Today, I returned to my hometown after finishing up with my seventh-semester exams. Who doesn’t like to go home and talk to Mamma-Papa, spend time with them and have lunch dinner, and breakfast with them? The time spent with my parents has always been the best time for me.
Ma-Papa!!! They have always given their most unconditional love to me. No matter how wrong or miserable I did in my studies or anywhere else in life, no matter how much I hurt them, no matter how much I make them feel down and no matter how much I break the rules they made for me. They never get annoyed or scolded me for all that. It’s not so that they weren’t hurt, disappointed, or felt bad because of me. But they never showed it, and never ever stopped talking to me. At times, I have got frustrated by them, I have got annoyed by them, dissatisfied with them, and even shouted at them sometimes. Still, they never responded back in an angry tone or gave me any kind of punishment. I haven’t got the answer to this question yet- “Why were they so kind and generous towards me, even when I gave them nothing but pain and sorrow most of the time”. Most of the time, I didn’t understand their eternal love for me, their extreme care and well wishes for me, and didn’t even respect their opinions about my career and future.
Today, all these things were going through my mind and I was constantly blaming myself for every bad I have done with them. I was in deep anguish because of all the mistakes I have made till day. I had never understood their love and care for me. I never respected their love. I had never thought about the day when they won’t be available for me and everything would be finished.
As I came out of the station, I saw that Papa hadn’t come to the station to receive me, as they always used to. I took the taxi and reached my home place - A 23/19, Sunshine colony. As I stepped into the home today, I felt the atmosphere there wasn’t as usual. There wasn’t much happiness flowing through every nook and corner of home as it used to be every day. Today, Papa wasn’t healthy enough that they can’t get over his bed to welcome me. But they still gave me the same best smile as they always used to, whenever I return home after a long time. There wasn’t the same energy, there wasn’t the same charm and there wasn’t the same glow on his face as he usually possesses. He was looking so weak. It was looking like he hadn’t taken a good healthy diet and hadn’t done the morning exercise for so long. I responded with a quick smile and hugged him so tight. The hug from his side wasn’t the same as he used to give a few months ago.
I asked him, what happened, why is there so much awkward silence in the home? Is everything alright? Why are you looking so weak? And yes, why didn’t you come to receive me at the station Papa? I asked him a series of questions without a break and didn’t even give him a chance to answer. He held my hand with as much power he has left within. A teardrop came out of his eyes. I hadn’t seen him like this ever before. I was clueless about what’s wrong with him, why is he behaving like this. He was never the same before. I had always seen him as a happy and energetic person. No matter how sad or stressed he used to, still a big genuine smile never get hid from his face. He was the one who taught me all the life lessons, he taught me how to be strong and keep smiling whatever the situation life puts you in. He always wanted to see me smiling and fulfilled all my wishes even if it was out of his reach. He never made me compromise for anything.
I asked him, what happened papa? Holding his hand, as tight as possible. He didn’t say anything. Just whispered few words in my ear. His voice was so feeble that it wasn’t audible to me. Very soon, my blood pressure was going high with time and I was about to give up on my patience. I controlled a lot but a teardrop also came out of my eye and then two and... Both of us were crying. I had no idea what’s happening but just keep on crying. I tried a lot to ask him what happened, and he did nothing but a whisper. I was trying for so long but was getting the same whisper every time. I rushed inside the room to ask mom, ‘what’s going on in this home’. She was sitting on the old wooden chair which had been rejected out of our home for 2 years or more. I went in front of her, greeted her. There wasn’t any happiness over her face even after seeing me after so long. Also, she didn’t shower her blessings on me as she always used to do. I asked her, please mom, tell me what’s wrong with papa. And asked all the questions which I had asked Papa just a few minutes ago. She hugged me and didn’t say a word. This time I asked the question, screaming…. ‘Mom, for God’s sake, please tell me what has happened to him. Why no one of you is giving an answer to any of my questions!
She started telling me everything. I was just listening to her and my mind had gone blank. I had forgotten all my happiness and all my vacation plans. She told me everything, why your papa isn’t telling a word, why is there an awkward silence in the home, why didn’t your father come to the station to receive you. She kept on speaking continuously for more than 35 minutes and told me everything. Now I wasn’t saying a word. There was pin-drop silence in the home, except for some deep mourning sounds.
To be continued...
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Good night