Happy Mother’s Day

Wishing all the amazing and wonderful mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day!!
Here are a few tiny tales dedicating to all the Mothers in the world:

1) The boy hurt himself as he fell, only to smile as he saw his mother come running towards him.

2) “Mom”. She smiled as she heard her baby girl say the magical word for the very first time after 3 years of adoption.

3) It had been a busy day at the office. When the others complained, he knew it was nothing compared to the efforts of his Mother.

4) The woman waiting outside the ward smiled as the doctor said both are safe and healthy. Her army widowed daughter was a mother now.

5) She happily ate the only dosa remaining on the plate as her son burped and went to sleep.

“A new story begins in this world with the birth of a child and so does a beautiful journey of the MOTHER”

The Meeting

Hi again after a long hiatus! A virus finally made me sit and start to write. I hope everyone is doing well in these tough times. It’s interesting isn’t it how being separated from each other is the meaning of being united right now. Anyways, Presenting a new story:

Raghuveer closed the door and sat on his chair. His mind was filled with the words he was going to speak in the meeting today. He opened his laptop and started preparing for his presentation. As he went over it slide by slide there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” he answered.
It was Neetu, his secretary. “They are ready for you, Sir,” she said. He nodded. “5 min?” she asked. He nodded again with a smile. “You know me well,” he replied. She closed the door as she left the room. He took his laptop and was on his way towards the door when his mobile rang. He saw that it was Rhea, his daughter Kusum’s school teacher. He cut the call wondering whether it was regarding the Parents-Teachers meeting later today. He had to finish this meeting; this was an important one for his company. He thought he would call back once the meeting was over and put his mobile on silent.
He remembered how Kusum had asked him this morning whether he would be coming to meet her teachers today. Raghuveer had simply replied he had an important office meeting today and he would try to come to school after.
As he closed his cabin door, the mobile rang again. He could feel the vibrations in his pocket but he did not pick it. His focus was on a different level as this was a meeting he had to crack. He headed towards the meeting room. He nodded to the clients who were inside. As his hands reached the door, Neetu was there with her mobile “Sir, its Rhea…” Before she could continue, he said “Neetu, you know how important this meeting is to me, can you please tell her I will call her back, you…” “Sir, she says it’s very urgent and can’t wait” He sighed and took the mobile from her as he signaled 5 min to his team members who were already inside. “Rhea, what did my Kusum do, that this cannot wait?”, “Raghu Kusum’s Bus…” she hesitated. He sensed desperation in her voice. “.. bus has met with an accident”. “Is Kusum ok? Rhea? Hello? Rhea?” Neetu sensing a change in tone from Raghuveer came near him.
“I don’t know Raghu, I am informing all the parents. Please go to Ajanta hospital. Everyone is being moved there”
Raghuveer was silent, he stood still. His face showed no emotions. The mobile slipped from his grip slowly. “Hello, Raghu, hello?” The call was cut as the mobile hit the floor. Seeing the laptop slipping from his hand, Neetu grabbed it from him.
The clients inside the meeting room sensed something was wrong. Department head Megha who was in the meeting room came out along with the project team lead Apurv as Neetu was checking on Raghuveer. He showed no reactions. Raghuveer finally came back to his senses when Apurv shook him. “Kusum has met with an accident. I don’t know how she is, I need to go” He said looking at Megha. Megha was shocked to hear that but she immediately composed herself and said “Don’t worry we will handle everything, she will be ok I am sure, go to her Raghu.”. “I have made a couple of changes on the slides which we discussed last night,” said Raghuveer, “Don’t worry about it, we will handle this” replied Megha.
Raghuveer nodded and started walking towards the elevator. As he waited for the elevator to reach the 9th floor, Neetu came running towards him and said “Sir, your mobile, I have canceled all your meetings for the day. Megha strictly told me to do so, I have called Raman as well, he will be waiting for you downstairs with the car.” Raghuveer thanked her as he took his mobile. He could see the concern on Neetu’s face and an expression of sympathy. As she was about to say something, the elevator door opened and Raghuveer left.
As Raghuveer came outside the office building, his driver Raman was ready with the car. He quickly sat in the car and said to Ajanta hospital. Raman said, “Sir, Neetu Madam has told me about Pinky, I am sure she will be alright.” Raghuveer could only nod.
Pinky was Kusum’s Nickname. From the day she was born, his late wife Archana had bought pink dresses and dolls for her. Kusum would glow in pink as the colour surrounded her. She used to look like a pink fairy. Ever since then, she was called Pinky by her family. Raghuveer remembered how he used to make different faces for the tiny Kusum just to bring a smile on her face.
The car suddenly came to a halt, which brought Raghu back to reality. There was a huge crowd and he could make out the presence of the media. Raman was about to say something before which Raghuveer had stepped out of the car. He could see the glimpse of a yellow coloured vehicle. Raghuveer was sure that this was the location of the accident.
He heard someone saying “It looks like 5 kids so far.” Far away he could hear a reporter speaking amidst the commotion. The emotions which he was able to keep at bay unknowingly had started coming out. Teardrops started coming out of his eyes. Raman was calling him to get in but he was in a different state of mind to hear that. The sound of an ambulance reminded him to go to Ajanta hospital. Unaware of his own actions he had moved ahead and Raman had stopped the car somewhere behind. He composed himself and started walking back signalling Raman to start the car.
As the car progressed from the accident spot to the hospital, all he could remember were the memories of Kusum. Her first walk, her first word, her smiles. Raman touched him and told him “Sir, we have reached.” He had lost track of what was happening. He nodded and stepped out of the car. Ajanta hospital, which he had seen quite a few times as he passed on the highway was looking very mighty today. He walked near the entrance and came to a standstill as he was at the door. His thoughts drifted back to 2 years ago when he was in a similar situation.
