Open Letter From A Mother

Dear Jayakka

Hope you liked my feedback and missed giving reply to my feedback

 

An Open Letter from the daughter

Mom, you drain the spirit out of spring by spilling melancholy with your pecking woes. I don't know why you do that incessantly so not sure if you are really happy for our spring or wish us drought. You had to dampen our smiles on receiving a letter from you by interjecting "wait alone in this huge house" as opener even before we finish the first line. That is so you mom! You have not changed in years.

Mom, it has been a while since dad passed away. Yet you ensure to remind us of the circumstances surrounding his death which were beyond our control in every letter you have been writing to us since then. He was a great man! We booked our tickets as soon as we heard about his ailing health but dad assured us not to worry and that he was doing fine. He bravely examined how many times can we travel whenever he falls sicks. Dad was very witty mom! Infact he told us on phone: I wish I die with Hema Malini and Mala Sinha surrounding me.

Why did you knock up that assumption? If we are working when you called, we would have returned the call after we reach home. You assumed that we won't pick up, so why bother and never called up. Rupa (my sil) slogs whole day, she has to pick up the kids, take them to swimming classes, return home and prepare dinner, sit with the kids and do homework. She called me up and broke down that every time you send these emotionally wringing email, she feels like never talking to you at all. I hope you understand Ma, she only had your best interest when she recommended skype to keep in touch. What does bright or gloomy day in East Coast has anything to with us not picking up the call that you never made. Mom, are you auditioning for a weather reporter in NDTV channel?

Mom, have you ever considered Shyamali typing emails on laptop, the same one that Rupa so lovingly gifted. We were willing to pay for Shyamali's computer classes so that she can learn basic typing skills to type or scan letters. But you refused to let Shyamali learn such skills controverting that these modern tools are bane of life. We understand your arthritis situation and doing our best to help you but can you also help us here in helping you. Rupa was not complaining. She wanted to help you to be in touch with us with less effort so she gifted you a laptop and implored if you could let Shyamali learn basic computer skills to operate skype , emails etc. But mom, you being the mystified you completely misunderstood her gesture.

Rupa knows everything mom. She made discreet enquiries with the best specialists in India about your condition and was willing to travel to India to consult and get you treated. But Ma, these dripping maudlin emails that you are writing really scared her and she is worried that a week with you will blow her nerves into smithereens. How could we visit India mom? Do you know what you have done? You have moaned to the entire neighbourhood how cruelly we have abandoned you in the most *insidious* manner. Now the entire neighbourhood thinks that we are monsters. How could we ever visit or step into that locality again?

Then what is this mail all about? On one hand you expound your excruciating circumstances and on the other you feign dignity of not troubling us. Mom, hello mom, can we please stop playing these mind games and behave like two adults.

A decade is "10 years" mom and in a kid's life it means almost their entire childhood. So I don't know what you mean by "only" a decade. We try to teach them native language but it may take some time. Mom, why don't you send children's books printed in English like Tinkle and Amar Chitra Kata? Kids will be thrilled. Why do you desire to post native books that they cannot read? This is something I find very perplexing about you. But let's not dig that further.

We have been urging you to help the neighbourhood kids like Shyamali's son and pay for their expenses. We asked you to donate Priyam's and Madhu's toys to the orphanage but you wanted to keep them for yourself as keepsakes. We understand the mellowed sentiment but Mama Mia there is nothing more fulfilling than spreading cheer and joy through sharing our blessings with others. So please donate the kids's toys and picture-me books.

Mammoo, I cannot read your mail further because it wounds my fragile brain. We are well-settled here so we need no income from ancestral home. We were worried about your well-being and that mob who were after our property. So we planned to dispose the property and shift you to a more lively apartment with a full-time maid so that you are engaged with neighbours who can provide us regular updates of your health instead of you dictating letters in your pain-ridden condition. But you staunchly refused hanging on to the faded scribbled walls and sprawling balcony. What are we to do? You tell me what am I to do? We called up Mrs Gupta and Mrs Tiwari and enquired about housing colonies for the elderly and they were very helpful in providing us with all the details but every time you write such doleful emails and guilt-trip us we are clueless what to do. Ma, can you stop being so Waheeda Rahman from Om Jai Jagdish.

Ouch! That was a hit below the lowest waist. Mama deario, where did you learn such skills? Bolo?

All you talk these days like a broken record is dad's demise, your demise, dad's demise, your demise, and when the children ask what did granny write, what are we to answer? Mother we love you but you prefer to wallow in self-pity writing such emails which probably will make rounds in social media maligning us or you make a sensible choice and work with us in facilitating a good life to you.

Love,
your confused daughter

 

Very Nice reply. But what made to write is your simple vocabulary in this post, which I could understand easily. Usually I have to search meanings for couple of times in one sentence .
I always wondered how could u achieve that much vocabulary and witty or very different kind of sentences formation, which is not easy for me to understand . I know very little about this language and not tried much to learn more.
I think u r a English professor or somebody literature related person.

 

One can wallow in self pity or do something useful.

Elderly Chennai Couple Mortgage Their Home, Turn It Into An Animal Shelter To Save Lives

 

She was trying to match the mother's style of letter writing, and I dare say she succeeded. Although her Cim'ness comes through as well.

 

Love between a Mother and her children are not to be discussed as they are firm and strong in their hearts.These are all a small fight seen common in all families.Earlier the Parents advise the children not to waste money in travel and ask them to restrict their visits to homeland.when they feel sick they need their frequent visits but by the time children are busy in their job and are unable to fulfill their parents wish .whom to blame here?Neither the parents nor the children only Time.This is one aspect .

i see sarcasm in the Open Letter from a Mother and it is unbelievable that a mother can write such letter.This is purely fiction as a mother would never wound her children by these words.At the same time children are not to be blamed for their activities as they fall a prey to circumstances.No need to differentiate NRI children and children in India.All depends on their individual qualities.