“Amma….Amma…. it’s already morning, wake up, won’t you want some tea.”

Madhavi slowly opened her eyes and looked at her son Manu and said, “You go have it dear, I will be up after some time. Aren’t you being already late for your office”?

Manu said, “That’s alright mom, you are not well, let me get you up” Manu put her hand over his shoulder and delicately got her up and headed towards the washroom. He sat her down on a chair and got her toothbrush, applied the paste, and brushed her teeth. After that, he then assisted her to the toilet. He then told her mother to call him when she is done, while he will prepare the morning breakfast. She nodded in acceptance and then he headed to the kitchen and prepared tea, appam, and curry for the table. He glanced at his watch and realized that he is already late and he now has to rush his bike to reach the office on time.

He then thought, “Why hasn’t mom called me yet?” He went to the washroom to check on her mother. He knocked on the door and asked whether she is done. She said, “I know you are already busy in the morning, I didn’t want to call you and rush you, so I thought about waiting until you come back. “

He said lovingly, “Oh mom, you didn’t have to.”

He then brought her to the dining room table and sat her on the chair. He sat next to her and got her plate of food and began to feed her. After finishing, he got her up, took her to the washbasin, and washed her hands and mouth. He then wiped her with the wash towel, which hung next to the basin. He then took her to her room where he sat her down and made her comfortable on her bed. He got up and said, “Mom, I have got to leave for work now. Please don’t forget to call Nalini, next door if need anything.” He also reminded her not to get up from bed all by herself.

Madhavi then saw her son waving bye as he left and slowly began to reminisce. Her eyes welled up and tears began to roll down slowly, just when she was startled by a voice calling her. She looked in that direction and saw Nalini standing by the door.

Nalini saw the tears /in Madhavi’s eyes and came and sat beside her and asked, “what happened, did Manu say something?” Madhavi looked at her and said, “Nothing, it’s just about the past, that I have been thinking about…. it’s nothing that you don’t know.” Nalini nodded in silence.

She then said,” I still remember that day. Manu’s wife, my husband, and I were on our way to Manu’s office when all of a sudden, a truck rammed into our car. We lost both of them in that accident and left me with this disability.” She then explained how her son, requested for transfer near home so that he can take care of her.

She said, “I am glad to have a son like Manu. In this day and age, where people shift their old parents to an old-age home, it is a real blessing to have my son.”

She looked up and heartfeltly prayed, “God, bless my son.” 

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