Happy birthday, Mother

29 years ago, a home in a small coastal town of Karnataka, was filled with anxiety, worry and preparations for what would to be welcome a new member into their family.

Parents of 7 children knew what they were to expect and having gone through this similar feeling before, feelings they were familiar with but could never get over it. Atmosphere was tense before they knew that their daughter had given birth to a healthy child, and that their daughter and grandchild were safe.

News then didn’t spread as fast as it does now. Family or friends whoever was at the hospital were the first recipients of it, and the information would flow over a telephone call. You would get only a glimpse if you were to visit the hospital or wait for baby to brought back home.

I was, as a matter of fact, lucky to be born in an hospital. And lucky to have been declared healthy too. Although it was the most important of my life, my birthday, beginning of my existence, it was much more than that for someone else.

Can’t tell if she was happy or frightened to see me, but she was there. She was formally trained to be a teacher and gained a position as high school teacher with her merits. But for what came for she never had a single clue.

Unprepared, probably, she was vulnerable and I was her weakness and strength. She now had a new job. Today she became a different person.

It was today, 29 years ago, she gave birth to me but she also gave birth a new mother. This was her birthday as a mother; with all the material instincts and care.

Even today I see the same amount of care and love she probably would have had then. Something tells me that it will never fade.

She is a true hero and on my birthday I wish her too, a very happy birthday, Mother.