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I Yashvi, and I came to Delhi to spend a month with my family. Ten years ago, I met Upen, a software engineer. I completed my master's in History and picked up a teaching job at a reputable school. Upen and I dated for two years and decided to live our lives forever.

Our families met, and we discovered our mothers were students at the same college in Lucknow. Upen got a job offer in Australia and after our wedding, we moved to the new country. I tried to look for teaching jobs and after a year of completing a short course, I got into the education line.

Time passed and it was almost two years since we visited India so when I had school holidays, we traveled from Melbourne to Delhi to be with our parents for a month. Meanwhile, Upen’s parents had relocated to Delhi, so we were happy to be with everyone.

One morning I gave a surprise visit to my school friend, Urvi who lived with her husband in Hauz-Khas. Urvi was a homemaker and was free to go along with me for shopping. Urvi was delighted to see me and we hugged each other. Urvi said, ‘Yashvi I will fry ‘poori sabji’, ( deep-fried flat bread in oil) but I was in the mood to go out so I suggested, toast and butter’.

Suddenly Urvi became downhearted but tried to keep herself cool but her eyes told me she was uncomfortable. ‘Urvi no worries. Is there anything you would like to tell me why you're sad?’. ‘Nothing much just

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recalled Maa.’ 

‘Ah! Yes, I remember, you lost your mother a few months back. At this moment why do you remember her?

Urvi said, ‘Maa was extremely fond of crispy toast but the toaster used to be out of order and she couldn’t tell others that toast was her favorite. Dad was a senior gazetted officer and Maa received a good pension but she didn’t exercise her power. She was an educated mother but couldn’t apply knowledge at the right time and place. Maa could have told me or my sister to get her a toaster but somehow she kept things to herself.

This I came to know when she was bedridden for a few months before she passed away. Today I feel bad that such a small thing we were not aware of. Whenever I feel like having toast it ends up keeping the bread in the box.

I took Urvi’s hand and opened the door, ‘Come friend see the beautiful sunshine, the lovely Marigold flowers, the colorful butterflies, the rich deep green leaves. Everywhere you can feel many things special. I added, don’t feel sad for the toast but have it more and feel good. Your mother smiles from Heaven’.

I saw a sudden glow in Urvi’s face and she shook her head to a lovely, ‘Yes’. I and Urvi did have toast and butter and then went to Sarojini Market for our shopping.

Melbourne is a beautiful city with vibrant streets but the fun I get shopping in my country is different and no place could give me the same feeling.