Marvellous Mother

“You are finding this funny? Here I am, in this sticky situation, wondering how to face the wrath of my mother, and you feel it’s a big joke! Your mother must be the 'cool as a cucumber' type, but not mine, okay?!” I threw my phone aside, furiously, wondering why all my friends were acting so chilled out about what had happened to me the previous night.

 I was neither frightened nor afraid. My feelings were beyond such words. I could imagine my mother gawking at me with a “Severus Snape” expression when I would tell her the truth. I took a deep breath, and put on a brave front before I went into my mother's room.

“Mom, I need to have a word with you.”

“About what?”- my mom said, raising her eyebrows.

“Ummmm, I have a confession to make.”

 The atmosphere was tense.

I gulped, not knowing how to start.

“Mom, I just need you to know that I realize what a grave mistake I have made. I need you to forgive me for this. I promise that I will not repeat this ever again.” – I was pleading with her as much as I could, but she just sat there, as inanimate as ever. I finally geared up for the dreadful moment.

“Yesterday, when I went out with my friends, we came across this new Lilliputian shop opposite our school, selling candy. All of us decided to treat ourselves to these delectable delicacies. There was a group of youngsters ahead of us who could not stop raving about the candies, and their description of the sweetmeats made our mouths water. We finally made it inside the shop after waiting for about 20 minutes. After we purchased what we wanted, we stepped out, and all of us relished the gummy bears, the peach rings, and of course my favorite Coca Cola candies.”

“Can you stop beating around the bush? Get to the point!” My mom snapped with a killer expression.

“The candies were so lip-smacking. We felt high, on top of the world, almost as if we were invincible. We wished that this “Alice In Wonderland” feeling would last forever. Among all the candies that I have ever tasted, these were by far the best.”

To this, my mom exploded with rage .“Do you realize that these candies were drugged? Do you have any idea about what damage drugs can cause to your health and well-being, and how they can ruin your life? Do you know what your father will do when he hears about this? Do you …….

“But mom they weren’t drugged, we …”

“Stop arguing with me. How many times have I spoken to you about this?”

“Mom at least listen to me. I never …”

“For goodness sake, will you ever learn to accept your mistake and listen to your mother when she tells you something !!”

“Mom !!! Just wait a moment and listen to me !! I have not consumed any drugs !!  Why are you going off on a tangent ?? I haven’t even finished completing what I had to say !! The store from where we purchased the candy is a reputed one , and absolutely no candy was drugged !!  All I wanted to tell you is …..

Is What??

Is that ….. I forgot my Tupperware ‘dabba’ over there.

My mother heaved a sigh of relief, gave me her motherly hug, and exclaimed “Gosh, you scared the life out of me! I was wondering how my own flesh and blood could fall prey to this vice.”

But suddenly I felt the grip of her hug loosen, her arms went down, and fury surged through her once more.

“Do you even know the value of money? How many times have I told you to be more careful about your belongings? Do you think money grows on trees? Wait till I give you your snack in the old plastic box with the broken lid. I am….."

Here I was in the midst of another “usual” where I had to just keep mum and listen to everything from her childhood days in school,to the struggle dad has had to earn for all of us , to learning, to valuing small things in life.

Unlike other times when I would blank out from this monotonous sermon, I somehow listened to every word that she spoke after a long time. Here stood my dear mother in front of me, and in a style unique to all “loving mothers” she just wanted me to understand the merit of responsibility and value.

If love is as sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.

-Veenaaz