while.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there!

Till we connect again...

View and Post comment on this article