Mother's Day

Mother & Daughter's pose at Ellora (April 2014)

I have not wished my mother for last 2 years because she is not around. She passed away almost 2 yrs back but yes my wife is a mother of 2 and I wished her after seeing a Dettol & P & G ad in the morning newspaper – so did both my daughter’s. We went to dine in Nando’s & the smart manager wanted to take a pic of the family to celebrate mother’s day & send across the photo – They are running a promotion & end of the day we will be counted as successful conversion. On Facebook I see a 6 month old girl angry n confused at being forced to participate in a ceremony and pose for photographs by her mother. I am sure the mother would have wished her mother thru Skype – connecting Dubai to Siliguri.

The maid who cleans our utensils had no clue on mother’s day – but she was happy that we shared the cake with her which otherwise would have got wasted. I also recollected my visit to a sprawling mall – yesterday middle aged ladies who were busy roaming around the store with Collins & scrub to clean the racks / shelves from where people like us would have billed products worth twice their salary. I am sure they will go back home after changing few buses to reach a home which has bulbs but no electricity, taps but no water – and children who have no idea of mother’s day.

As the day comes to a close my daughter’s come to say Good Night to me, I wonder at the contradictions of life & the belief that they will see a better world when their turn comes to get wished on a mother’s day.