May , is the month that begins on a day commemorating the Workers , on the May day and Mother's day , a few days later . A Mother of all people is associated with workmanship often due to her different roles and engagements she takes up voluntarily along with the ones that were thrust on her. But in this uncertain time of pandemic , being a mother takes double the effort and more, especially if they have young children. So, here is a narration describing a day in the life of one of those mothers.
It was another day in the life of matriarch Janani and her daughter Priya. Janani had planned a visit to her parents house for a long time and there was never an ideal time to visit across the states due to the pandemic. After some jumpy discussions with her partner, Janani managed to fly down to her birth home for some catching up. Love flowed between the mother and the daughter, as the young Priya was surrounded by pampering from all sides. Kids, have a power that we miss to observe. Whenever there is a new kid on the block, somehow they get a signal and end up knocking on the new kid's house with a mischievous smile inviting them to play. Priya looked at her mom, who approved the play and reminded her to wear the mask and stay clear of the road and bushes. Standard mummy advice. Two days passed, Janani strained her neck and ears to monitor what's happening in the basement, while she herself was being monitored by her own mother. The Mom gene never leaves the body. That night, Priya appeared dull and was even more stubborn to take any food. In a fit of temper, when Janani was about to slap her on the face, but instantly with amazing restraint and motherly intuition she stopped herself midway to touch the forehead of Priya to find it burning. Janani froze from within. She quickly dropped the clothes on her lap, asked for a thermometer to confirm if she had fever. Adding to the dismay, Priya feebly muttered she had a funny feeling on her throat and she was having mild headache. Janani became a combination of anger and intense worry, as she told her mother of the observation. Rakesh, Janani's brother immediately gave an advise to isolate her and Priya into the master bedroom for the larger good. Both their parents were senior citizens and Rakesh had to look out for the entire house, even as he was heating a vessel of hot water with turmeric, eucalyptus oil and vicks.
The family, silently having their worries in the head, didn't voice out their thoughts in the fear of not being the one to cause disharmony and initiate chaos. They all suspected if it was the damned pandemic disease but none uttered it in word. Janani made frantic calls to her husband, who lived in another state and they exchanged opinions for the next course of action. Calls were made to a good natured doctor, a child specialist who they knew from their home state. He assured them, that even it was indeed the worst, nothing to worry as it's impact in kids were usually not disastrous. He sent a prescription of antibiotics, fever abating medicines, immunity boosters over whatsapp. The news on tv was blaring out news item after news item saying how many deaths and sob stories were going on. Rakesh shouted at his father to switch channel to something non pandemic. The medicines were not immediately available and once Rakesh procured them, it was around noon.
Priya was administered her first dose of medicines and began to feel tired. She slept like a baby she was. The other kids from the neighborhood kept knocking why Priya was not coming out to play all of a sudden, when the family had to lie on the face of the kids saying she had homework, she had an upset stomach. They were careful to not cause fear in the minds of the other parents. Night happened, when Priya goes, "I don't get the smell of the vicks or turmeric you have put in the hot water." She said she only got the hot vapor and no smell. Janani hugged Priya tight by the head and said all will be fine. Rakesh stood at the door wearing a mask and praying that Janani herself doesn't get infected with whatever nonsense Priya was going through. Janani's mother began to worry for both the granddaughter and her husband, who was a cardiac patient. It was too much to handle. Unpredictability of what's about to happen caused tension in the house. Each one slept in a different room. The mother-daughter duo slept and lived in a separate room while food and essentials were placed from outside. 3 days went, when the fever, which was on-off began to come down and Priya became more and more stable when Janani heard a strange voice. Rakesh, began to speak different and she could see Rakesh was developing a throat infection. It was confirmed when he had occasional bouts of cough and sneeze.
Rakesh's mother now got a new worry and the whole protocol followed again. Tension prevailed in the house, as Priya was getting better and Rakesh began to show cause of worry. Janani, by great mental strength and selfless love, took such good care of her daughter, even as she was frustrated of how a vacation she wanted was spoiled, and she had to be the mother without a break, even as her own mother had to play mother to Janani. Rakesh began to sleep separately, took steam, and the usual immunity boosting medicines, throat gargles etc. The whole family was in silent panic. On the 4th day, Rakesh seemed to talk normal , and his mother was visibly relieved. None from the family bothered to investigate what actually happened, as they took utmost precautions from within, with great courage and faith in the divine. Things began to become normal and it was just 3 days short of Janani's vacation plan when her husband called her up alerting that a lockdown was expected in their state and she better hurry and not wait till original vacation plan. Her mother, reoriented herself to the plan. She started preparing the goodbye gifts, even as Janani was looking up tickets and it was settled that she will leave the next day itself on a day train. The packing and last minute chitchats happened hastily. Janani left the next day, as the house became normal and they switched on the TV to hear the same stories from news channels.
A mother never gets a break as, she has to dole out continuous stream of care towards her family , like a tireless worker at any time. Her role is indeed respectable, fit to be worshipped and has no retirement. The next time we get into an argument, let us summon the strength to be the first one to calm down, instead of climbing on top of each other fight after fight. Because, one day she might not have the energy and you might not have a mother to fight with. Love and understand , the epitome of workmanship and Love , motherhood is all about!
