18 years back, on this very day, I opened my eyes to this beautiful world. Maa tells me that there were festivities and celebrations all around. She had never seen The Manchanda Villa lit up so beautifully, not even on Diwali. The halwais were busy packing gifts, dry fruits and sweets. There was media flocking around. For a couple of days, Maa chose to believe that the celebrations and the glitz were for my birth. But reality confronted her when Mrs. Manchanda stepped into the house with a baby girl in her arms. The girl who was born at the exact same time, on the same day, in the same city but to a different mother. Astrologically we should have similar destinies but she was the blessed one who had the softest and prettiest rooms in the world and Maa carried me to the darkest corners of the house – servant quarter as they called it.
Mr. Manchanda was a business tycoon and Mrs. Manchanda a social worker. Just 20 days after giving birth to Aahna, she went back to her NGO and the elite parties. Maa was bestowed with the responsibility of babysitting Aahna during the day. There were times when Maa was torn between her love for her daughter and her duty to take care of Aahna. But she never let one part overrule the other and she took care of Aahna just like me. In fact, she cared for her a little more!
For a few years, I accompanied Maa to work until Aahna started having problems with a dark-skinned kid in her room. However, she didn’t want to spare Maa from her caretaker duties. That day I cursed Aahna with whatever little vocabulary I had and cursed my destiny a little more. Why is she so privileged? Why am I not the blessed one?
Since then, Maa woke me up a little earlier, dressed me up, fed me stale roti with milk and rushed to wake up Aahna for the school. In those 30 minutes, mom tried to make up for all the pampering, love, compassion, and energy that would last for 13-14 hours before she came back from the Villa. Meanwhile, I tidied up the house, finished my homework and walked down to the school. Once back home, I cooked meals for myself while Maa served lunch to Aahna in the villa.
My heart ached for Maa’s time and by the end of the day, I would be tired with frustration. But whenever I saw the tired, weary maa, I mocked a smile, gulped down my complaints and slept weeping.
But today was different. It was my 18th Birthday and Aahna’s too. She always celebrated her birthday in a resort and Maa would take an off but not today. Today Aahna’s birthday was celebrated in the villa with a pompous party and Maa could not take an off. She promised me to take an off over the weekend but then my birthday will be gone by then. In the angst, I did not wear the new dress she got for me. I did not go to school. I was upset, furious and cursed my destiny yet again. Destiny could never bless me with anything good that Aahna had in her life. There she was celebrating in the villa with everyone around and here I am a loner in the dark servant quarters.
Late night, when Maa was tiptoeing into the house I switched on the light and shouted, “You take care of Aahna like your own daughter. But what about me? Why can’t you braid my hair like Aahna’s? Why can’t you dress me up like her and why can’t you come and serve me meals? Why do you want me to become independent even before my age? And why can’t you spend time with me on my special day? Even today you chose Aahna. You clearly don’t care for me or miss me!! “
Appalled, Maa just smiled and said, “ Aahna is just a duty and yet she calls me choti maa. But you are the love of my life and you are always hovering over my mind. Do you know that there’s only one corner in the villa from where I can peep into our 1 room house and that is the kitchen. So I always excuse myself into the kitchen to check if you are back from school? If you have had lunch or not? If you are safe and asleep or not? And if you have studied or not!”
“Acha! And all this while I thought you could dive through the tiredness and emptiness in my eyes.” I rolled my eyes and grumbled.
Maa chuckled, pulled my shoulders and rested my head on her lap, “Of course I do. My eyes are always on you and my heart beats for you. There is no right age to be independent and I don’t want you to depend on others for your survival and sustenance. I want you to grow your own roots and stand strong on them. And I take care of Aahna to earn for your studies so that you grow strong roots. I am sorry beta. Please…”
Interrupting in between and realizing that there’s no point dragging it, I turned around on the bed and maa hugged me from behind.
