HER LAST WISH

Part 30

     From Vijay’s Mother II
I went into the ward, and took them by surprise. Sargam was sitting beside Astha. She greeted me, and I instantly recognized her from the drinking incident in my home. Sargam pretended to have got a call and left the room. I guess she wasn’t comfortable with me. There were just the two of us left inside that room.
Astha had become dull; it was difficult to believe that she was the same girl who was always full of joy. Her face had lost its charm. I never really liked her, but seeing her like that made me hate myself. “Hi Astha! How are you beta?” I asked. “Don’t get up; it’s alright.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “How are you feeling?” After hating her for all those years, the guilt crept in.
“I am good, Mom. I am glad and a little surprised to see you here.”
“I came to meet my daughter. How can this be a surprise?” My heart was heavy. She tried to fake a smile. She looked good when she smiled.
“I see everything has changed now,” she said.
“I am going to be a grandmother soon, so I decided to meet you.”
She seemed to have taken my words otherwise.
“Mom, I don’t need any sympathy. I understand that my days are numbered, but I am still happy,” she said .
“Beta, who said I want to sympathize? I just want to thank you.” I was in a tough spot.
“I am the reason your son does not live with you. I am the reason that you had to sell your house,” she said without any emotion. “I should be thankful to you
for helping me. I owe everything that I am to you and your family.”
“Astha, don’t think like this, my child. We are family. We’ve had our differences in the past, but you have done what I never could do. You have made my son responsible. He is now more confident and mature than he ever was. He is no more a helpless man.”
She didn’t say anything, so I continued, “By the way, belated happy birthday. I have brought a few presents for you.” I handed her a pink shawl and took out
the cake I had brought for her.
“Is this an eggless cake?” she asked jokingly.
I laughed. We talked for an hour. I could see that it was difficult for her to talk, but still she didn’t want to stop even for a minute. She told me everything about the past few days. I felt different with her this time. I knew that I would be the one to nurture the child. It was after a long time that we didn’t fight and talked
like normal adults. I behaved like a caring mother whose daughter was due to deliver a baby in a few days.
“Please take good care of yourself, beta. I will leave now,” I got up from my seat.
“Mom, I have a request. Please don’t get me wrong.”
“Sure dear. What is it?”
“You know that I cannot be cured and would be gone very soon.”
“Please don’t talk like that.”
“Mom, let’s accept the truth. I don’t want to see my loved ones standing in front of me with eyes full of tears. I don’t want all those people around whose
presence is going to make me weak.” Her nose turned pink and her eyes were full of tears.
“You are a brave girl, beta. You cannot lose hope.” I was standing there helpless. I could not do anything to help her, and I could only lie.
“Mom, I don’t have much time now, and I don’t want to see anyone getting hurt. It makes me weak. Please don’t come to see me again.”
That was the strong girl I knew and I had always respected her for that. “I will honour your wish.” I picked up my bag, and it felt like the last
interaction with my daughter-in-law whom I had just discovered. I wanted to say something more, but before I could say anything, Astha said, “Thank you, mom,
for giving me a husband like him. I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused you.” We were both in tears. I tried to ignore her apology and tried to tell her
what I really felt.
“Astha, I have always criticized you and insulted you because you were an illegitimate child. But now I realize that no child is illegitimate. They are not
responsible for that.” I took a deep breath. “I know it will be a little weird, but I never gave you a hug. I want to do it now. Can I hug you?” With tears in her eyes, she nodded her head.
I hugged her, and I had nothing but love for her. The best memory I have had with her in all those years. I hugged my Astha, my daughter, for the first and last
time and cried in silence.
“I am sorry, beta. I am very sorry.”
I wanted to tell her how sorry I was, and all I wanted was her to be happy.
“I never knew what it’s like to have a mother. My stepmother never hugged me. She didn’t care. My pillow was the only mother I had. But today, I’ve found
my mother. Thank you for letting me know how it feels to have a mother before I go. I love you Mom.”
“Love you too,” I replied with teary eyes.
There was a deafening silence in the room. I started walking towards the door. She waved and tried to smile. I could see how miserable she was feeling, but she was putting up one hell of a fight.
“Vijay is not the only one who has changed; you too have changed.”