Well first of all thanks for visiting my blog, you guys might be surprised what is this all about? Well this blog is for my Mom (Aai- आई , that's what we call it in Marathi).
Today when I am sitting in this ward, seeing my Mom getting checked up by Doctors (though a regular one), Just went back to old days and realized something...

गुरु ब्रम्हा । गुरु विष्णु । गुरु देवो महेश्वराः 

गुरु साक्षात् परब्रम्ह । तस्मै श्री गुरूवे नमः ॥ 

This chants in Sanskrit describes that Guru is everything in our life. He is Creator (Bramha), Preserver (Vishnu) and destroyer (Shiva), he is everything hence we need to bow down to him. Hinduism teaches this and yeah it is so true. But have we ever realized that who is that ultimate teacher to whom we should go for advise, for healing?? The day we all realize this I believe that day most of us would be happy and satisfy in our life. Because the day I realized this I felt so humble, so down and there was that feeling of relaxation which I am unable to express in words. I guess it can just be felt.

"Nagesh, did you complete your homework? What are you doing? Your are getting late for school", Mom shouted.
"Yes Aai, I am done with all my homework. See what I have written, Teacher asked us to write on Mom. I have written everything what and all you do for me :) " I replied.
"Ok..Ok,...pack your bag fast. Have kept lunch box on table, don't forget to pack it and finish it completely!!! " Mom said and started running behind me.
I went to school and when I came back, my shoulders were down, feeling isolated, numb may be!
everyone in class wrote same things about Mom, was thinking what I had written would be exceptional. When in class we presented our essay to teacher, she said, "Guys, Mom does lot of things for you and that's why you love her but do you really know what are things that your mom loves? Where she likes to go, her hobbies, her birthday? And what you all do for her? When you go home today try to observe her, write it down if you want to take help, ask your elders, ask Dad but Yes don't ask Mom."
So when I came back home, I tried to observe her closely. Started with food, what my mom likes in food. I like Batatyachi Bhaji (Potato Vegetable) but what she likes, she eats all vegetables, if she thinks that today we( me and my sis) eating a lot, she eats little and stops. Sometimes she eats yesterdays food too. I never asked mom to give me yesterday food!! Sometimes Dad does say but...we never said that!!!
I like to play cricket, so she gave me new cricket bat without my birthday!!! and that too from her savings!!!
Next attacked on what are her hobbies..well she likes to read!!! Daily one hour she used to read, books, news papers etc...Also she likes to sing, sometimes she used to sing Marathi songs. Those days we did not have TV at our home. But mom never forced my Dad to have one. Dad used to ask shall we buy one but that was just for that moment. But she always used to give our reason that we need to give good life to our children, need to raise them properly, need to teach them properly. "We can have TV later also", that's what she always used to say to Dad. She never bought a book for herself, she always used to go to library and take one. Never forced us to read books but yeah eventually we ended up doing that.
"What is the favorite color of Mom??", I asked to myself but again confusion, mom has Sarees of all colors :( Even when I went with mom to buy bed sheets, she bought dark colors one so that it will not get dirty easily. But I guess she likes Purple/Sky blue.
Now Mom's birthday!!! whom should ask this question? that was the biggest question I had. I asked my sis, she was like what happened to this fellow suddenly asking birthday and that too Mom's. She said 3rd Oct. Then next question pop up in mind,"what do we do on her birthday? She prepares whatever we like on our birthday but what we do? Nothing!!!" Again same reaction from Sis, she carefully asked, " Nagesh, are you ok? " and I was like "Yeah". When I used to go on school picnics she used to wake up early morning, preparing puri, bhaji and all that I like and she used to pack 2 lunch boxes one for me and one for my friends! and for her birthday we don't do anything.
Next point, mom's friends!!! Mom used to talk a lot to my neighbor aunt (Aatya, we used to call her) . Sometimes when aunt used to come to my house after her housework, they used to laugh. Back those days in CID Officers quarters, it was common in Mumbai. Neighbors used to come, used to share there feelings, problems etc and then happy endings to our Mother's meetings.
The next day, I went to play cricket with my friends, it was dark in the evening. When I came back to home, my mom was sitting on a chair near window, having tears in her eyes. I went to her and asked, "Mom what happened?". She said,"Nothing happened, and even if I tell you now you will never understand". I did not get that, but continued with my observation.
One day I decided to sit next to mom and listened what actually they talk. Literally I cried after hearing what my mom has to share with aunt, but at the end she started laughing. She looked at me and saw me crying she said "Nagesh, what happened? ". She understood without me telling anything. "See, if you cry at this situation you will never face the biggest problems that life has in it. You will cry now, you will be down but what is more important is, how well you can smile back at life and say is that all you have? ", she said. Those words of her are craved on my mind and heart.
That day I got to know her, well not every bits of her because if I really want to know how it feels to be like a mom then I have to take rebirth. No one in this world will love us unconditionally. We always say, "Mom its work pressure you will not understand" but did we really understand how much pressure she takes on her everyday for us!!! The day we all realize at least 10% of this, the day we will meet real God!
In marathi we have saying "आईच आईपन हे आई झाल्याशिवाय नाही कळणार !!!".

Thanks,
NM