I love you..Maa !
Amaaya used to say this to her mother, every day. Like every other girl, she loved her dearest mumma beyond limits. Her mother was her companion in all her joys and sorrows. Amaaya, a 24 year old girl, never hesitated in confiding any of her secrets with her mother. Be it her first innocent crush at the age of 13 at a boy who had his roll number after hers or a gruesome fight with her best friend in high school. Every other girl envied Amaaya for having such an unconditional, unadulterated and beautiful relationship with her mother. And at her subconscious level, she enjoyed all the more knowing this.
Tomorrow was her wedding day. She was getting married to the boy, she had her crush upon. Yeah ! After being together at school for 10 years, destiny didn't part them away. They got admission in the same University and after that got recruited for jobs by the same company. Having witnessed all the beautiful moments of their lives together, they both got attached by unbreakable strings speaking of an everlasting bond.
Okay ! So she was gleeful, she was baffled and she was numb. Gleeful for she was soon going to be dressed in the world's most beautiful attire for the most beautiful celebration of her life. Baffled for she was still unsure about the pair of jhumkas that would complement her round-shaped face. And numb for she knew that the beginning of her new life from tomorrow meant bidding adieu to her old one. A part of her was dominant with euphoria but the other part marked sheer numbness and fear. Soon, she felt overwhelmed and drops of tears slided down her cheeks smudging her kajal around her eyes, but for now she didn't care of the smudges. She made her footsteps towards her mother as from that very moment, she wanted to spend every second available to her being near to her . She reached at the doorstep of her room and stopped. She vigilantly dabbed her eyes so as not to let her mother know about her sobbing. It was the first time she was hiding something from her mother, her tears. She ushered into the room dragging her feet and went towards the window.
"Mumma...." - She said.
(Then, not waiting for her to respond, she continues)
"Mumma...I am here. I want to talk to you. Talk to you for this whole night. I want to tell you that I love you very much. I know, I say this everyday, but today it's special. Any string of letters cannot bring out what I am feeling now. Tomorrow's my wedding and this very thought has triggered the emotions inside me. Restlessness is taking a hold on me. And pouring my heart out to you is what I desperately need to do.
Mothers inhibit within them the purest souls and so you do. You have played many roles in your life but that of the mother is my favorite. You have always been there for me, advising me, scolding me and loving me. I love you Maa..I remember so well cuddling with you in bed and how I used to place my fingers between yours while crossing the roads. The sleepless nights which you had spent to lend me a peaceful sleep are priceless.
(She has started whimpering now but summoning all her courage, she continues.)
Numbers would fall short if I go on counting the sacrifices you had made selflessly without giving a second thought. I have been stubborn at times but had handled me with such aplomb all the time. I have shouted on you at times but the truth is that I love you, love you more than anything else. Your act of filling our bellies first with the delicious food you used to cook and being the last one to eat has always taken my heart away. You are the owner of the most beautiful soul which no person can ever think to hurt. Mumma, remember when you used to tear off your dupatta whenever I got bruises. Believe me, that piece of cloth had always been a better and preferable option for me than some medically advised bandage. Whenever, I came home having won any trophy, the way you used to embrace me in your arms with ardor, that I won't ever forget. Whenever I get any complement, after some blushing, you know what comes out of my mouth instantly - "I am my mother's shadow." Yes, I love saying it. And I love it more when others say it to me. Oh yeah ! And the birthday dress you gifted me on my fifth birthday, how can I forget that. You made me look so pretty that day. And Mumma, do you know..."
She heard her father calling her name outside. She stopped the monologue and responded to him. She placed her hands on eyes for a minute. She took a deep breathe. She walked outside the room gesticulating her mother that she would come back.
And just then, the star to which she was talking twinkled twice brightly in the vast stretching sky.