Being the only child of my parents, I was most pampered. My mother doted on me like any other mother, but I was always very special to her.Whatever I wanted was mine, till my dad intervened to a certain extent! The reason behind this special fondness is still not known to me.
As I clearly remember, at the age of 18 I fell sick and was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. I was about to be and admitted to hospital immediately when word came from Mangalore that my uncle, my mother's elder brother had expired.
Despite this being the last funeral in her family, my mother did not go for it; instead, she sent my father. I did not understand the seriousness of the situation then and did not say anything to her at the time. But once I recovered fully, I casually asked Mamma one day why she didn't go for the funeral and after rites and leave my father with me instead. She just put her arm around me and said, "My child, my brothers, sisters and myself have spent our lives' good and bad times together. Now that this was the last funeral, I should have gone, but who was there to look after you here in this hospitalised state? I have lost them and now I do not want to lose you, Naloo (my childhood name)."
For a mother, her child comes first; then come the rest. Tears welled in my eyes that day and whenever I recall this incident, especially since neighbours, relatives and friends have turned their backs on me. My mothers little words of little wisdom stand by me rock-solid. I miss her a lot in life.
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