A 2-Second Hug

Ammukutty, my daughter's hug lasts for 2 seconds sharp. After which she pulls away to run towards her mother. In my opinion, duration of their hug lasts longer. Not that I get jealous, the point here is, I haven't been to paradise. But I don't think it would be prettier than my Ammoosee's 2-second hug.. :)

Survival. Of a household.

It is the same like in every other middle class family, where the parents worked – hard – in order to make both the ends meet, to pay for everything from the monthly bills, to education of the kids, to save for the future to give both themselves, and their kids a better-than-today tomorrow.

And in addition to all these essentials, like any other typical middle class family, they also had to maintain the status of an upper middle class life and show that living-beyond-their means is actually within their means. Thus, taking upon themselves the additional responsibility of upgrading themselves from a two-wheeler to a car, upgrading themselves from their old color TV to the latest LED in the market (wide enough to the cover the entire wall of the living room), washing machine that even dried to reduce the burden on the wife, refrigerator to accommodate as many people as in a marriage party, an air-conditioner to keep the flaring tempers down, sofa set that cost more than the entire household furniture put-together, and more importantly, by-passing all the interests and talents – natural born and developed ones’ (which they nourished in the first place) – of their children, and force-enrolling them into medical colleges or engineering colleges in order to brag before their colleagues’. The expenses of which has to come from bank loans (and that getting an education loan is viewed at par with getting a scholarship is a different story altogether).

As if these were not all, they also have to fulfill their long term goal - to get themselves a home of their own - despite the fact that there is a home awaiting each of the spouse, by means of inheritance, which off course neither ones will be interested in (as it lies in some far-off rural area, away from their place of work).

My parents belonged there. And I - a brand new parent, myself - am on my way. Despite being a rebel all my life trying to prove my parents wrong. 

Relations. And more.

Its just so difficult maintaining all relations you have in life. In trying to make everyone around you happy, you often forget you are after all only human. And, there are still a lot of things in life that are beyond you.

Ma.

"I have been an unlucky, useless mother all my life. But will that take away the fact that I am a mother still? Your mother. And, I love you all the same."

Ammachi...

For the very first time after so many years, I seriously miss my mother a lot, all of a sudden.