The Pretext

The lady looked inside the sugar container carefully  if there was any sugar! But the container was empty. No sugar inside. Other way her four years old child was crying to eat rice boiled in milk (kheer). Not getting any way the lady gave scumed rice mixed with salt to her child very lovingly. Son asked “Mom, have you not added sugar in rice boiled milk?  The lady explained very affectionately “you eat rice boiled milk. The sugar is underneath. If you take it gradually, it will taste sweet. So continue for the best result”. The son followed the advice of his mother.

After taking all the scumed rice in the hope that there will be sugar underneath, the son told her mother in a tearful eye “Mom, you lied me. Actually you have not added sugar at all.” The lady did not tell anything. But remained silent with tearful eyes. The son could not know her hopelessness.

                As days passed on, the lady turned old. This son is now serving in the town area. He is very happy with his little family. Of and on he came to his house and visit his mother.  Due to heavy workload he could not visit his mother in recent days. However he sends money regularly through money order. But his mother was very much anxious to see her son after a regular interval.

                The lady is now not well and suffering from several diseases. Even not able to see properly. In a very heart felt hope she is eagerly waiting for his pampered son. Who knows whether she would be able to see her son or not as her eye sight was becoming more poor to recognize anything in little distances...?  So she was impatient to see the son very soon. So the lady informed her son through telegram that she is not well physically or morally  and to come soon. Her son also assured that he will come this Saturday to see his sick mother.

The mother relaxed by this hope that her son will definitely come this Saturday. But so many Saturdays have passed away. But the son was not able to visit his mom. The old woman telegrammed five times to her busy son. But in vain.

                One day the son comes to see his mother. The door was already open. He knows that his mother waits eagerly every Saturday till the last bus comes. This time the son has come to his mother in his big car instead of the village bus. He will take his mom to some holy places in his big car for a visit  and will give some more time to his sick mother.  “Mom, mom... he entered the room, calling his mother. She was sleeping on her untidy bed. He found nearby a close related uncle  was reading the holy book “The Gita” besides her mom. One cousin brother gave “nirmalya” in his mothers mouth.

The son was shocked. His eyes were full of tears, he couldn’t believe the situation. Mom was very weak. Couldn’t be recognized as before. She had lost her memory. He very lovingly called “mom, mom.." but she did not give any answer to her son. He called many more times. But no answer came from the mother’s side. Some relatives told him to offer the holy water to her mouth. Then he gave the “the ganga jal with basil leaf” into her mouth. He failed. She lost her heart beat suddenly.

                He was shocked after seeing this situation of his mother. As he knew that his mother was no more. He cried just like a small child and told “You did not wait a little more for me. This time also, you have cheated me like my childhood days. In those days also you were helpless and didn’t add sugar in the milk. Today also you left without waiting for me. You didn’t have any objection at all in your life time but I remained in the same pretext."