“I am sorry beta.”, Maa whispered in my ears but I closed my eyes while a tear trickled down and my heart ached for a little more time from Maa, a little more kisses and a few more hugs from her. I envied Aahna for owning everything in the world and yet snatching the only thing I had in my life, Maa.
The next day, when the crimson rays pierced through the window, my knuckles rubbed the eyes to force them open. I found a handwritten note addressed to me, under my pillow.
Dear Simmi,
Thank you for everything.
You must be wondering why because we have barely talked in our lifetimes. In fact, I tried everything possible to keep you away from home. But today, I will be leaving for London for higher studies. And I confess that I always envied the blessed girl that you are. All my actions were directed to divert choti maa’s attention from you to me. Somewhere she bestowed me with the warmth and love that I always expected from my mom. She was the only one who stood beside me till I finished my meals. She was the only one in this huge villa who noticed that I didn’t eat well and if something was bothering me. My mom always asked about my well-being and could be easily bluffed. But choti maa never trusted my lies. She got my favourite dishes cooked when I was gloomy. My parents just gave me birth but choti Maa raised me and I owe her a lot.
I often curse destiny for sending me to this big villa and I envy you for being blessed with such a beautiful relationship with your Maa. I just wish I could have been blessed with choti maa.
I am sorry to keep you away from your maa. And to make up for it, I have asked my mom to take care of your studies and family while choti maa can choose to work or not.
I will be sending my driver with dresses for you and choti maa. Please get ready and he will take you where a room is booked just for the two of you. I hope it makes up at least a bit for your missed birthday celebrations.
Signing off with apologies tomend the past and sweet memories to help me survive a lifetime.
Aahna.
Today I realised that we were 2 kids who had a lot in common. Dissatisfied with our lives, we just wanted to be in other’s shoes. But henceforth, I embrace my destiny, to walk on my own path, in my own shoes and glide through life like a blessed soul.
Author’s Note: It is the responsibility of the parents to make their kids feel like the blessed souls so that they can overcome every hardship in life and reach out for the skies.
“The Children’s Day blog train is hosted by www.prernawahi.com and www.vartikasdiary.com”
That’s a really sweet post. it’s an irony of dissatisfaction, very beautifully penned down.
Thank u so much Mittali. Glad u loved it. 🙂
Loved the post, especially the end msg. Ya, sometimes as a parent, it becomes hard to maintain multiple responsibilities but it is very important that our kids learn to make their own path, because at the end it is the thing that matters most in life.
Thank u so much Surbhi. Glad u loved it. 🙂
So well written. Grass on the other side has always been greener which also proves that we never have enough.
Thank u so much Aakanksha. Glad u loved it. 🙂
Simply wow!!!!!Had me hooked till the end…Through the story you very nicely highlighted a very important point.I as a teacher have seen children feeling neglected because parents do not spend quality time with them..
The last para was the perfect reminder for parents.
Author’s Note: It is the responsibility of the parents to make their kids feel like the blessed souls so that they can overcome every hardship in life and reach out for the skies.
Thank u..thank u… There is no better feeling for a writer, than to know that her story kept the readers hooked. U just made my day. 😀
Such beautiful piece, I was so I to the story till the end, at the end a letter from Ahna portrays that for people the grass always looks greener on the other side, v feel the other person is superior or happy or blessed than their own , but everybody has their own share of happiness n sadness..
so true Jameela. Everyone has their share of happiness and lets appreciate that. U just squeezed the entire story in your one line. Thank u so much for dropping by. 🙂
Supriti, what a fantastic, heartfelt, touchy, and beautifully written piece. I don’t know if it is the warmth that I felt while reading this fiction or the Maa in me that I could feel the wetness on my eye lids as I read “I am sorry beta.”. You have a fiction writer in you. Please write more.
