Just Another Mother

Chapter - 15

After breakfast, kids got busy with games or TV or homework, and I thought of calling my parents.

Dad: "Hello dear, How are you? Why there is no video?" He asked cheerfully.

Me: "Hi dad. No, it is a voice call. I wanted to talk to you both. After that will connect with video."

Dad: "What is it dear? Is it about you all coming home? Then, Sachin had already told us."

Me: "Dad, Is it OK for us to come? Will Mom be alright? I don't want to pressurize her."

Dad: "Why darling? You know mom loves them. She won't have any problem with it. She has recovered a lot dear. You have seen it last time too. Don't worry. As soon as she got the news, she started preparing chips and all those other snacks, which you all love. Everything will be fine dear. Yes, others in the family would point fingers at us, but your mother has become stronger than before. She can handle it. She would be sad if you drop the plan. So it is high time you come home, sweetheart."

Yes, it has been 5 years since I have been to my home. Though over the past years, this has become my home, I miss my home where I grew up, where I spent 21 years of my life with my parents. I wanted to go home. But not at the cost of my parent's health.

Though mom has recovered a lot from her depression, with my presence, she will have to face a lot more pressure from others in the family and friends or neighbors. I want to make sure that she would be able to handle it. Otherwise, I wouldn't take this risk. It took two years for her to come out of the trauma that I have given her and accept me and my kids. Though she has recovered, her doctor has warned us not to give her a lot of pressure. She had stopped medication 3 years back. I know she is genuinely happy to be with me and my kids, and they even visit us every year too. But, situations wouldn't be the same this time. People would be harsh. Will she be able to handle it?

Me: "But dad, could you please check with her doctor? I don't want to take any risk."

Dad: "Don't worry darling, Do you think I would say it just like that? I know it for sure because I have seen the way she was arguing with your grandpa for you. So, don't worry. She will handle it. She is a strong woman. It was just that, at that time losing you, your future everything about you was her biggest worry. You were our only world. But now, that world has 5 more little angels. So she would fight for them. You don't know your mother as much as I do darling. Trust me...Here, your mother is coming. Talk to her."

Mom: "Hello, dear. Why there is no video? Where are the kids?"

Me: "Hi mom, No just voice call..kids won't let me talk otherwise. So will do video call after that."

Mom: "OK. When are you coming? Have you told them? I was preparing chips for them. Also, your grandma is preparing the jack fruit jam for them. Don't know why mine wouldn't come as good as hers!"

Mom started her rambling. Another side effect of her depression. It has not changed even after her recovery, which makes me suspicious of her recovery even more, though her doctor has ensured me that she is fine now.

I have always felt like a criminal whenever I think about what I have done to my mother. She was the strongest woman I have seen. But I crushed that person into the weakest one. I knew that I was her weakness. But didn't expect it would affect her this much. And from that lesson, I try my best, not to make my kids my whole world. But how much ever a mother tries, her kids will be her world after all!

Me: "Mom...Mom!!!!!!" I tried to get her attention and she stopped her rambling.

Me: " I will send the ticket details to dad. And I haven't told the kids yet. Will tell them later and call you back in the evening. Don't stress yourself too much. And don't make too many things. Kids will eat all those and what if they get sick? So just chips and jack fruit jam is enough. OK?

Mom: "No. I won't make too much... Also, Radha is there to help me. So it is not at all an issue and I know how much they will eat. So don't try to fool me. OK then bye. Video call us later. Let me go and check the chips. Bye." She hung up the call.

Hope she wouldn't stress herself too much!!!

Later during lunch, I told them about the news, and they were over the moon. I wish that their happiness wouldn't fade away after reaching there.