Fulfilling A Mother’s Wish

I promised before leaving that the following year, I would return home as a medical student. She was pleased with those words.But still she was very depressed to be separated from me.She tried by all means to prevent my departure but was unable to do so.

As her wish to see me as a doctor was greater than her affection for me.She wept endlessly, unable to let me go. I did not want to separate from her but my duty to family was greater than anything else. 

With the intention of completing my premedical studies soon and returning the next year as a medical student.I boarded the flight. I landed far away from the one I loved most.

At that time, I was very depressed, thinking of her in the flight. As I was heading to my new place of stay. I hoped and prayed that the other family members would console her.

Upon enrolling myself in the new school, I worked hard with the thoughts of her lingering in me. I used to write numerous letters to her in a month. 

During the first few months, I promptly received her replies for each of my letters. As months passed by, no letters came from her. I continued sending letters after letters. 

Her silence led me  to wonder if everything was alright. I hoped that nothing bad had happened to her. 

For me, soon seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days and days into months. The final school leaving examination which I was anxiously waiting and preparing for, was around the corner. I was overjoyed,as the completion of the exam would mean a return trip home.

However I was very nervous since I needed to do well in the examination  to secure a place in the medical school. 

I wrote to her just before the examination, expressing my concerns, and awaited for her blessings to do well in the examination. 

I was overjoyed to receive a reply this time around since it was the only reply, in this eight months of waiting. I read and re-read the letter numerous times, memorizing every single word.

The mere thought of being able to see her soon,enabled me to perform very well in the final examination. After completing the final paper of the examination, I rushed to the telephone kiosk to phone her. Unfortunately,despite hours of waiting, I never got a chance to speak to her.Sadly I left the telephone  kiosk. 

However I was hoping to receive a return flight ticket from home soon. I was overjoyed to receive the confirmed flight ticket a few days later. I immediately headed to the saree shops to buy her a few sarees and a betel tray which she always wanted.

On the night before flying back home.I was unable to sleep in the eagerness of meeting her soon.She was in my thoughts throughout the night. The next morning, I bade farewell to all my  friends and headed to the airport in a joyful mood. 

While waiting for the flight, I read the horoscope section in a local paper to pass my time .But I was dismayed that my horoscope had a bad omen,prompting me to discard the paper immediately.

On reaching the international airport, I tried calling her. I was unable to contact her and soon I was required to check in for the domestic flight to my destination. I rushed as quickly as possible from the plane,collecting the luggage which contained the presents for her. 

Alas I was pulled aside at the customs check and was questioned on what was the contents of my heavy luggage. I was about to answer the officer when my brother intervened, resulting in a prompt clearance of customs checks. 

As I approached the arrival hall, I looked out for the one the I longed to see but she was not there. I asked my brother about her and noticed that he  avoided all my questions concerning her by talking about his new car . I got into the car with the intention of at least meeting her at home. 

During the journey home I asked my brother about her welfare,which prompted him to talk about his family, intentionally avoiding the question. I asked my brother whether she was waiting for me.This time around my brother nodded with a blank “yes” and uttered nothing more.

By then, the car had reached the house compound and before the car could stop, I jumped out of the car, opened the gate and went into the house through the garage shouting 'Amae' . Surprisingly, no response came. Moreover, her chair was not there. I observed that even her bed was not in the dining hall. I curiously asked my elder sister: “Where is she?”

I received no reply from her or anybody in the house. By then I had removed my shoes and entered the house a little puzzled and worried. I tiptoed to the hall to pay homage to my father's photo but was shocked to see my mother's photo hanging beside my late father's photo. 

I screamed "Amae, Amae, Amae", and fainted. I blabbered hysterically that I came all the way with the gifts to see her and inform her that I am going to fulfill her dream soon. The whole house was vibrating with my voice but no reply came from her. 

I wept on her eternal departure from this earth, inconsolably.As far as for me, her memories will be with me always. She being bridged to me, by the service I am rendering to the sick and the needy.