An unheard conversation between a mother and son!!

 The mother got admitted to a hospital as she was unable to move her hands and limbs at home. On the next day morning, it was known that she has been diagnosed with a very rare disease. Never heard of that disease ever before, the only thing that the son could do is to search about it on Google during his journey to his hometown. After rushing to the hospital, he directly went inside the ICU as no doctor and nurse were available particularly in that section of the ICU during that time. After touching her feet to pay his obeisance and seek her blessings, the son assured his mother of her recovery. She could only blink her eyes as she was on ventilator support. It was very difficult to meet her in ICU with the second wave of Covid at its peak stage and the hospital security guards were advised strictly in that respect. However, the very next day, the son met the concerned Neurologist & Critical Care Specialist and tried to know the course of treatment for his mother, getting explicit permission to meet his mother on a daily basis. On the second day of his visit, he could share with her about the medication and recuperation process. The concerned Neurologist suggested him not come to the hospital and rather stay in seven-day quarantine as he had travelled from a different state. Per the doctor’s advice, the family provided a small music player loaded with devotional songs of Lord SaiBaba and Lord Jagannath so that she can listen to them. In the meanwhile, she got diagnosed with covid and was shifted to the covid ward. The family was able to connect with her in the covid ward through a WhatsApp video call. The son used to wait for the specified time to make a video call to the nurse’s number and see her mother. At the highest pitch of his voice, the son used to motivate and tell her to listen to those devotional songs. He never imagined uttering positive words and invoking optimism in her!! Honestly telling, the family was at war and witnessing the fiercest battles against the toughest opponents such as Covid and that rare disease. Luckily, she turned out to be covid negative and came back to ICU. The son started visiting her mother as normal as she went through a tracheostomy with the respiratory process not functioning in the expected manner. Around 20 days had passed by. She was also undergoing physiotherapy treatment. During the son’s visit to her, he constantly tried to talk about her siblings and his family assuring that she would be back home soon without any display of choking. The mother used to move her eyes with the head pointing above. Almighty was the only person who would be knowing what she was trying to convey. However, the son kept on reiterating about God’s power and the healing mechanism. It was extremely difficult on his part to maintain himself. Around the 22^nd day, the son went to her bed and while speaking realized her to be in a coma state with no movement of even pupils also. He was still spreading positive vibes from his side. It was quite an uncontrollable day for the son as he couldn’t express his feelings in front of his father, sisters, and his wife. She was deteriorating but the son was eagerly waiting for the miracle to happen. But destiny is inevitable. Eventually, on the 31^st day in ICU, she succumbed to death and the son’s conversation with his mother came to an end. This typical conversation will always be cherished as the son was in verbal dialogue and his mother was responding through the movement of eyes and forehead only.

MOTHER

 

Naasti matrusama chaya naasti matrusama gati
naasti matrusamam tranam naasti matrusama prapa

In English, the above Sanskrit sloka means - There is no shade like a mother, no resort like a mother, no security like a mother, no water house like a mother.

Per Wikipedia, a mother is the female parent of a child. Wikipedia elaboration is certainly correct. But, isn’t it simple? In fact, the word ‘Mother’ can’t be defined in words. She is popular through various names like ‘Maa’, ‘Bou’, ‘Mama’, ‘Mom’, ‘Mummy’ etc. even though the role is the same. Starting from the very beginning, a woman bears excruciating pain for nine months to deliver her child. Although she goes through agonizing times during her pregnancy period, she cuddles and enjoys her time through muted interaction with her upcoming baby which no other person can feel and understand. She takes undue care of her child and it simply keeps on increasing as day progresses. Her insurmountable and unconditional love and affection is second to none. Before a child pursues formal education, she plays the role of a teacher and ensures all the pre-requisites are cascaded. She remains steadfast and does every single bit to provide the best education and inculcate the best skills to her child irrespective of her own educational background. Even sometimes she would not have taken a breakfast/lunch/dinner for her child and no one even comes to know about it. Such is the aura of a mother.

A mother can fit into any role for her child which in fact is quite unexplainable. As a perfect crisis management master, she stands with the child in case of any challenge and encourages to face it with supreme confidence and bravery. She is the pivot in a family and infuses all the moral values in her child to make a better human being. Hardly she expresses her struggle and tough times she would have gone through in bringing her child up, that is a mother. Whatever we are or whatever success we have achieved till date, it’s mostly because of her blessings and sacrifice. Her shoes can’t be filled by anyone. A BIG SALUE TO ALL THE MOTHERS on this planet. Simply bow our heads in front of that illustrious personality called as “Mother”…

Self-Belief & Teamwork – A Deadly Combo!!

 When Justin Langer (coach of the Australian Cricket Team) during an interview with Matthew Hayden said “Learnt a lesson from the series, never ever underestimate India”, gave me goosebumps and made me quite proud as any other Indian. The fragmented version of “Impossible” – ‘I’m possible’ turned into a reality. History was rewritten on 19^th Jan this year when the Indian cricket team were crowned as the Champions in the Indo-Aussies Test cricket series, invading Fortress Gabba. Yesss…we did it – were the words that as a remote spectator came out from my mouth. Decimating the Aussies in their own backyard in the absence of the captain Virat and key bowlers like Bumrah & Ishant and also rising from the ashes post the terrible loss in the 1^st Test speaks volumes of the never-say-die attitude of this Indian Team.

Despite innumerable injuries, this new-generation Indian players of the likes of Rishabh Pant, Shardul Thakur, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar backed by their immense self-belief has made it happen. Rahane’s astute leadership along with a century in the 2^nd test itself set the tone for the series as it seemed that the team had taken a pledge to bounce back. Even though the team was being bowled out for a meagre 36 in the second innings of the 1^st test, Rahane along with Aswin, Gill, Pujara and Pant were mentally very tough and stayed positive during hardest of the times while encountering one of the fiercest bowling attacks. To come back after being battered and bruised in the 1^st Test, it is really difficult to pull oneself up and needed a lot of character. The team didn’t brood over the past rather developed the inner quality to rejuvenate themselves and think of the present and march ahead. This certainly says it all about this cricketing unit where hierarchy isn’t followed but respected within. The partnership between Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur in the 2^nd test was another peak moment that kept the team highly energized and optimistic. Cheteshwar Pujara relatively didn’t score much, but his dogmatic approach and determined mindset enabled him to hang around 1000 balls taking blows after blows on his body, thus becoming one of the key ingredients of Indian team’s success. Rishabh Pant who is very often criticized for his reckless batting, turned it for his country. The display of his batting prowess coupled with his resolve to carry the winner’s tag converted a possible draw to a win. The tenacity and resilience of two injured warriors in the form of Ashwin and Vihari in the 3^rd Test to salvage a draw when the team was on the verge of loss is no less than a huge victory. Even though both of them couldn’t make it to the squad in the 4^th test, but they ensured that they don’t give it up at any cost in spite of their excruciating pain. It certainly created a ripple effect and the morale of the team went sky-high before the 4^th test. The rookie pace attack combined with Ashwin’s supreme confidence deserved full credit for their relentless perseverance throughout the entire series, rising up to the occasion whenever the situation demanded. Certainly, an unreal victory in absolute terms after getting all-out for 36 and this has become real only because of the deadly combo of self-belief and teamwork. These lessons would be highly beneficial for every individual and team irrespective of domain and should get injected to the DNAs.

I would end here with Joe Paterno’s quote, “When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality.”