A Promise

My mom often tells me, "You have never been demanding!!"

And I answer her, "What would one demand when one feels satisfied?"

In the growing-up years, life was very protective and satisfactory for want of choice.

Last weekend, while enjoying the rains, my mom started telling me about this girl from Kalyan, who designed a space rocket for Amazon Founder, Jeff Bezos. She continued, "Some people have so much potential in them that they become well known." She suddenly got into a melancholy and said, "I never accomplished anything in my life. I am a failure. I have always been at home, not being able to make anything of my life."

I have often seen her relapse into this feeling of nothingness.

My mother has raised three children, I am the eldest one. She has always been a housewife. She has always had her views and is opinionated. She is shrewd at financial matters and has been able to offer good education to her three children. My Papa, the sole earning member used to be often occupied in operational shifts to give us the best at home. We three became closer to mom as we spent more time with her than papa.

I told my mom, "You are my mould. You have not only directed me to quality education but been my support and inspiration."

I do not remember a time I was asked to cook at home or do household chores, except when she was unwell. She managed it all so we children could study. She used to struggle all by herself, but never complained or vented out to us.

To be able to tell of her accomplishments means to tell about me. Mind you, this is no matrimonial bio-data or a self-boasting share. In her so-called nothingness, I am that seed she has cultivated to a well-grown tree, and this is how she has nurtured me.

She has infused in me a dominant value system, self-esteem, a sense of discipline and righteousness.

She has taught me every kind of art, including drawing, stitching, embroidery and knitting.

Culinary skills, I never had the slightest inclination to learn, but I have learnt to cook by people's expectations of me.

For other skills she made me take courses including software development, baking, mehndi art, tie-n-dye and many others.

As a child, I was not given any Martial Arts training, but was mentally conditioned to be brave, come what may!!

I was encouraged to practise empathy and the art of meaningful communication.

I was told to be patient and what you deserve will come to you. I only modified that a bit and I have grown to work patiently for what I want, then to wait for it to happen.

Her communication with me is never normal. We address each other as 'Sarkar' in our telephonic conversations. I have learnt the art of tweaking the regular conversations from her, and adapt them in my writings.

She enjoys dancing, irrespective of the songs and her audience. She just finds happiness in the moment, and I carry her legacy.

Sometimes, we do not fulfil our dreams but replenish others. We are the catalyst that brings the best in others. My mom has been that catalyst for me. I can never be thankful enough to my parents. Although time and again, I tell them, "The best thing you have done for me is you educated me well."

Today when mom and papa call me to congratulate me on my every minor feat, I feel I have been able to justify their efforts in me.

I promised my mom this time, "It's a long way perhaps, but, I will make you very proud someday. And in my success, will be your success. You and papa have made me the person, I am."

I know this is not my diary, nor am I manifesting my promise by sharing it with the universe. I will work on my promise, irrespective of all odds, to make my parents proud, that's my purpose.

All I have to say is, if you relate to this, make an effort to tell the people in your life, especially your parents, kids, partners, friends, of how special they are, and what they mean to you.