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A Bond

She came a good 21 years back at a time when I was a new mother and was getting used to the nitty gritty of motherhood ! Within  a week that she joined work ,Chibu was down with pneumonia and it was a struggle with long weeks of hospitalization! She cried buckets then, and we all thought that may be she was scared to lose  her job and reassured her that she will stay on! Little did we realize that the bond is going to last! Chibu started calling her "mammam" without any prompts and she was thrilled!It was amazing how he refused food on the days she could not come and once she walked almost 8 kms on a day when the whole city was on a stand still because she knew I won't be able to feed him or sing his fave afternoon lullaby of 
" Lokhki Narayahon "!Chibu had his set routine ,8-8 care of mammam and then it was time with me :)
 It's amazing how even now  she waits for him to come back home and won't eat till he's there, cooks what he likes to eat , despite his complains that she hasn't cooked anything worth eating, got his uniform ready as long as he required one and looked after him when he was ill ! At times I do feel guilty to be a part time mother and leaving most of the unpleasant task on her- like waking up Chibu with a cup of coffee! It's a slanging match everyday which she wins and on days that I have to do that I loose hands down ! 
I really don't know how old she is- neither does she ! But this is her second home and refuge, cos Chibu is here! She would probably follow Chibu as long as her health permits and keep tabs on what he is doing and who his friends are ! I know her days are numbered and she really does need to retire, rest and be more with her family. Infact we do talk a lot about that and I dread the day she stops coming altogether, because now it's not money that binds her to us anymore , she graduated to being part of our everyday lives long ago!

Comments

  1. awwww! such a warm and nice post :)

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  2. Thank you so much ! She means a lot to me and Abhro :)We are her extended family and she ours !

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  3. Nostalgia! tell mammam that i remember her and its so nice to read about her. Its a lovely piece!

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  4. I will sharmila :))) she will definitely feel good !

    ReplyDelete

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