MOTHER'S LOVE by
ARMAN AMROHVI is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
‘Indian Airlines welcomes you onboard flight No IC 825, scheduled for Delhi via Amritsar. Flying time for Amritsar is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Your captain is Captain Satish Bhardwaj. All passengers are requested to fasten the seat belt, smoking is prohibited on board. Wishing you all a pleasant journey. Thank you.’
Within minutes plane was taxiing and Alexander started to jostle in his seat, he was not feeling comfortable. As the plane was in the sky, Alexander left his seat, as he was alone and started looking for a co-passenger with whom he could talk. Not having much of passengers on board, it was a difficult task for him to search for a right person. He walked along allay of the plane but in vain. He turned in distress and to his astonishment there was a young female wearing a sarong of Persian blue shade, white cotton shirt and a blue scarf round her neck, all this was matching perfectly to the fair complexion of her body. Alexander was mesmerised, unable to move, as it happened to him seven years ago when he visited Taj Mahal for the first time. Without giving a second thought to himself, Alexander moved towards her and said, ‘I am Alexander, can I sit by your side.’ Without waiting for a positive a reply, Alexander was beside her. Female was lost among the picturesque snow cover mountains over which the plane was flying. ‘Sir, would you like to have some tea or coffee?’ was interruption in Alexander’s thought. ‘Yes, I would like to have black coffee.’ ‘And your wife, Sir.’ ‘She is not my wife,’ these words distracted girl’s attention from the window and she looked at Alexander.’ ‘Sorry, Sir’ the attendant replied. ‘Something for you, madam?’ ‘Black tea, some chocolates, thank you.’ ‘Nature is beautiful, vivid shades of grey, white and brown. Look there snow is glowing as silver, where the sunrays are falling on.’ Alexander replied, ‘Indeed nature is beautiful, my salutation to nature for creating a wonderful…’ Female turned to Alexander, who was not looking through the window but still praising nature. ‘I am talking about the mountains over which we are flying.’ ‘Yes, indeed, is it your first visit to Srinagar?’ ‘Yes’, replied the female. ‘That’s the reason’ exclaimed Alexander, ‘Everyone who comes for the first time is spellbound by the beauty of nature in Kashmir.’ Moving his right hand towards the lady, ‘I am Alexander.’ ‘I am Nitasha.’ ‘Madam, your tea and chocolate, Sir, your coffee.’ Both started sipping their respective drinks. ‘I am an environmentalist, came to Srinagar for the conservation of Dal Lake.’ Nitasha said. ‘But I understand that yours is not a first visit.’ ‘I have been visiting Srinagar regularly for past five years.’ ‘You love this place so much’ inquired Nitasha. ‘It is true that I love nature, but regular visit is due to business.’ answered Alexander. ‘What sort of business?’ ‘Paper-mashie products, I get them made from here and sell them in Europe, America and Canada.’ ‘How come you became an environmentalist?’ was a curious question from Alexander. ‘I have heard that when I was born in the jungles of Africa, on the very next day my parents died in the jungle fire, I was saved by an inhabitant who was also mid wife during my mother’s labour. Fire was set by some builders to reclaim land and all this was illegal.’ This description of the bygone days made Nitasha sad and tears rolled down her cheek. Flashes of rain on Taj Mahal and water drops running on the marble came to Alexander’s mind as he Nitasha weeping. ‘You are an orphan, like me.’ Alexander said. ‘My father was a mercenary in Vietnam and the day I was born, my mother received the news of my father’s death, which has occurred many months ago, the news sunk my mother’s heart and I was alone in this world.’ ‘Birds of same feather flock together,’ exclaimed Nitasha. ‘The reason, why I became environmentalist, is that we have to conserve our planet Earth and enjoy the beauty of the nature to the brim and please the creator.’ ‘I have traveled far and wide but Srinagar has taken over me,’ Nitasha added. ‘Nitasha, I have talked to people of Srinagar, they say that Srinagar was more beautiful before the terrorist activities, what we have enjoyed in Srinagar is only certain percentage of the left over beauty.’ said Alexander. ‘Is it the fact?’ Nitasha inquired.
‘In 10 minutes we are going to land at Rajasansi Airport, Amritsar. Halt here will be of 30 minutes. Passengers are requested to fasten their seat belts. Thank you.’ Plane landed and some passengers left the plane. Alexander and Nitasha were still busy talking, when an elderly female distracted Alexander’s attention. As the lady boarded the plane, Alexander’s eyes followed her until she sat just behind both of them. ‘What is the matter? Alexander do you know the lady?’ asked Nitasha. Alexander pulled out his wallet and exposed a photo of a female which was identically similar to the lady sitting behind. ‘Her photo, when she was in her early thirties’ Nitasha said with surprise. ‘No’ said Alexander ‘this photo is of my mother. But this lady is identical to the photograph.’ The statement moved Nitasha; she could not resist herself from talking to the lady and said ‘I am Nitasha, what makes you to visit India?’ ‘I am Elizabeth, death of my only son brought me to India,’ the lady replied. ‘Death! How did it happen?’ a curious question by Alexander, ‘I am Alexander.’ ‘My son Michael was a reporter covering events in India, he was killed in a terrorist attack in Jalandhar, a small town in Punjab,’ answered Elizabeth. ‘We are so sorry to hear that,’ both Alexander and Nitasha replied simultaneously. ‘Never say this for my son because he was a brave and a self made-man, he was on his way to airport and was to be married three days ahead when he was killed.’ Both of them were mum. At this Nitasha could not resist her emotions and said, ‘Nobody in this world is happy. We don’t have parents and she has lost her only son.’ Elizabeth was touched to the core of her heart by this statement.
