My Mothers Day Time Table!!
“Mummy kahan ho?”
“Mummy…..??”
The first word that comes out of me as I step into my parents home every single time, be it years back when I lived there or now when I visit Saharanpur. A warm spontaneous call for…”Mummyy..!!” has to be heard by every corner of the house before anything else is said or observed!
It's an eternal conversation, between a mother and the child. This call for each other that ignites love with each syllable spoken out loud.
I love my mother.
As easy as it feels and sounds, often with my generation expressing this love in words doesn’t come easy, for in our childhood motherly love was overstuffing us with mitha or saving us from the evils of this world with a magical nazar ka tikka! Perhaps it also has something to do with the way my mother observed affection for Naani. She keeps a black and white polaroid of Naani stuck on the inner panel of her vintage Godrej almira. With its curved yellow corners, the picture still smiles at me whenever she happens to open it in front of me.
I just feel that she deserves the world!
For it is now that I have come to realize what it is to be a mother. As years pass this admiration for her only increases. I can now totally relate now when she used to throw her hands in exasperation and say, “Tumhe maloom lagega jab tum Maa banogi”. Am pretty sure we all have rolled our eyes to this dialogue once in our lives only to realize its truth years later!
And so out of all the appreciative sentiments of a daughter, especially after months of not seeing her I decided to celebrate this Mother’s day by being with her virtually.
Wrecking my brains for something that would make for a clever gift or a warm gesture, I came up with the idea of planning a day of her life for her. Where I will be present with her throughout it all while being miles away from her.
I am simply wishing she enjoys not being in power just for this one day! Thankfully she’s least fond of social media, so she’ll have no clue whatsoever of this plot and I can surprise her!
I have already ganged up with my brother and sister (you know how siblings babble things away? Especially the ones they should keep mum about? Well yeah!)
So here's this TIMETABLE of Mother’s day for her to follow. She always made these ruled and neatly written time-tables for me I remember! Inner-me is finding it really entertaining to be the one in command for once (she should take solace in the fact that at least mine is a fun one!).
- 7AM: Will begin the day with a gift opening ceremony :D. Over a video call, I'll ask her to check out what’s in the lowest drawer of her dresser (I made my bhabhi plant my gift for her there, behind her bangle box.). After all the happy exchanges of “Yeh kyun kiya” “ Tum log bhi na, kya kya karte ho!” “Are mummy it’s fine, it’ll look so nice on you!”; I’ll ask for her to be on the breakfast table at 8:30 sharp!
- 8:30AM: A hot cup of chai and the old good comforting poha made by my brother over some sweetened conversations, a blushing thank you from her which I am sure will follow...haha! Mommy dear will be prepped for her timed and tabled day and be asked to meet me on call at 11 next.
- 11AM: It’s LUDO time. Yay! We will both apply her all-time favourite facepack (the good ol’ multani mitti+rosewater) we keep jars full of this goodness. My daughter is really looking forward to this part, for she simply loves to send those gotis back to their homes. I remember vividly the fun of playing LUDO as a child with everyone in the family scheming and whispering on how to take the opponent down! A dose of nostalgia for the both of us!
- 1 PM: Her favourite lunch will be served made by my brother and bhabhi. I’ll leave them to this after asking her to be dressed, wear her gifts and meet me at 4:30. I can picture the clouds of apprehension swarming in her eyes! “Mujhe nahi malum, aapne ready rehna hai Mummy!” I’ll exit before she gets me to loosen my hold. Mothers do that!
- 4 PM: Zoom kitty preplanned with her sister and 3 of their common childhood friends. She will be pampered with mathri and the hibiscus iced tea (one that she most loves)! Before the call we’ll click pictures, them there and us here. A day to dress up and celebrate ourselves.
- 9 PM: We’ll make a video call with all the family members in a single frame as being in the same room isn't possible with lockdowns and restrictions on traveling. Swiggy and banter for dinner it will be! Hearty conversations over a conference call that will involve a little leg-pulling, lots of laughter and a boost of endorphins will be a huge comfort! The perfect ending note to this timed and tabled day!!
My anticipating heart is full of bubbly joy that just can’t wait for this special lockdown wala Mother’s day!! After all it brings a ray of hope for happiness in these trying times. Times that have led us to move within the concentric levels of life seeking comfort in the people we love and people who love us. Families, friends and homes have never been more important than now, as they say blood is thicker than water. With hope in our hearts this too shall pass….
P.S. This day is all about picking the good, feeling good and taking a break from the chaos in our minds. For those of us who have been lucky to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, we will try to rekindle some nostalgia and poke our memory sacks for a couple of laughs.
This is how we will celebrate mother's day...what about you? How are you going to make this a day to remember for your mother, near or far?
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