To confess, I wrote fiction after a long long time. I am never confident while writing it. But u just made my day and reinstilled confidence. Thank u so so much. 😀
Very well written. Grass seems to be greener on the other side, but if we can think of ourselves in others shoes, we feel blessed.
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. 🙂
Wow, Such a beautiful post you had written. True said as parents we need to be that support and comfort for our kids which they need at every step of life.
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. 🙂
Such a beautiful message conveyed Supriti. I have always admired the way you talk about such simple yet sensitive issue which are often neglected in the society. Keep writing…
Thank u so much Anjali. Coming from u means a lot. Have always loved ur posts and poems. In awee right now. 🙂
Reminds me of a quote when people are a sked to exchange their problems on a table, they chose to walk away with their own.. Beautifully written and did not seem like a fiction, The story is part of me, part of my friend, part of reality .
That’s such a beautifully realistic quote. Thanks for your words. they make me feel special as a writer. 🙂
The sweetest thing I read today on the internet. Sweet, because a child carves for parents’ connection all the time, they seek love and warmth. While one girl had luxuries of the world she carved for the love, the other had love around her but she failed to realize it for long.
Lovely thoughtful post.
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. Ur words just made my day brighter. 🙂
Such a wonderful story, it is indeed parents role to make kids realize how important they are for parents and how good their life is.
So true. thank u for dropping by. Glad u loved it. 🙂
Wow. You had me glued till the end. What a beautiful story with a simple and beautiful message which we all forget. Author’s Note: It is the responsibility of the parents to make their kids feel like the blessed souls so that they can overcome every hardship in life and reach out for the skies. You have summed it up for us parents, a much-needed reminder.
Thank u so much. glad u loved it. Your words are really encouraging. 🙂
Wonderful🙂 I started reading and couldn’t leave before finishing the last word. All I can say is that the story will stay in my mind for long:)
Thats very kind of u. Thank u for the motivating words.
Very well written. Loved reading it!
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. 🙂
OMGGGGG Loved it!! JUst amazing!
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. 🙂
Very well-written saga indeed. I agree with your message- the child’s happiness and well-being in the early years is really in the hands of the parents.
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. 🙂
Wow Supriti, you have a gift of storytelling. This made me teary-eyed. Keep writing more and more!
awww… thank u so much. glad u loved it. 🙂
Very beautifully penned story… It hooked me till end. Totally agree with the end.
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. 🙂
You have such a nice imagination. You are right grass is not green on either side. I loved the story you have beautifully penned.
Thank u so much Sweta. Glad u loved it. 🙂
That’s so wonderfully written and I completely agree to it. It’s really important to spend quality time with kids.
Thank u Rashi. Glad u loved it. 🙂
I am a big fan of your work and after reading this, i am proud of myself for being so. you never fail to amaze me.
This is such a well articulated blog. i absolutely loved reading it. And the message at the end, i totally feel the same. Parents always do what is best for their children, the kids may not see that right then, but sooner or later they do realize that. More power to your pen!
Thank u so much Maneet. U r too kind to say that.. n u just made my day with your words. I am always hesitant to write fiction, but constant encouragement makes me try it. 🙂
Parenting is a responsibility and commitment. I loved how creatively you brought about this point, Supriti
Thank u Tina. Glad u loved it. 🙂
Loved this masterpiece post, left me teary eyed, absolutely correct as a parent it’s our responsibility to tell our kids they are not less than any blessings in our life, how their entity given a meaning to our identity.Amazing post!!kudos!
Aww…Thank u so much… M glad i could put across the emotions so effectively. 🙂
That is so well written. Though we envy others life we don’t know how badly they want to be in our shoes.
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. 🙂
It’s a heartwarming story. We always desire for what we don’t have. And, the message is a must read for all the parents.
Thank u so much. Glad u loved it. 🙂
I loved your write-up and actually got goosebumps. It’s a touching story and I enjoyed the twist you gave towards the end. Keep writing!
Thank u so much Prerna. Glad u loved it. 🙂
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