For the sunshine in their faces

I never knew that a “Duo Antakshari session” could create such a great impact on my mother.Defined as “silly and immature game”; it was yet another whimsical idea of mine to kill time on a Sunday evening. The whole plot staged almost a week ago when i asked my mom “shall we play?”. It was raining heavily outside, accompanied with loud thunders and as always, this time too she had advised me not to use either the T.V, computer or Cell phone (well, as is customary at home during thunder and lightning). But did I expect a “yes” to my naive invitation to play? Or did I expect an answer at all? I doubt.It was a question. And just that. The extreme dullness in the surrounding air had prompted me to go for such a crazy question. But to whom???  My mother? Having put forth such a weird question, i felt a bit sympathetic to myself. It isn’t the age to play-at least with your mom.

 “So here we go! I’ll start the game”- did I hear it wrong? No! I could see mom sitting in the opposite couch, facing me, all set to play. As always, this time too, she has surprised me – not just with a “yes” to my invitation, but with an additional stimulus to initiate the game. It must be her interest in the game, or the fond memories of her prime days, she was happy and excited! Fifty years had not made any significant differences in her. Neither another fifty could. Was it not the same energy and enthusiasm of a rebellious teenager, there was an extra ingredient that evidently made her a step ahead of me all through the game.

She did win the game. A well deserved victory for a true game lover. But beyond the spirit of game, beyond the urge to win, the happiness in her eyes made me realize that I was never less than a real winner. It was the same glimmer that used to decorate papa’s eyes while seeing me at the arrival lounge of railway station. Such innocent glimmers are hard to find. Once found, they stay imprinted in our minds forever.

 I realize that time has flown quickly past me- making me grow beyond the safe boundaries of home. As life evolved into newer dimensions each day, I met heights, passion, obsession and materialism at various crossroads. Life did move on. Life did move away – from home, parents and those simplest of moments that brought sunshine to their faces.

We are a generation with chains all around – chains of dreams to become big. Whether knowingly or not, it drags us away from the little shell called home; the mindless laughter and petty quarrels that define it; the joy , warmth and shelter that it can offer; the priceless value of relations.

Perhaps, it’s time for us to opt for a journey down the hill – to realize that our stories and accomplishments rest upon those of our mothers and fathers- cemented strong upon the water of their lives. May be, years later, we would understand that those little streaks of sunshine we brought on their faces were the biggest of accomplishments that we have ever made in our lives.