Ma

It was this day, that year; it is Ashtami today, it was Sasthi that year. How could the little boy of 7 years, engrossed in the festivities of Durga Puja, playing with his friends at a distance from his house—on a street that was as brightly illuminated on that day of October 6th, 1989, as is today—know that he is about to suffer the greatest loss of his life.

How would he know that the day has somewhat prematurely arrived for his closest and most beloved human to leave him, forever! The womb that nurtured him into existence, the mind that fervently prayed for his arrival, the heart that broke into ecstasy hearing his first cry of life, the embrace that fortressed him against worldly vagaries is going away today, never to return again.

Ma – the boy’s sanctuary of love, care, and protection, has since been a remnant of memory! Interestingly, we continue to live independent of the existence of our progenitor, like a flame that keeps burning even when the flame that lit it in the first place extinguishes. Yes, amazingly, we can orbit independently even when the central star has gone out!

Thirty years have passed since. I wish I had her a little longer. To gather enough of her essence. To hoard some of her love.

A simple wish! Denied.

Not to happen in this life. Never again in this life.