Ma...Our Walking Miracle!

 

Ma:

 

My mom is a walking miracle. An epitome of simplicity, I take pride in what she is. Sometimes, I feel if I become half as strong, as talented as she is, I would be a class apart!

 

In my teenage days, my friends used to find reasons for me to host a party. Reason was simple….my mom’s culinary skills and warm hospitality. She was too good with her cooking, presentation and served with love. When we used to get soft drinks where ever we went, she used to impress us with her ‘kairi-pudina’, ‘bel sherbat’, fresh tomato juice etc. Her mouth watering chaats with home made papri and raj-kachori have satiated so many taste buds. Master Chef was not aired those days otherwise she would have been a winner with a big margin. Not only mine and my father’s friends, but my in-laws family can vouch for her creativity. While hosting dinners for her loving samdhis, she would make sure, in an array of snacks, no snack is repeated the second time. Her daal halwa was to die for and her mousse was just too good to resist. Her grand children also used to love their naani because she spoiled them with choices. To make them eat a chapati, she would even make a laddoo ka paratha for them. Oh! I love her. 

Knitting came very naturally to her. She would keep telling us to learn the basic of stitching or sewing buttons which both us sisters just shirked. This time when she came to spend some time with us in Kolkata, I was enthralled to see her with her knitting needles. This time her dual purpose was to stitch clothes for ‘Thakurji’ and keep her nervous system in sync and in place. If you don’t know, the people who do knitting, never catch frozen shoulder. She would do it so effortlessly.

 At 75, she drives….yes, you got it right. She’s not dependent on anybody if she has to go anywhere. She picks her car, goes to the temple everyday and yes, she socializes with her girlfriends every day. She has a group who plays cards daily from 3-6 pm. When we were young, we never understood why she does this. Now at 50, I know how important it is to utilize your time to remain happy.

 Posting messages on social medias, creating an account on Facebook with the help of her grand-daughter Tvisha, playing her smart TV with amazon fire-stick, she’s good with everything.

Come to any customs of marriage or religious activity, she’s the Encyclopedia. She knows all the reet-rivaaj and yet has a contemporary approach towards life. She gelled beautifully in both sides of her families and we need to salute this quality of hers. Never complaining, never comparing with her co-sisters, she moved on with utmost poise and charm.

 She’s stood tall and strong in spite of some real difficult times she faced in her life. Be it either cooperating with papa when he really faced some tough times in his business or handling some problems in my brother's life, she was the pillar providing enough support to her family.

I just want her to know that we, her children, dote on her and are proud on what she is!

 

Love you Ma!