Let There be Light: For you

For you

Dropped in by Think Tank at 9:35 PM

Take your time reading this post. I know its long. At least i didn't have the patience o check it for errors ;)

'Wait. Have you put the jacket on? And the sweater? Really the muffler isn't...'
'Cut it Mom, nobody is catching me alive in a muffler. I gotta go.'
She dragged him into a hug. 'Mom,' he said exasperatedly
'SHAR!' Shrill horns and angry rumbles followed. She could almost smell the dust and smoke. He hurried out with as much of a swagger as he could put in a run.
'Be back by nine!' his mother called after him. He grunted, mounted his friend's four lakh luxury rather resentfully and disappeared in the cloud of dust.
His mother worried herself to sleep on the sofa that night. She woke up to the key rattling in the door. She tried to focus her eyes on the wall clock. She figured it was six and her sleep stressed brain dimly registered anger. And a surge of relief. She launched herself on him as he entered.
'It isn't nine yet, you know.'
'God! Mom, i already have a hangover.'
'You! You have a hangover. I nearly died of anxiety and you...,' she spluttered unable to voice the million emotions that swelled up into a heavy tide in her heart.
'I didn't ask you to worry,' he said moving towards his room.
'I'm your MOTHER!' She almost added 'lousy wretch'. Her anger was getting the better of her relief.
'Yeah, I know. Unfortunately i couldn't choose my mother'
The anger evaporated. Every feeling just melted out of her. She bit her lip as her insides crumbled. He walked past her lowering his eyes. He didn't like talking to her that way. But really she tested him. He grumbled in self- righteous anger and dozed off.

----------------------------------------

'I want a bike.'
'What for? Your college is only a five minute walk from here'
'All my friends...'
'Your friends have way too many things. You think i can get them all for you?'
'Its embarrassing not to have a bike'
'OK hotshot. But 35,000 is the most i can give'
'35000? No decent bike comes below ninety.'
She shrugged.
'It's not like you can't afford it! You just hate giving me anything i really like.'
It stung, 'Yeah! I actually waste time being your mother!'
'You dont' have to do the motherly act every time. My friends are surprised i have a mother like you.'
'Like what?' she raged to keep the sob out of her voice.
'Like YOU! Its suffocating being here under your 'motherly care'.
The silence rankled. She fell wretched, unwanted, unloved; like she had failed miserably in everything that mattered.

--------------------------------

'Hey Mom'
'Hey. The food's laid out. Sit down, i'm coming.'
'Wow. Tikka? Thanks Ma.'
She smiled as she emerged out of the kitchen with another dish, 'How was the day?'
'Cool. Just caught the Dark Knight, first show. There was an inaugural offer at the new PVR. Just 400 bucks'
'You paid 400 for a movie?'
'Everyone did.'
She bit back a reproach.
'Anyway,' he continued, 'I'll need a couple of thousands for the cellphone bill.'
'A couple of thousands?' she asked incredulously.
'Hm,' he mumbled through a mouthful.
'I don't have money to throw away.'
'I have to recharge.'
'Which can be done for 200. Or that 'Dark Night' ticket.'
He ignored the insinuation, '200? It wouldn't last 10 hours.'
'Perhaps you should try living off it.'
'My friends...'
'I'm not concerned wth what you friends do. These are my lines and you have to learn to live within them.' She rose from the table.
'I can't believe I even tried talking to you. You are impossible.'
'You might learn some decency yourself son before teaching it to your mother.'
'Forget it. I'm going. I can't take it anymore.'
'Go!' she screamed.
The door slammed behind him.

------------------------------------

'What are you writing dad?'
Sharad tuned to his fourteen year old, 'A message'
'Who for?'
'For your grandmother.'
'Our grandmother? I thought...'
Sharad closed his eyes and leaned back against his chair.

-----------------------------------
The next day, in an obscure corner of a famous English daily this message appeared with the grainy picture of a middle aged lady - 'Dear Mom. Wherever you are, please talk to me. I can't find you anywhere.' - Sharad Raj.

-------------------------------------

Several cities away at the neat and quaint reception of a nondescript building a matronly woman carefully cut out the newspaper ad. Beckoning to one of the little boys who often ran errands for her she handed him an envelope that looked like it had been clutched by desperate hands for many nights before being consigned to her care. As the boy ran off with a coin and the envelope she took the newspaper clip and left for the cemetery adjoining the ashram where they buried all their homeless inmates. The cemetery was empty and beautifully kept. It resonated with the painful songs of its sleeping souls, the air as lonely as their now still hearts. She wended her way to an unremarkable looking grave. The gravestone bore nothing but this - Raina Raj. She carefully tucked the bit of paper between the grave and the headstone with the hope that one sad soul would finally be rested.

-----------------------------------

Sharad trembled as he stared at the yellowing sheet of foolscap in his hand. In his mother's tiny handwritng, on one corner of the page was her simplistic will:
'To my son I leave all I have and the
bike I bought him the day he left. And
his mother's love. For life and beyond.'

