Imperfect Perfecon“Happy Mother’s Day”, a 40-year-old Me calling my mother all the way from Goa to Kolkata. Theresponse was expected, “Sheta abar ki?” (What is that now?). Both of us having a good laugh at theexpense of Modern Americanised Culture taking over the en/re Indian subcon/nent. Reminiscingthose mother daughter conversa/ons, reminds me of HER, the woman who wouldn’t stoprecoun/ng of my birth (well that would need another ar/cle), how as a kid in my missionary school, Iwas asked to say “who made YOU” and I promptly retorted, “My MOTHER made me” and how I wasreprimanded and corrected by the teachers, “GOD made You, not Your Mother!”. They actuallycalled my parents and explained how I was not ge7ng convinced, and that they needed my parent’sinterven/on!! (Ma and me would have a hearty laugh at such recollec/on of the li8le me, and thatwould make an even9ul mother daughter moment) That would make a MOTHER’s Day moment, Ibelieve.As a young bride I did not know the norms of the family that I got married into, and I would makemany mistakes, be it making a certain prepara/on, or learning to keep my mouth shut when notrequired, or numerous other instances, I fondly remember, Khuku pishi, my husband’s pishi (father’ssister) she was the mother, who would come to my rescue. Learnt a lot from her, many an a<ernoonI would spend with her na8ering and cha8ering about all and sundry with a pan our mouth, braidingmy hair and teaching me ‘how the le< feet is to be put >rst while walking, when one enters thehouse for the >rst /me’ (the convent educated me has no clue even today, as to why, but Iremember, how I was appreciated for knowing such things) That would make a Mother’s Daymoment, I believe.
My husband needs to stay at di?erent part of the world due to his job, hence travel has been aregular theme of my life. Ahmedabad was one such job des/na/on and I was a young bride at that/me. We rented an apartment and Mashima,(aunty) used to live in an apartment just above us. Shehad severe arthri/s and walked with the help of a support. Every evening she would call for me andwe would speak on di?erent topics. I was her connect to the world and she was HOME for me.Incidentally, I met with an accident and was unable to move out of my apartment, mashima wouldcome over taking the elevator with her walker everyday just to see if I was >ne. She would cook myfavourites and bring it with her, just to elevate my spirits. I recovered soon, however we had tomove again. I was heartbroken to leave Mashima, on the day that I was supposed to leave she madean assortment of utensils that I might need and got the inscrip/on done on each of them “ Munni keMashima” ( To Munni From Mashima) That would make a Mother’s Day moment, I believe. Happy Mother’s Day to All the mothers in my Life

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About the author :

Nilanjana Mitra, born and raised in Kolkata. An Educationalist by profession, a chronicler of mundane by nature.