Know Thyself

A nonagenarian mother, unable to walk, to do daily normal routine activities, ignored by neighbours, forgotten by relatives, always appears at the door of her old house which has witnessed her youth days. Holding her stick she bends almost to the ground, in half a hunched posture she with much difficulty manages to sit on the doorstep.

However, her cataract eyes glitter with the hope of the return of her much-loved son who long ago has abandoned her as a foreign country and its luxurious lifestyle has made him very practical as well as stone-hearted. The mother sheds her tears, the only treasure she has now, still in the name of the son.

She knows well life has uncertain twists, her long stretched life has taught this. A wealthy lady having a rich husband becomes wretched, lonely and vulnerable just after a few years of becoming a widow. Truly, an illiterate mother becomes a burden as she is only meant to take care of the child's daily necessities. Her child is at present an educated, well - behaved gentleman, ten years ago settled in America and has developed a nasty feeling for his village.

He disgusts his origin of birth so much that when the news of a disaster earthquake how completely has wiped off his place gets featured on television, his sentiments refuse to rise and keeps him Unaffected. With a nine-year-old child and a lovely wife, he has created her own paradise where all that seems ugly, unwanted, worn-out is prohibited. Alas! His mother has turned one among these prohibited articles, so he has chosen her to forget forever. His mother gets a pension of ₹500 and his thinking assures him that in a village it is more than enough for an old lonely living lady.

The more the mother urges for her son, the more he is successful in pushing her back into the darkest part of his heart where memories are erased even from its trash section. He has forgotten her current face, obviously, ten years is a huge time gap and he never has bothered to update his mother with modern distance - a covered technological device like a phone.

The mother rejects the suspicion of mind that her son might have forgotten her. Her heart is kind enough as it supplies daily hope and curbs the mind's suspicion. The villagers are waiting for her demise so that they will get rid of the burden of offering her food and security.

One fine morning a lady visits the village as a tourist and meets many, the mother too. She is unique in a way that she starts conversations not with about her scattered family but about her experiences, skills and future move.

The mother is amazed after realizing she is having a future as clear as the starry path. She has reasons to smile, goals to fulfill and zeal to start every new day.

She goes to the free eye hospital with the messenger of God, that lady. Instant eye operation enables her to have a clear vision. After a week, she looks around her dilapidated house - each and every corner clearly and gives it a makeover. The house renews its look, is grateful to the lady who has changed the perspective of its owner.

The mother lights the oven cooks with trembled limbs some delicious meal only for herself and almost after a decade consumes it with peace in mind, a smile on lips and with no thoughts of her technically lost son.