‘Indian Airlines welcomes you onboard flight No IC 825, scheduled for Delhi. Flying time for Delhi is 1 hour. Your captain is Captain Satish Bhardwaj. All passengers are requested to fasten the seat belt, smoking is prohibited on board. Wishing you all a pleasant journey. Thank you.’
As soon as the plane was in the air, airhostess came with snacks. Alexander, Nitasha and Elizabeth were busy discussing their lives. Cabin door opened and the captain entered the passenger area. He sat on the seat to his right, which was on the left of Alexander. Captain ordered for juice and closed his eyes in a relaxing posture. Elizabeth murmured ‘He is an Anglo-Indian; his features are more of a roman.’ Nitasha was affirmative, but Alexander was neutral, he said ‘I am not very good at reading the origin of people.’ After taking the glass of juice the captain started sipping it slowly. When the glass was half empty, the captain started shivering and fell from his seat. To his rescue the first person was Alexander. Captain said in a faint voice, ‘left of my chest is ripping to pieces.’ Alexander flashed and said ‘lay down on the floor and I will help you.’ In the meantime there was a call for the captain from the cockpit. A flight steward entered the cockpit. Copilot was having some problem and he was informed about captain’s health. Copilot informed the ground staff at the Palam Airport regarding the technical problem on the plane and requested to make arrangements for emergency landing. Ground staff asked to hover for sometime till the arrangements are made; ground staff was informed about captain’s heart attack. On the ground within minute’s fire engines, ambulances and life saving gadgets surrounded the runway. On the plane captain was unconscious, Nitasha and Elizabeth were praying. Flight staff was attending the passenger as if there was no problem. ‘Within 5 minutes we will be landing on the Palam Airport, New Delhi. Passengers are requested to fasten their seat belts. Thank you,’ announced the airhostess. Gradually the plane started lowering but even after crossing the last signal to touch ground the plane was in air, ground staff yelled ‘up again.’ ‘Joystick is not moving, I can’t take the plane up, I am trying my level best to land,’ answered copilot. Elizabeth cried ‘Lord, I have to live to get justice for my son.’ Miracle happened and the plane banged on the runway. Everyone on the flight yelled, gates flung open, fire engines started water on the plane. Alexander caught hold of Nitasha and Elizabeth. Copilot applied breaks which gave away after reducing the speed of the aircraft Plane was still moving but at a much slower speed. Everyone on the flight now had their heads in their knees and praying. Again there was a bang the plane caught fire, at this Alexander unfastened Elizabeth and Nitasha from the seat and crawled to the gate. He saw big grass under the plane and on this asked Nitasha to jump. Even before Nitasha could say something she was thrown out. Holding hand of Elizabeth, Alexander said, ‘mother come’ and both were out of the plane. Both glided for some metres and came to halt. Plane after traveling about 100 metres stopped, fire engines were still pouring water on the plane, and Ambulances hooted nearing the plane at a safe distance. Elizabeth stood up hugged Alexander and said, ‘my son you have saved my life.’ On this Alexander started weeping as if a small child. Nitasha also ran towards them. Alexander with face covered with tears said mother, ‘make her also feel the warmth of a mother’s love of which she is also deprived.’ All the three hugged and wept profusely. After few minutes Elizabeth move little away from Alexander and Nitasha and after raising her hands towards the sky said, “thank you, Lord, for giving me life.’ Alexander heard someone saying, ‘tell mother, I am Michael and want to hug her because I am with you.’ Alexander ran towards Elizabeth and said, ‘mother’. With tears covered face Elizabeth said, ‘Michael. Come my child, I have missed you for a long time.’
Checking the email I felt a sudden jolt as if mild earthquake has visited my town. The internet connection being intact made me realized that it was not an earthquake which usually –for seconds– disconnect the services which are somewhere related with our earth’s magnetic field. My email account flashed the remainder of my wife’s birthday–on 28th September– which was now 17 days ahead. This made me trail to 1996 from 2001 to the flashing date when I was married and in 1997 on the same date my daughter–Sakina–was born, the same date happens to be my wedding anniversary and the birthday of my daughter.
