MOTHER'S TENDER LOVE

Jay was feeling frustrated at not being able to see any sign of wildlife, as had been promised in the travel brochure. He was in Thekkady for a well deserved vacation. Trying one boating trip after another but it was always the sight of the verdant landscape of coconut palms and banana plantations swaying in the gentle breeze that met his eye. Though the backwaters were magnetically beautiful, Jay’s eyes were roaming around seeking to spot some wildlife. Suddenly out of the blue, he feasted his eyes on a wonderful sight. A mother elephant leading a just born baby elephant with her trunk twisted to cover her child’s trunk.

“Wow!” he exclaimed. He pulled out his digicam and took a few pictures of this magical scene. Fully satiated, he returned back to the resort.

His friends, other trekkers in the group, were waiting for dinner. Jay showed them the photographs which he had taken. Everyone was exclaiming in wonderment, except Narayan. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears. Later when everyone had retreated to their rooms for the night, Jay sought out Narayan in his room.

“What made you so sad, that you had tears in your eyes when you saw the photographs?” he asked in concern.

“Oh! You noticed that, did you?” he exclaimed. “Did you see the way the mother elephant was carefully leading her child? I was emotionally moved as I remembered my own mother who worked day and night to lead me to the way I am today.”

Narayan paused. Seeing Jay’s questioning look, he continued, “I was not always like this. My father was martyred in the Kargil war when I was just three years old. My mother brought me up single-handed. Her sacrifices were countless. She would pretend that her stomach was full because she wanted me to eat properly. Her resources were so low that she could afford to cook a frugal meal for one. She then took up domestic jobs to provide me education. My mother is no more. She passed away last summer. Seeing the mother leading the baby elephant by the trunk triggered an emotional trail of thought. I am what I am today only because of my mother.”

Not knowing what to say, Jay held his friend’s hand in a comforting clasp.

He thought to himself, ‘A mother is a mother. Her protective instinct is all pervasive. She loves her child more than anything else on earth and will go to any extent to lead the way to smooth the path of her child’s journey of life. ’