The rest was a blank.

Image courtsey Lab2112

76 pumped it:

Keshi said...

ok I cried. real loud sobs. yes Im serious!!!!

Keshi.

April 8, 2009 9:50 PM

Mayz said...

i have tear in my eyes...i really do!!!

wid ur permission m linkin this post on my blog...i want everyone to read this...this is a masterpiece...

April 8, 2009 10:57 PM

Mayz said...

i have tear in my eyes...i really do!!!

wid ur permission m linkin this post on my blog...i want everyone to read this...this is a masterpiece...

April 8, 2009 10:57 PM

MultiMenon said...

..............................................................

Ok,words have failed to convey what I have had to say..touched.......

Nikhil

April 8, 2009 11:34 PM

Swetha Padakandla said...

:'(

truly touching!!
i juz luv my mamma...
thnx for this wonderful writing.

take care
swetha

April 8, 2009 11:38 PM

Arv said...

that was a very emotional read...

it reiterates the need for us all to appreciate our loved ones around us no matter how they treat us...

makes me wanna go and thank every one of my family members for being a part of my life...

have a lovely day mate.. cheers...

April 8, 2009 11:56 PM

Ria said...

what a touching post....i dont hav words.... *with tears in eyes*

April 8, 2009 11:58 PM

яﾉςんﾑ said...

thnx to mayz for navigating me here. heartfelt..
we r blessed to have parents..

April 9, 2009 12:00 AM

Lena said...

thats very touching, girl.. and indeed emotional!
and its not even that long, makes you read non-stop, just in one go..
great job, farah :)

April 9, 2009 12:08 AM

americanising desi said...

i dont know what to say.
this is just too choking!

April 9, 2009 12:29 AM

Anwesa said...

a touching story...

April 9, 2009 12:47 AM

ki said...

Wow!!! I know it sounds silly but I want to give my mom a hug RIGHT NOW! :')

April 9, 2009 12:56 AM

How do we know said...

It's well written.. but you already know that.

Its hard to be a mother.. but by the time you realise that, by the time you realise how much your parents actually loved you, by the time you understand their scolding was a mask for their love, because it is obscene to display just love.. by the time you understand a lot of things.. your parents are already old...

Lovely post.. i did not cry out loud, but there's a real lump in the throat..

April 9, 2009 1:04 AM

Priya Joyce said...

my emotions are in control.....I've read a very similar story..but i shud tell you that i really sat and sobbed for hours after reading that.

:(

April 9, 2009 1:20 AM

venus66 said...

Very touching.:(

April 9, 2009 2:08 AM

Hemanth Potluri said...

wonderful post ...full of emotions filled...the tears still in my eyes..thanks for this wonderful read ..just awesome..

urs..hemu..

April 9, 2009 2:11 AM

Urv said...

Farah, I am scared.. I took the post very matter of factly.. Have I become numb? :(

April 9, 2009 2:15 AM

Elithraniel Arawion said...

omg! that gave me a chill down my spine and goosebumps..
whoa!!

u r a gifted writer...

April 9, 2009 3:07 AM

Amal Bose said...

im crying right now..
i just cant think of anyting to write here right now...
one thing i know.. the next time i see my mother, im gonna give her a huge hug.

brilliant post. Brilliant

April 9, 2009 3:20 AM

joiedevivre said...

i m feeling heaviness within..feel like crying

April 9, 2009 3:53 AM

pisku said...

Had to fight back tears.
a touching story and so well penned down.
Hat's off to you.

April 9, 2009 3:59 AM

HP said...

wow !
. . . .
somehow this is my fave line: "'I'm your MOTHER!' She almost added 'lousy wretch'." -- dunno why.

April 9, 2009 4:29 AM

Swayam said...

wow... simply wow... beautiful story girl... and I am feeling guilty..:(

April 9, 2009 4:34 AM

Meera said...

A big generation gap and so much of life gone.
One word-BEAUTIFUL!!

April 9, 2009 4:36 AM

oo7 said...

all i can say is i am calling my mother right now.

April 9, 2009 6:05 AM

Ayushi said...

My time is not allowing me to read any post yaar('ve only one hour to do a weeks work on the net), I wud love to read this one... I will...my comments may be delayed though :(

April 9, 2009 7:03 AM

yamini meduri said...

tears all around...!!!

got to read this frm Mayank's blog and dear...it left me in tears...!!!

i am now gonna go to mamma n give her a big hug....!!!

take a visit to ma Land of Dreams...

www.dilmainhainpyar.blogspot.com

April 9, 2009 8:12 AM

vatsal said...

if u use photoshop ....just look for glowing edges effect in filters menu...well of course after creating an image :-P

April 9, 2009 9:13 AM

WarmSunshine said...

That was very touching. People who fail to understand their parents' love are indeed unfortunate.

April 9, 2009 10:15 AM

the pink orchid said...

you left me in awe.. in tears.. :(

came here after mayank's recommendation.. thank you mayank for bringing us to this masterpiece..