Amma

How many moms tell their sweet little trusting child that a red-green chilly is actually a green chilly FRUIT and is as SWEET as a green chilly is hot? The said naive child actually bites into the red-green chilly with gusto and as the chilly burns her mouth and tears stream down her face, her mom giggles and giggles and giggles some more.

Everyone, meet my mom.

She never helped with school work. I mean NEVER. The closest she got to something like that was when she completed a piece of embroidery for my SUPW Class. My teacher saw it the next day and said it was so terrible that she would have to call my MOM and show it to her! Gosh how we laughed that day!

When it came to behaviour and the like, spare the rod and spoil the child policy ruled. The rod in this case was whatever comb or hairbrush was closest to mom. That was enough to instil the fear of god in me. So i ended up being the child that other children hated because their parents thought i was perfect. Unfortunately, i actually was.

The irony of the situation is that today she heads an educational institution where people get sacked if they so much as touch a child! But the fact that she holds such a responsible position does not stop her from cheating in ANY game that she plays. Be it scrabble or rummy, my dad, sibling and i always have to keep an eye on her. Sometimes, even that doesnt help.

She cooks amazingly when she wants to. She knows the name of every bird, plant and flower on the planet. She actually goes trekking..and she is fifty five. She has a love for dancing that we have inherited. I cant say much about talent...but love, yes. She has read more books than anyone else i know. Junjun adores her. Her students keep in touch after decades of leaving school. Actually everyone who knows her, totally loves her.

But not more than i do.

Happy Mother's Day Amma!