Corporate NGO Mother

A two-storied house in a small town. 8 people. No cook. My day starts at 7 AM. I am Antara, a Biology Department Professor, and I run an NGO called 'Aalor Disha'. My sister-in-law has a corporate job. The two of us manage the household, the kids, and my in-laws’ medicines and tea.5 PM means my 'mother shift' begins. After handling college and the NGO, I put on an apron and enter the kitchen. Two assistants — Sri, 4 years old, and Diya, 4 years old. My daughter, and my niece who’s just like a daughter.

*The Dough Bowl Takeover*  

I’m making roti today. Sri grabbed the dough, "Maa, I’ll make it round." Diya said, "Kamma, I’ll roll it. I’m older."  I laughed and smeared flour on both their cheeks, "Deal. Whoever makes the roundest roti gets to sleep next to me tonight."  Sri hurried and ended up making a map. Diya giggled, "Sri, is this a roti or Africa?"  Shree looked like she was about to cry. I gave Diya a stern look and said, "You don’t laugh at your younger sister. Here, you eat this Africa."  Diya bit her tongue, "Sorry Kamma. Shree, don’t cry." I pulled them both into a hug. "Both my girls are as sweet as round rotis."

*The Homework Bribe*  

6 PM. Diya’s homework is pending. Diya hugged my neck, "Kamma, can we skip homework today? I have a headache."  Sri jumped up, "Maa, I have a headache too."  With a serious face, I said, "Alright. Headaches need a doctor. The medicine is bitter gourd juice."  They both screamed, "No no no! We’re all better now!"  Hiding my smile, I said, "Wow, just hearing the name of Maa-Kamma’s medicine cures everything. Now, 15 minutes of study, then Ludo."

*The Bedtime Share*  

10 PM. There’s a war on my bed. Shree: "Maa, I’ll sleep on your right side today." Diya: "Kamma, I get the right side."  I lay in the middle and stroked their heads. "I don’t have a right or left side, my loves. Both my sides are for you."  Diya hugged me tight and said, "Kamma, do you love me as much as you love Shree?"  Sri mumbled sleepily, "Didi, Kamma means little mother. You’re my sister, and Maa is both of ours."  I kissed their foreheads, "Exactly right. Remember Darjeeling? When you were about to fall off the mountain, Kamma caught you first. Because a mother’s lap and a Kamma’s lap have the same strength."  Diya said, "Then from tomorrow I’ll call you Maa-Kamma." Shree said, "And I’ll just call you Maa. Because a mother can’t be divided."Abhrya was standing at the door, watching. He said, "Professor Madam, your NGO is right at home. You’re raising two little projects."  I scolded him in a hushed voice, "Shh. My girls are sleeping. And yes, don’t steal my coffee tomorrow morning. Today I’m a mother of three, I need my energy."  Abhrya laughed and whispered, "Okay, Shakti. I’ll make two coffees tomorrow. One for you, one for the mother of three."

*At the NGO Gate*  

13-year-old Molly was crying. Torn clothes, marks on her cheek. Drunk Ratan was shouting, "She’s my wife. I’ll do whatever I want."  The slum dwellers stayed silent. Molly’s mother was crying with her face hidden in her aanchal.  My blood boiled. I took off my glasses and put them in my bag. I’m not a professor now, just ‘Didi’.  I pushed through the crowd. Ratan charged at me, "Master-ni, don’t get in the middle of this."  

In a cold voice, I said, "Beating is Biology. Pressure on nerves causes pain. And the law is Chemistry. Section 354 means jail."  I called the police and got Ratan arrested. I held Molly close, "Don’t cry. Didi is here."

*In the College Lab*  

Rimi said with a tearful face, "Ma’am, I can’t do it. I feel dizzy when I see blood."  I put down the scalpel. "No dissection today. Today we’ll understand the heart."  I drew a heart diagram on the board. "Tell me, which chamber does a mother’s love pass through?"  Rimi whispered, "Ma’am, my mother had heart surgery. Since then I can’t look at this stuff."  I took out a plastic heart from my bag. "Here, cut this. No blood, but all the chambers are there. Today you’re my assistant."  Rimi held the scalpel with trembling hands. I guided her, "This is the right atrium... this is the left ventricle... Imagine this is your mother’s heart. You’re healing it."  After class, Rimi hugged me, "Ma’am, you’re not just a professor. You’re like my mother."

*Back Home*  

At night, Adra was sitting with two coffees. "What happened today? You didn’t snatch my share?"  

I smiled, "Today a girl’s fear was cured. Her heart’s beating normal now. So I’m having both to celebrate. One for the Professor, one for Maa-Kamma."  

Sri ran in, "Maa, I’ll draw a heart too." Diya said, "Kamma, will you teach me http://M.Sc? I want to be a scientist."  

Grandma said, "My girl teaches at home and outside too. That’s real education."

I’ve realized, Biology isn’t just about cutting things up. Biology means life. Can we afford to be scared? Then who will cure the illness?  

Rimi is doing her http://M.Sc now. Thesis topic: 'Cardiac Biology'. In the acknowledgment she wrote: "To Professor Antara Ma’am, who taught me that a heart doesn’t just pump, it also gives courage."

This is my Mahishamardini form. Professor in college, Didi at the NGO, Maa-Kamma at home. Pen, spatula, scalpel and love — these are my trishul. I don’t have ten hands, but my family is by my side. These 35 people are my strength. The big house broke, but our hearts didn’t. Any place, under any roof — if we’re all together, that’s home. That is my victory.