His wife Archana while driving was hit by a reckless truck driver and was rushed to a nearby hospital. He had waited for hours outside the operation theatre before being told by the doctors that they could not save her. He had fallen on the floor. His world had collapsed. The last thing they had done together was a fight. Arguing over petty things he felt. It still hurt him that their final moments together were an unpleasant one even though they loved each other a lot. He had to face Kusum afterward, who was just a 4-year-old. She was constantly asking for her mommy, completely unaware of what death means.
Kusum had changed a lot, post-Archana’s demise. A few months back Rajni Kusum’s Nanny had come to Raghuveer saying Kusum thinks her mom left her because she was demanding a lot of things. Raghuveer had said even he felt the same as Kusum had stopped asking him for anything when they went out to movies or shopping. She would simply accept what was bought for her.
“Raghu!” said Ram Sharma, Raghuveer was still standing at the entrance. He slowly turned and asked “Your son?” “He didn’t go today as he was sick. I came to see you all, any update on Kusum?”. Raghuveer shook his head saying he had no idea. “Come let’s go in, be strong, I am sure she is alright” Ram held his arm and took him inside the hospital. Raghuveer was thankful to Ram for doing that. He acknowledged his gratefulness with a nod and a weak smile which vanished in no time.
As they went in Ram went to check on others he knew. The emergency room was filled with familiar faces. Madan Mohan, a dear friend of Raghuveer, was seated in one of the waiting areas, he was crying inconsolably. Raghuveer went towards him. Kusum and Abhi, Madan’s son, were in the same class.
Raghuveer knelt down to face Madan as he approached. Madan looked towards him, “She is gone, Sumana is gone” Madan hugged Raghuveer crying inconsolably as he hugged Raghuveer, who hugged him tighter and slowly patted him on the back trying to console. Sumana was 3 years older than Kusum. “How’s Abhi?” asked Raghuveer. “He is critical… bu… but stable”. Raghuveer kept hugging Madan until Madan let go of him. “I am sorry Madan…” Madan stopped him and said “Go look for Kusum” they both nodded and Raghuveer left from there.
His heart was pacing even more now. He remembered the words 5 kids which he heard when he was passing by the accident spot. He ran towards the nearby reception to enquire about his daughter. The Tv on the room was showing a news channel and he could hear the reporter saying “It is being told that the driver was over speeding to reach the school on time and avoid delays….” he could not listen to it anymore as he checked with the receptionist asking for his daughter. The receptionist replied “Many students didn’t have their ID on them, here is the list of people we have recognised so far” handing him a paper. He took the papers with a trembling hand.
The sheets had names of kids who were in ICU, Emergency room, outpatients, and dead. He first checked the list of the dead. Four names which were listed weren’t Kusum’s and another was written as unknown with a bracket m along with it. He thought it was for male and heaved a sigh of relief amidst the chaos. He could hear the cry of people from where he was standing. The list containing the ICU patients had a lot of unknown entries in them. He found the driver Rudra Kumar’s name in it as well. Kusum’s name could not be found in it either. He finished checking all the papers, Kusum’s name was nowhere to be found.
He spoke to the receptionist again and who asked him to check in the outpatient ward else wait for the next update. Raghuveer was not sure what he should do next. He slowly walked towards the nearby sitting area. He recalled the smile Kusum had when they had first taken her to a nearby Beach. She was first hesitant to go near the water but relented as her father accompanied her, like the waves of water touching her bare feet.
His attention veered towards the tv. “… We drivers are under a lot of pressure; our salaries are cut to half if we don’t make it on time and few have already been laid off as well…” He stopped listening to it and looked around the room. He heard cries for their lost child, few waiting just like him and others sounding relieved once they came to know their child is safe. His heart was racing now and was getting restless as he waited.
He saw a nurse coming out with a list from one of the rooms. He walked towards her wondering if he could get any information on Kusum. He asked the nurse whether she knows a child by name Kusum. The nurse gave the list to the receptionist and asked Raghuveer to follow her. As he walked behind her he could not muster the courage to ask her how or where Kusum was. Finally, As the nurse entered a room, he followed her inside, his feet trembled as he walked to her bed.
His eyes welled up with tears as he saw his daughter lying on one of the beds. Her head was covered with bandages, it looked like she had a fracture in her left hand. She looked to be in sleep. He looked at the nurse. She said “She has a small concussion, but nothing to be worried about. A hairline fracture in her arm. She was very lucky to escape with minor injuries. She will wake up at some time.” “Thank you,” said Raghuveer with a nod. She asked him to call her or any of the nurses if anything was needed as she left in a hurry.
He found an empty stool nearby and sat next to Kusum’s bed. He was very tired and exhausted but relieved. He was hoping that she won’t be in any pain when she woke up. He gently held Kusum’s right hand and waited for her to open her eyes. He remembered one of their previous conversations. He had promised her to go to a movie last week but had to cancel due to today’s meeting. Kusum was very annoyed with him for that as she cursed him a bit. She had not spoken to him that whole day.
“Dad…” he heard a faint sound. He smiled at her. Before he could say anything, she fell asleep again. He kissed her hand as he tried to control his tears. He felt guilty for not reading her bedtime stories. He was determined to change all that. He wanted to spend more time with her. Cherish her.
After some time she woke up. As she saw her dad, “Hey Pinky…” he said with a smile on his face. “Dad, You said you had an important meeting today, How did It go?” she asked innocently. Hearing her words made him realise his ignorance. He just smiled and said, “I am in the most important meeting right now…”

The End
This story comes full circle in many ways than just a meeting. Hope you enjoyed the story. Take care, stay safe, and healthy.
Wondering whether this bitter and a bit of sweet story was good for the so-called come back of me to my blog!