My last night with my mom!

When a colleague and a well wisher came to me and said, 'hold on' sam, It hit me hard! It has been a year to this day, that I spent one last night with my mom.

Oh! How many days had we, 'mom and me', after Dad and Dan had slept, enjoyed our silent conversations going deep in to the night. And the early next day morning inevitably she will be defending me against being woken up because I slept late; yet, she always was there in the kitchen and then at work, bang on time!

We discussed everything; everything under planet earth, like best friends do! From how my class mate had a love failure, to how beautiful the girl next door looked, to how Nehemiah built Israel, to how India as a country could be salvaged.

Yes, we did plan my wedding, long long back! when I was still in college. We made a list of all the people who should be gifted sarees. And believe me, that list went on and on!She was particularly afraid of being the 'MIL(Maamiyar)', and yes, on many occasions the topic had been the 'Ideal MIL' which she wanted to be, yet thought it was impossible for her to be one.

Oh yes, we spoke on family issues. On umpiring in cricket. On Church politics. On the petty fights between her staff. On the sick patient which made her nervous.

And invariably, every night, just before we dozed off, she said 'how kind had God been to her', though she had not lived up to His standards.

Well, though we slept in the same room on her last night, she could not recognize me and I did not know it would be the last! Had I known that, may be  I would have whispered to her, "You have set the standards too high ma", for finally God thought enough!.

Lot more stories to tell ma; So much more. We will meet one day on the other side. Till then, I'm gathering stories for you. Life's stories!

I'm sick and I'm married!

Well, so finally when a stupid bug bit me y'day, and I felt a little sick, I suddenly realized I'm married!

For the wifey suddenly behaves very differently!

Did you take the tablet? Eat something! Eat this, eat that! Drink water. And in my case, the wifey being the doctor, there were certain technical terms thrown as well. "Gatric juice", and "Bacterial and viral" Infections were often used! My already heavy head started to spin as well.

And so she continued! "You don't expect me to behave the way your bachelor friends behave when you are sick!". Suddenly my mind went to those days of unbridled freedom. Of bachelorhood and its bliss.

The best of friends always reacted best when you are sick. "Vaa parotta saapiduvom, yellaam sariyaagidum", was the usual remark. My great dad, never even asked "Had I taken tablets?". He Just left us to be. And mothers, well they are made to pamper, right? And mine, though she had very little time, always pampered! and sisters, yes, they whined and advised!

So, the greatest of wives, like mine (Shhhh! I'm paid to tell this) take on the wives role suddenly from the brilliant friend she had been.

Though, I love the dad's and friend's way of caring, in the innermost hearts, I secretly believe without the womanly, wifeish pampering, falling sick is not worth it!