My mother and me / A story

Class attendance was taken and one by one said yes and when the name came to Babu Saraswathy teacher looked up to the place where babu usually sat and did not call again .She knew he could not come on time ,his mother was admitted in Government Hospital and he would be there attending his mother since no one there in his family to look after her .He and mother only and father passed away one day when he was pulling his cart with load and a speeding lorry hit him and he passed away in a pool of blood - whatever the quantity he had in his body.

Babu sitting in Hospital beside his mother and his mother's eyes looking at him passionately.Nurse brought gruel of rice to the patient asking babu whether he would manage giving it to mother.

"yes sister, I will give..but she is not able to take anything '

Don't worry Babu, try to give as much as possible, we are managing with infusion also'

'Sister, she is not able to talk to me'

She is weak Babu, you see, she will talk to you tomorrow'

'o.k.sister'

Mother showed her hand below her pillo and he knew she meant money to be taken by me to eat for lunch.I don't use the money for my lunch , I know I need money for her other needs , so I come back by evening after school and take the remnant of the rice gruel and I don't take anything else in school or anywhere .I manage with water from school and no one knew I am hungry in school.

I said to mother ' I am going to school'

Mother , I know cant speak since she is week.I could read her eyes , she is saying yes and again showing her fingers below her pillow.I knew what she conveyed ,but said no .I said I had enough to maintain.

I started running to school through the by lanes ,I know going through the main road would take more time , and by the time I reach would be lunch time.Despite my hungry I could run fast so I reached school by 11.30.

I stood out side the class room.Saraswthy teacher asked me to come in and called me near her and asked in whispering tone 'How is your mom'

'she is weak not able to speak.sister said she would talk to me tomorrow and they give treatment.'

Night where do you stay?'

' I lie down on the floor'

'food'

'My mom not able to take complete, I say I already taken,I would take the remnant of the food after she closed her eyes'

'Go and sit down Babu'

Interval came and when all the classmates went to open their food packets I went to a corner near a tree and sat down , started reading my lesions.I must study well so I will pass in three years time my school final , if possible by doing part time job I will study further.

I must help my mother , when she comes out of the hospital I will ask her not to go for work[ she goes for house work like cleaning the kitchen vessels and mopping the floor in three houses and comes back by evening 7 o' clock.She brings home the old and remnant food given by the owners of the house which my mom and I take .That is only only meal we take a day.If there is anything remaining she would give for me in the morning.Money is used for paying the rent to our hut and some essentials.

School bell ringing , now 4o'clock

If start running by the by lanes I could reach the hospital in one hour , for I have to run fast without stopping , no slowing down.

While running I saw a small shop where near the cash counter they keep many things in the jars, like toffes , pickles,lolly pops and salted and soaked amla fruits.I stopped running and went into the shop.

This amla he can give to mother so that she will take more gruel and can bit amla in between.Her mouth has become tasteless , she is very week.sure one day I will become someone and take care of my mother well.

Now I saw a temple, near the shop , very small roadside Vignesh temple.I stood there ..........I don't know how to pray.

I stood before Lord Vigneshwara and prayed as follows

My Vignesh ,I have a friend in your name in my class.

When he knows as a friend about me and my mom

You must also be knowing my mom

She is poor and I am poor

Pl help to raise up from the bed

Let her take rest

I will do part time while studying

Swami, sorry , I have to run.

i will come back.

Thanks.

Then he started running and reached Hospital , running inside the ward.

Bed number 101.

Bed is covered on four sides with screen......... must be giving some treatment

I neared the bed lifting the screen

Sister was closing my mother head to foot with a white sheet.

My mom..............