Blessings Make You Happy

 

It was a full moon day. Sumati was busy celebrating the birthday of her daughter at the open terrace of 'Vasudha nilaya' near a big tamarind tree and town municipal office in Raghavpur.  She called her daughter Vasudha to come to the terrace at 9 pm. Vasudha had just returned from Pragati college of Engineering, where she was working as a lecturer. She went to the terrace. 

"Happy birthday to my beloved daughter Vasudha."

Vasudha didn't know the day was her 25th birthday. Everything was beautifully arranged in the moonlight. She was surprised to see all the arrangements like the birthday cake with the happy 25th birthday of Vasudha. Sumptuous, mouthwatering food was kept on the table. 

“Mom, I am really happy that you have perfectly arranged my birthday in the beautiful moonlight. It shows your love and affection towards me. Your special care has given me a lot of joy."

Sumati embraced her daughter. 

“Vasudha, on this happy occasion, I have something special in my mind. I am disclosing the same in a few minutes, " said Sumati.

“Yes mom, I am eager to know what is special?”

"Wait, it will be revealed after the cake cutting and while taking the sumptuous food."

"Mom, why are you celebrating my birthday on the terrace under the moonlight?"

"You know the moonlight is a beautiful gift of nature. I thought, this time we will celebrate your birthday in a unique manner."

"Mom, hat's of to your idea"

Cake cutting is over and they want to start taking food. 

 Sumati was about to say something about the boy, suddenly the moonlight disappeared, and the sky was full of clouds roaring followed by heavy rains with wind. The eatables including birthday cake kept on the table were completely washed out. Mother and daughter felt very much disappointed by the unexpected rain and wind.  Both climbed down quickly, fully wet. They changed their dress immediately. 

"Mom, don't worry. Whatever has happened, happened for the good. Please tell me what you wanted to say."

"Vasudha, it is already late at night. Let us finish the dinner whatever remains here."

After dinner, Sumati could not speak for some time. She was thinking whether her daughter would accept the boy or not. She prayed to God silently before proposing the details about the boy.

"Why are you silent mom?"

"I want you to propose a boy to you, whose name is Praveen Manya. He is the only son of my childhood friend Anasuya. Manya's family has been in the pharmaceutical business for the last twenty-five years. Praveen has completed B. Pharma and looking after the 'Sanjay Medical Stores' in Raghavpur."

On hearing this, Vasudha felt uncomfortable and nervous. Observing her dull face, mother asked,

"Don't you like this boy?"

Vasudha was in dilemma. She already loved Manish, who was a colleague in the same college. Both had decided to tie the knot after convincing the elders. Now, how to displease the mother? was her problem. Mother was everything for her. With her meagre salary as a teacher brought up well and helped Vasudha financially to get the post-graduation in engineering. She lost her husband when the daughter was just six years old. Vasudha was not well at the age of seven. Sumati spent several days and nights in the hospital as a caretaker. It was a rebirth of Vasudha.

"What happened to you? Why are you silent?"

Vasudha came out of her memories and said,

"Okay mom, I wholeheartedly accept your proposal. You may go ahead."

Sumati was happy and embraced daughter in full emotion.

She called her friend Anasuya over the phone and reminded the earlier discussion had on matrimonial alliance. Anasuysa asked for a week's time. After one week, Anasuya agreed to extend the relationship. On 15 th of the coming month the marriage was over. Vasudha and Praveen became life partners and proceeded to Ooty for their honeymoon and stayed in a star hotel. In the morning, when she was sipping the aroma of filtered coffee, she glanced over the newspaper. In the middle corner space, there were a few lines about colleague Manish. He was dismissed from service and imprisoned for the crimes, fake M E certificate and false information given at the time of joining duty.

Vasudha realized that respect to mother saved her life, otherwise, her life would have been disastrous. She learnt a moral lesson in her life that blessings of elders make you happy.