Ethereal...

So day before night I crashed early, I thought I could really use the extra hour of sleep to rejuvenate my body that is lazy to get out of bed at 6 every morning.

After about an hour of sleep, I don't know why I started having a very sharp pain in my stomach. At first it felt like I was dreaming of having pain, I held on to my tummy but when it worsened, I realized it was real.

I tumbled in the bed, my cries woke hem up too.. He worriedly asked what happened. I couldn't say much but managed to blurt out 'stomach'. He asked 'When did you have food?' I was rolling my eyes (in my mind) for that question. '6' I said.

'You must be hungry, that's why the pain. Shall I get you some biscuits?' he enquired. This time I couldn't answer. I squeezed my hands deeper into my tummy, praying the pain would subside. It din't.

I got up, sat in vajrasana, lied down again in vajrasana, slept on my stomach, got up again, deep breathed, prayed, squeezed my muscles, nothing seemed to help. In my head, I was wondering what was the reason for this terrible pain. I slowly had two sips of water as he sleepily, yet nervously looked at on.

Just in that moment, I kind of felt a whisper in my ear and I repeated the same words aloud. Hem quickly got on his feet, looked for the small box that contained what I needed and handed it over to me along with a spoon.

I opened the box, it was my parents' recipe for stomach ache. Main ingredient being carrom seeds, it had a lot of medicinal components that are very good for the stomach. Skeptical if it would work, I took a spoonful of the mixture and gulped it down with water thinking..

It usually takes about 20 to 25 minutes for it to work but that night, my pain kind of vanished while I could feel the mixture still travelling down my esophagus.

I couldn't believe what just happened, he asked if I wanted more water and as if I din't hear him, I quietly closed my eyes and lied down. I don't know when I slept but I dint have any pain thereafter.

When I awoke the next morning, the first thing he asked was if I'm fine. I started thinking about last night and replayed the scene in my head.

It was Maa who whispered 'Take the ajwain mixture'. She then caringly touched my stomach as I gulped the mixture. I could feel her lap when I lied down immediately after.

I recollected thinking about her all day, the previous day and I prayed to meet her in my dream. That didn't happen but I nearly felt her ethereal presence.

Her kids could do anything at all to get to see her or talk to her once (if it were ever possible). In our heads we are conversing with her in our own way, thinking about her consciously or subconsciously.

I do not know if there is really a way of connecting with her but I'm so so so grateful to her for letting me know she is around.

Miss You Maa..

Immitation - Limitation.

So we have all seen hairdos, clothes and characters of actors and artists from movies being copied by audience. None of which are actually needed.

I recently watched Tu Jhooti Main Makkar and Rocky and Rani ki prem kahani. Ranbir and Alia starring in them respectively, working on a closely related subject.

Love, Family and Relationships. Despite being two different plots, I felt the message was the same. Both the movies put across the message that women in our lives need to be given importance and respect in real sense.

When Shraddha wore a kurta to meet Ranbir's family, they cornered him saying why did you ask her to wear a kurta, we aren't backward!

When Alia (in the latter) asks Ranveer why does a girl have to leave her family after marriage? Is it a written rule? It struck a chord.

These things resonate with every girl. It makes me wonder, why aren't these thoughts replicated in our homes? After all we learn so much from movies, why not learn things that make our families better, more so equal??

Of course there are families that have working women, but crores of other Indian women are the homemakers who not only are denied their dreams but end up being bonded labours all their lives.

They are expected to cover thier heads let alone freedom to wear what they like. They need to get permission to go out, let alone being given a break. People frown when they go to meet their family, let alone treating them as one.

They are not allowed to make decisions, their opinions and thoughts are unwelcome and they are not at all permitted to fall sick. They feed everyone and no one cares to know if they have eaten too. They are expected to take care of elders, kids, guests, relatives but no one bothers to care for them.

Despite all of this, the least time that they get to spend with, are their husbands. The ones that they leave everything behind eventually forget that biggest sacrifice their wives make while moving into their homes. Will they be able to do the same? Will a husband move to another home, city or country for his wife? You know the answer.

Many say that there's nothing new with that. Their mothers, grand mothers and their mothers have been doing the same thing. I just want to know, did they ever bother to find out their mother's talent/hobby?

Don't tell me they had none, I'm sure they did but never nurtured it because they had families to nurture. My mother loved to dance, she enjoyed movies, shopping, going out with family. She too spent a major chunk of her life serving family tirelessly but when we grew up, we made sure she got to do what she loved.

Unfortunately we can't do that anymore but we are glad we could give her little joy for sometime. So do our husbands wait for our kids to grow up, so that they stand up for their mothers, discover their talents and fulfill their mother's desires?

Why does HE hesitate to support, stand by his so called better half when SHE wouldn't hesitate to do so, if the roles were reversed??

There is still lots to be imbibed from our movies, in terms of new ideas, changing thought processes, eliminating baseless traditions and truly embracing co-existance.

My questions won't cease to exist but I'll leave you with a last and important one, people copy what is entertaining not what is essential. Why is there a limitation to the imitation (the one that's actually needed)?

GOD BLESS!

CHS