Mere Paas Maa Hai

It is very amusing for our generation that grew up on the overdose of SRK’s mushy romance to understand a dialogue as clichéd as “Mere paas maa hai”. So, as a kid, I never understood what the hero meant by that, after all, we all have a mother, so what is there to make a statement about it.

But later in my life, like everyone else, I understood the significance of not only the dialogue, but also of my mother who is not only a privilege, rather also a boon.

As the eldest child of my family, I was very naughty and the credit goes to my mother. I don’t have very vivid memories of childhood, but as my mother puts it, my school at first refused to admit me in nursery class because I had created havoc in the Principal’s chamber at the time of my admission. My Dad refused to give me chocolate before going for the interview and the Principal’s desk bore the brunt of my anger.

So, now I can very well imagine how difficult it would have been for my mother to bring me up. She was there all the time saving me from being punished by my Dad, and I can’t recall a single incident when she was not there to intervene on my behalf.

Here, I have to mention a stupendous incident. Once, while playing cricket, I had a fight with a friend and I hit him. His father complained to mine, and here I was, in front of my Dad’s court waiting for chastisement and penalty. But just then came the rescue, my mother, whose argument I can never forget. She said, “He is a kid, at least he was not the one who got beaten up!”

We have our share of disagreements with her, but she is the one who always gives up just for our sake.

I was sent to a boarding very early in my life, and I held her responsible for that. I used to argue with her that she didn’t love me well enough and that I was unwanted. Sometimes, I even refused to talk to her when she called up at my hostel. But in spite of all my rudeness, the love and affection always remained the same. She never complained that I showed disrespect. She never expected anything in return. She was there with all her warmth, always. This is mother.

If you look around, you will see my mother is not an exception. All mothers are like that. They are strange creatures. They would be awake all night just to make sure that the kid has a sound sleep. They would wake up early for your school. They are there to cover all your mistakes.

Nobody can deny that the first person you want near you when you fall ill is your mother. Because you know, no matter in which condition you are or whatever your errors, she would only love you. A mother can do what no medicine is capable of.

We hardly understand her importance when she is there, but when you live alone, you know how difficult life would have been without her.

I don’t know if it is true that ‘Heaven lies beneath mother’s feet’, but I am sure of one thing, “Heaven is where your mother is”!

Salute to motherhood! Salute to Mother!