Beautiful Ones.

‘Ma’ is probably the first word everyone learns to speak. She’s the woman who bore you for nine months, took care of you, helped you to walk on your steps, literally and otherwise; was there to film your first day of school and prayed for your well-being.

You were crying so much on your first day to school, you didn’t want to leave her. You couldn’t stop crying when the maid took you to your classroom. It did hurt her as well, seeing her child cry would hurt any mother. She couldn’t resist leaving you so she waited at the reception for four hours restlessly because she promised that she would not leave you alone. She saw you coming out of your class laughing because you had a great day and made some friends. She could not stop smiling. She took you home and asked how your school was; she could not keep her mind off you. You are her happiness.

She fed you, did not sleep when you were not well, helped you get through fights you had with your friends, made the food you liked specially. A mere thank-you’ is not enough for ALL this, is it? Of course, one word against her and you would break that person’s bones. She has your secrets (no matter what you think she does know everything). Took all the blame on herself when you did something inappropriate, took all the scolding from your dad and the teachers, just because you did not perform well.

As you grew up, you were embarrassed by the things she did for you. You told her to leave you alone and not bother you. You hurt her feelings but she cleverly put that up with a smile. She’s Ma, she can do anything. The woman knows you inside out. If it was not for her you would be a mess. You yelled at her, you hated her because she corrected you at the littlest of things; she wanted you to be perfect. You are her everything. You complained about her to your friends, “My mom did this, why can’t she understand that I am old enough to make my own decisions.” Yeah right. All she wants is for you to be a good human being.

Many a times when she forgot to bring what you wanted, you would yell at her, it did hurt her, but you did not realize it that time, because you were not mature enough to understand the things she had to do every day. Then again, no matter what, she got what you wanted the very next day, but then you did not want it, because of ego. That time when you were complaining to your friends about your mom, you were mature, what happened now? She did everything she could for you. No matter what, only you made her happy. She is the most beautiful woman you will ever come across. Respect her. Love her before it is too late.

Thank her for setting aside her dreams as a woman to make room for the new dreams she made as a mother. Thank her for sleeping with you because you were scared of ghosts, for reciting you stories because you would not sleep without them, for every time you woke up in the middle of night and called her. Thank her for working so hard to put food on the table at every meal, every day even when it was met with complaints or our downright refusal to eat it. Thank her for all the hugs and kisses you did not ask for but got anyway; they were better than the toys you begged for but did not get. Thank her for not eating the last piece of cake; she wanted it as well.

I dedicate this post to my beautiful mother, the woman who stood up for me, fought for me, made me a better person, and not to forget loved me even when I hated her because I was immature. Thank you, Ma.

Never scream at the person who taught you how to speak.