Tenderness

"I hate you!" Rohan lashed out at his mother as he threw the plate. The plate hit hard on the wall and bounced down creating a loud thunderclap. The neatly cooked chapati stained the wall and fell hard on the floor. The fried vegetables spilled all over. He kicked the glass of water, the water spilled over the mess. The glass flew up only to hit hard on his widowed mother's eye. "ah!" Vimala shouted as she moved her fingers over her eyebrows. The glass left behind a scar on her eyebrows. Rohan shrugged and looked up with arrogance. "you're the worst mother ever! You give me the same food to eat every day!"

"I'm sorry my boy. I can Offord only this much. We're short of money – "Then why don't you work hard and earn some more?!" Rohan interrupted. Vimala was in tears, "I do work hard. I work as hard as I can. I'm green around the gills lately. You're grown up now. You must try to understand."

"Whatever!" Rohan spoke unmindfully. "Rohan please try to understand! Here, I'll clean the mess, eat my roti." Vimala pleaded as she handed over her plate of breakfast. Rohan pushed the plate away and yelled, "Am I not understood. I said I wouldn't be eating this roti hereafter." Vimala took a deep breath. "ok, tell me what you want to eat?" she asked. "Pizza; I want to eat pizza." Rohan declared. "b-but that's way too costly for us!" Vimala exhausted. "well, then I'm not eating anything else." Rohan said harshly. A tear dropped from Vimala's eye. She walked up to the kitchen, opened a tiny plastic box, and took out some money. She walked out barefooted to a pizza shop and bought a pizza for Rahul. She handed over the pizza to him. He was overjoyed. "now, come on let me feed you." Vimala said as she picked up a slice of pizza. Rohan noticed her hand, "yuck! Look at your hand. They're full of blisters and you touched the pizza with these hands. I guess you can take that slice for yourself." Vimala backed off.

The next day, Vimala was ready to drop Rohan at school. They had just stepped out and Vimala realized that she had forgotten something. She went back in, opened the tiny box once again, and took out some money. "what are you buying?" Rohan questioned. "um… I- I am – "never mind" Rohan broke in. "mom, look at my shoes, it's worn out. The teacher asked me to change it as soon as possible. Why don't you buy one with it?". Vimala replied, "but Rohan, I brought this money to buy myself footwear. I'm walking barefooted for three days. And I guess you forgot about the shoes that I bought you last month. Give me a minute I'll get them for you" Vimala bent down to fetch the shoes. "mom those are blue shoes. Do you think blue shoes are allowed in school? Please buy a pair of shoes by today. I don't want to be the laughing stock of my school." Rohan yelped. Vimala nodded. she was helpless. She walked barefooted under the sun.

That afternoon while Vimala was busy in her workplace. She grew much sicker and fainted. She woke up in the hospital, met up with the doctor, and ran back home. It was time for Rahul to return home. She sat back at home and waited for her son. In a while, Rahul returned home. He was ferocious. He walked up to his mother and yelled, "mom, you haven't paid the school fees for, two months. The teacher yelled at me in front of the class. I felt so ashamed. Why don't you pay the fees? You're the worst mother ever." Vimala spoke up with tears in her eyes, "Rahul, I'm sorry, but I don't think we can Offord your fees anymore. I'm really sick and – "I don't want to hear anymore. Mom, your just sick and you're acting like you have an incurable disease. Please pay the fees, else, I'm quitting my studies." Rahul walked out of his home shutting the door behind him, and leaving Vimala in tears. The next day Vimala took out all the money from the box and paid Rahul's fees. 

Days passed, there was no improvement in Vimala's health. She grew sicker. Rahul grew more arrogant. One afternoon, Vimala got a call from a hospital. Little did she know that this call would change her life forever. It was a piece of terrible news. She ran to the hospital barefooted. With eyes full of tears, she prayed all her way to the hospital. Rahul had met with an accident. She met up with the doctor.

After a month, Rahul was totally alright but, his mother was no more. He was horrified to hear the news. The doctor handed him over some money that his mother had left behind along with a letter. It read…

"my dear son, Rahul. I know that I'll be no more when you read this letter. You often said that I was the worst mother, those words were sharper than swords. It tore my heart into pieces.               

 I worked in many houses for half a day. Once I was done with that I went to a brickyard and made many bricks. I've accidentally cut my hand many times, that's why I had so many blisters in my hand. Your well aware that I was sick for many months. One morning after you left for school, my health grew worse while I was working in the brickyard. I was taken to a hospital. The doctor said that I had a kidney failure. One of my kidneys was totally damaged. She said I will become much sicker if an operation was not done immediately, but, that evening you asked me to pay your school fees. I tried to explain the situation, but you weren't ready to listen to me, so I used up all the money that I had saved for my medical expenses to pay your fees.                                                                                

I was horrified to hear the news of your accident. The doctor said that your life will be in danger if I don't pay for an operation within two days. No one came forward to help. My health grew worse. So, I decided to donate the only kidney I had and complete your operation from the money that I get from it. I know I'll be dead if I do so, but, my life is nothing in front of the love I have for you because you're my world. I don't know if you'll miss me but, I miss you so much. May you live long and happy forever. I love you……"