Letter to my Mom who I fondly called Mummy Jaan

 

As I sit down to write this today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and love for you mom. Words can never truly express just how much you meant to me. You were my rock and my guiding light through life’s ups and downs. There has not been a day that has passed without thinking of you. It’s been seven years since you passed away, but it feels like only yesterday. The pain of losing you is still as fresh as ever. I believe you are in a good place now, which comforts me. But I still miss you so much, and I always will.

I think of the time when you came back to India in early 90’s, prioritizing our future and taking tough decision. Every day, knowing us kids were relying on you and could never take a holiday. I have never heard you once complain or cry over the situation. You always had a brave face put up for us. I remember once I joined college, I informed am going to be independent and enjoy life and not be like you, not realizing you had no option and no support but do all the duties of a dutiful Indian daughter in law and mother. It makes me wonder, if you did find yourself back after the motherly duties done.

I remember how you did your monthly chores of buying monthly grocery shopping etc. with both of us tagging along. Yup a time before online apps had made life easy for us. Handling our tantrums and balancing our demands was a challenge of its own. Over the years as I matured, I realized the sacrifices you had made with no qualms or no complaints. You were so proud of how you had bought up your kids.

I still remember the last few months in the hospital when you asked me if you had done the right thing with us or whether you were an inefficient parent. That question took be by surprise, cos I realized you were eager to hear appreciation from us kids and we took you for granted and never bothered to thank you for all the time you had invested on us, without any expectations. I am sorry I never knew your pain and I wish I could hug you as I always do and say you were phenomenal.

I hope you are proud of what we have become. This could not have happened without your dedication.