In between these thoughts was the most important day of my life when my wife–Afreen–disclosed the fact to me that she was expecting. In a few months from now I will be holding a life which will belong to the Almighty but whose worldly creator will be me along the love of my wife. There will be someone extending the bond between we two and above all this new being will change my personality altogether from a husband to a father. Feeling bit shy to disclose this soul soothing news to my parents, I was wondering how to speak about it, when the knock on the door distracted my thoughts and to my respond my mother walked in and said, “Now no more late working in the office be back home on time, she and the new life with her needs your presence more”. My father walked behind her saying, “Thanks for adding a prefix to me”. I was filled with exuberance on the idea that my parents were aware to the fact that a new life was to come in our family.
Suddenly I said Afreen something is burning and all the traces of the bygone days vanished but smell of something burning was quite real. I moved out of my cabin, having a large window, into the office area. Being morning time the attendance was still to be filled. All were affirmative on the idea that something was burning. With a bang the front door of office opened and my Negro friend–Micheal, who had his office on the 63 rd floor of the same building–rushed in and shouted, “The building is on fire and we all will die”. I exclaimed, Micheal was petrified and missed words, “The plane hit our…” The people panicked and started to run out. I stood there and then along with Micheal entered my cabin. He leaned from the window, “Look Arman, there is fire below us this will…” I also leaned and looking at the fire said, “Destiny is destined” saying these words I walked to my chair. I opened the personal folder on my laptop and looked at the photographs of my family. Afreen my wife, “Now again you are going, our daughter wants you to be at the Parents Teacher Meeting at her school unlike other fathers,” tears rolled down my check. “Son, now Sakina is growing and she needs you, please don’t go,” last words of my mother–in person–were constantly flashing in my mind. I with all the courage opened the compose box of my email and started to type, ‘Papa, Ammi, Afreen and lovely Sakina. I came to this far-off land dreaming an economically secure life ahead. I made many friends in the span of four years and all love and care for me’. Micheal shouted, “Arman what a fool you are to write a mail at this hour of life, we should move…” I nodded in negative without uttering a word and glued to the system. He moved out banging the door behind. I again joined my family in the letter, ‘coming here was a dream come through for me but not even a single day passed without missing you all. Each night I hold the teddy next to me personifying Sakina. On getting to the departmental store most of the time I would hear the words, “Dear, Ammi and Papa like mix fruit jam not any other, take a soap which is caustic free as Ammi is allergic, Sakina likes stuffed chocolates and so on,” are the last moment suggestion from you Afreen. While writing I was going breathless. I pulled my chair next to the huge window and the laptop on my lap. I protruded my head out of the window and for seconds breathing was easy. I again pulled myself and trailed to my childhood, ‘Papa hope you remember the day when my result of the twelfth standard was declared, you said, “Son I am proud of you for the distinction in the all the subjects,” that day till today has been the most celebrated day of my life’. A puff of air distracted my attention from writing. It was as if Sakina was slightly blowing air on my left ear. I turned to my left to catch her but the empty space made me realized that I was all alone in the room. ‘Ammi, I still don’t like half cooked meat, but the delicacy of the dish has been haunting me for an year since last I had with you was on my visit to India in December last. I planned to eat the same on my back home visit this time, forever’. The suffocation was increasing every minute, now with itching in the eyes. I again pulled my head out of the window for extra oxygen. Damped my handkerchief with water from the bottle on my table and kept it on my eyes and again seconds back I was writing. ‘Afreen the day Sakina was born we both were arguing about the future of our daughter, you wanted her to become a doctor and I wanted her to be a lawyer. The doctor business in final, please give me a cup of tea, it has been long—I realized that you are not here with me at this time but do you remember that whenever I used to bow to your part of discussion I would ask for a cup of tea from you’.
The suffocation was now unbearable. I again put my head out of the window; I could feel the heat of the flames from the floor below mine. With a huge inhale of air I picked my laptop and ran towards the staircase. The place was full of smoke and I made my way towards the terrace. On reaching there I sat on the ground and again started to write, ‘Papa you wanted me to become an IAS officer, but I wanted to do something different. Now what I am doing at present is due to my attachment towards you four, but this will become a record in some day’s time as the last mail ever of a dying man. Papa today I am thinking that you rightly said, “Death will come only once and one should be ready for it. I am nor afraid of anything at this last hour of mine. Afreen at my home here I have many things bought for Sakina, Ammi and Papa. There is a Barbie doll for Sakina, for Ammi there is a foot massager, she complained last time regarding her foot, and for Papa I have bought a Shaffer pen set. Afreen now you have to be me at my home for the rest of your life and by the side of my parents ever after. Now I am coming to stay with you all forever because I cannot escape the journey of eternity and I am going to fly from here to the ground because Ammi and Papa are aware that I can bear all pain of any sort but I cannot stand the pain of burning, it has been my weakness since childhood. Many happy returns of the day to you Afreen and Sakina on your coming birthday. Khuda Hafiz’.
I pressed the send button and waited for the message—mail successfully delivered. Then I stood up, looked at the sky and thanked Almighty for all He had given to me and jumped from one of the burning twin tower for journey to eternity.