Empty nest and a new child

(This is a story)

My daughter went to college few weeks ago and the house was empty. I had no one to fuss over. Not that she needed constant care; especially in the last few years of school, she was very independent. Still, though she will not ask, cleaning, food and a lot of things were available to her, with a mother around.

She would be in school or classes too and I would be at work. So I really cannot say we spent time at home and would talk and bond or anything. But still, just that it will be months before she will enter that door with a lot of noise and hurry, was not easily palatable. And today was a Sunday and the weight felt heavier, magnified by ample time.

I called my mother. It was our routine, customary daily call. She was in the South and only came to visit once in a way. The call of course was predictable every day. It was about the maid who was quite terrible. "If I was even a little more healthy and could bend, I will clean myself", she will repeat everyday. "It is ok. Job is getting done, let it go", I would say. "When I see her work, I really want to take the broom and mop and sweep myself. Just the thought that I may hurt myself and give you trouble stops me", she would explain.

And it will about a relative or friend and their story. The tales were all different but all the same as I was not emotionally connected to the person or the principle that was leading to a conflict. But the call was easy as she did all the talking and a few strategically placed 'hmm' was all it was needed to give her 15 minutes of time.

Today was different. "Your father is being a bit incoherent. I did not want to alarm you yesterday. So I went to the local doctor and he said maybe we can take a MRI to see if he had a mild stroke. He is ok, no problem", she said.

"You plan to take him to the hospital now right?", I asked. She was not known for being direct but I have learnt to understand the situation from reading her tone and pauses. "I am thinking. You need not come, it is probably nothing. I will ask Raghu for help if needed", she added. Raghu was her brother's son.

"Ok. Let me know after MRI. I will book now and come", I said. "Ok", she said. No refusal or polite fusses.

"I could not cook properly today as we had to go to the doctor", she said and rattled off some four dishes she made, puncuated with a 'only'. And some other stories of cases where people feared stroke or some issue but all was well later.

My mind was wandering, but I steadied it and asked her to go to the hospital. "You have to go anyway. Do it early", I said. "The maid has to finish cleaning and I will put away the yogurt which will set in an hour and.." she had a list of things. Normally I would have jumped and questioned her on priorities, dump the yogurt, send the maid and such. I said "ok. even if the yogurt does not set, put it in the fridge, it continues to set for one hour as it takes that long to start cooling". She never believed in my ideas but today instead of arguing, she said "ok".

We hung up. I went to my daughter's room and started cleaning. It has to be readied as new children will be coming.