How 3 Mothers Changed My Life

I still remember. It was early in the morning around 4:30 am while I finished my morning bath. I opened my hair. There was no time left to dry it up. I picked up my basket and walked out. I was mesmerized by the first sight of it although I see it every day. A huge tree stood right opposite my home. Many birds were singing their sweet tone happily flying around the Tree. It was partly dark. The air smelt so fresh. I walked through my lane, holding the basket that I had placed on my head in one hand and my saree in the other. I didn’t have enough to pay for a bull cart so I walked a few kilometres every day. It was cold. I wished I had carried my sweater. I had forgotten it just like any other day. I had to walk through a forest. Sometime later I reached the blue stream. It was a sign that I had completed half my journey. I sat by the stream to rest for some time. After a five-minute break, I trudged forward. I had no idea how far I’d walked because of the similar-looking trees on both my sides. Minutes later the fresh fragrance of rose overtook me. That’s how I knew that my journey had come to an end. I picked up all the flowers and dropped them into my basket. Once it was full, I walked back to the village market. I sat down and spread all the flowers on an old bed sheet that I usually carried. It was the festive season. The next day was Diwali so I sat back with hope. The sun began to rise. Gradually, customers started flushing into the market. My flowers were sold quicker than I imagined, except for a bunch of roses that lied on my right. Sometime later I noticed an auto entering the market with great difficulty. The road was not in a good condition back then. An elderly woman and a young girl got out of the auto. The girl carried a fancy pink camera. They walked forward wandering around the market. They approached many stalls and clicked pictures. I’ve not clicked any pictures of mine, ever since I was in school. So, I sat there waiting for them to click a picture of mine. As they were to approach my aisle the girl tripped. She fell on her knees. After a lot of struggle, she stood up fully leaning on her mother. Her knees were bleeding. She wasn’t able to stand any longer. I offered her some water. “Let’s go home. I’ll call for an auto” declared the mother. The girl spoke with difficulty, “mom, please. I’ll have to click pictures and take videos of the people in the market. It’s my project and I’ll have to submit it tomorrow. It carries thirty per cent of my final grades”.

“Fine then. I’ll find auto and you’re going home. I will take care of your project. the mother declared. “Mom, you were here only to drop me. Also, you already have a leg sprain. I’ll complete the project by myself.”

The mother wasn’t listening anymore. She was busy looking for an auto. I helped her find one. She walked the girl into the auto. She gripped the camera and waved to her daughter. She began clicking pictures of the market. I sat back waiting for a customer to sell the last bunch of roses. After a while, a little six-year-old approached me. “Hey cutie, how can I help you?” I enquire. The little girl replied, “Auntie, tomorrow is mummy’s birthday. I want to buy some rose for her.” “Well, you’re lucky then. I have one last bunch on rose left.” I exclaimed. “yay! How much money should I give you?” she asked. “you’ll have to give me fifteen rupees.” I asserted. She sat down on a stone nearby, opened her little bag, and grabbed a handful of coins. She began counting them. Once she was done, she handed over all the coins she had. I offered her the last bunch of roses. As she was about to leave the elderly woman called out to the little one and asked her to pose for a photo. The woman had sat down to rest for a while. She leaned towards the stall next to mine and began taking a video of the flowers. I waved to the little girl as she turned to leave.

The little one had just walked a few steps before she tripped. She held a Stranger’s hand to save herself from the fall. In an instant, she began crying out loud. I walked up to her. “hey! Don’t worry, you’re alright. Stop crying.” I tried to console her. She pointed out her flowers. It lied on the ground. Someone had stepped over it. “It’s okay, you can buy another one.” I convinced her. “I don’t have money.” She spoke innocently. “Everyone is giving mom a gift. My brother is giving a saree. My father is also giving me a gift. I also want to give something. but I don’t have money. Mummy is a good girl. I want to give her a gift.” Cried the little one. I felt bad for the child. So, I walked up to a stall nearby, grabbed a bunch of roses, and handed over fifteen rupees. The florist called out to me, “a bunch of flowers costs twenty-five rupees!” I tried bargaining but, the florist was stubborn. So, I tossed a few more coins and offered the flower to the little girl. “I don’t have money!” she exclaimed. “Not a problem, here, you can have these flowers for yourself.” I offered. “Auntie, mummy told me not to take anything from strangers if they give it for free. I don’t want these flowers” she denied and continued crying. I was impulsive. I wanted to help. “hey, you know something, I sell two bunch of flowers for fifteen rupees. I was trying to cheat you.” I lied. “you tried to cheat! Mummy said cheating is a bad habit.” She exclaimed and snatched the bunch of roses from me. “YOU ARE A BAD GIRL.” She shouted out loud. Everyone in the mark turned to look at me. Little kids started laughing at me. I was embarrassed but, a part of me was truly happy for the little girl. I walked back home.

A week passed by. Everything seemed to be going normal until one day. As I walked through my lane people ran towards me and clicked selfies. I was bewildered. A young girl who realized that I was uncomfortable showed me a video. It was a video taken by the elderly women in the market, right from the time the little girl tripped until I was embarrassed. The girl said that the video became viral and was gaining over a billion views and likes. I was overjoyed. I had become famous. People started donating and helping me with money and other essentials.

This would have not been possible without the three mothers. The elderly woman worked hard for her daughter’s project even though she had a sprain in her leg and she was able to come up with such a popular video. The little girl’s mother had enlightened her daughter with all the good habits and she would have not become so popular because of her mother’s teachings. I wouldn’t have cared to help the little girl if my mother had not taught me to help others without any expectations.

These three mothers and their love, care, and selflessness for their children changed my life.

Huh! How are mothers always right?! Truly a mystery!