Thank You Wali Aunty

Well, my day started nothing different. Same silly train, same silly life. In all this madness, reaching home early was like an achievement. It just felt like winning a gold medal in the swimming competition or like climbing the mount Everest. I reached station before the sun could actually set. In all this I got a call from my mother asking about my wear abouts. This is one activity for my mom that is equivalent to going to church or cooking etc. Its her daily job and she does it religiously. 

I receive the call and mom started her routine question, where are you, had something, did you eat wada pav etc etc. I happened to realize that she is in the train just behind me. So we decide to meet on the station and go home together. She finally arrives and we start walking together. The first halt of our epic journey was the pani puri wala. Later, as we start walking home, my mom get a call from my sister stating that my niece wants to eat chicken curry made by mom. With a big smile she leads me the the best chicken shop in the vicinity. I dont know whats best about it as all the shops sell  chicken. Nevertheless, I just walk the long journey with her. 

On our way, we make various pit stops like the pudinawala, the mirchi wala, the lasoon wala etc etc. while collecting the samaan from everyshop my mom ensured that she said "Thank You" in return. This small gesture always brought a smile to every small vendor, who now felt as important as the others. This was infectious as the next customer that they greeted was a happy one.

This entire episode brought back my memories of my childhood. Being brought up in a small city, you know the importance of smaller things in life. When i was a child i used to visit mom to various vegetable vendors in the city. Because she was a regular there all the vendors used to call her "Thank you wali Aunty". Being villager, they never knew the meaning of this word, so mom used to say thank you and translate that in Hindi saying "Dhaniywaad". The smile on their faces was unimaginably. Mom has not changed from then to now. The thank you still remains.

My mom may not have the best of resources, the world of money, but the one thing she taught us is to be humble and grounded. Where ever you go in life never forget your roots. She had her moments, her days, her anger, her reasons, her computer illiteracy, her love but she stood by us like rock solid and never left us. She is still connected with the invisible umbilical cord. I guess that what mothers do. 

Not sure if I can ever become the second "Thank you wali Aunty", but I can ensure to pass this on to my next generation. Love you mom!!!!