“How is the food beta? I have been preparing this for you since morning,” she asked eagerly. “Maa, please don’t disturb me. The match is going through an interesting point — let me enjoy it. I will eat the food later and tell you,” he replied, eyes glued to the television screen.

“Okay. But do eat it. You must be hungry. You didn’t eat properly last night too,” she said. He failed to reply, attention and eyes glued to the TV. She gave him an affectionate smile and resumed her household chores.

Later in the day

“Maa. Whatever it is that you have made, just heat it. It’s gone cold,” he shouted from his seat in front of the TV.

 “Oh! You haven’t eaten it yet? I’ll heat it,” She heated it and gave it to her son.

“Eat this,” she said, handing over the food.

“Can you tell me how long you are going to watch the match?” she asked in a soft voice.

“What is it maa? I have taken leave from office just to watch this match,” he snapped out, irritated with his mother’s interruptions.

“I was just asking as I need your help to bring some household things,” she added softly.

“Please manage it yourself maa. Just think that I am still in office and do your work the way you do it on other days,” He snapped out, eyes still glued to the television. 

She smiled, picked up her purse and left for the market — a smile on her face but pain in her heart.

He had turned the room into a complete mess and was calling his friends over to watch the rest of the match together. Soon, a bunch of six young men landed at his place, having come directly from office. Stinking, hungry and tired, the men insisted on moving the party to his room so that they could lie down on the bed and rest in the air-conditioned room. Since his mother was not around, the guys attempted to make some coffee for themselves but failed, and left the kitchen in shambles. Everybody was hungry so they ordered some pizzas and other fast food.

It was almost evening. His mother was yet to return home but the son had not bothered to call her and enquire. When he picked up his mobile phone to check some messages, he saw his mother had called him five times. He tried calling her but was unable to get through so forgot about it and was again busy with his friends again.

She stumbled into home later in the evening, laden with bags. Feeling weak and tired, she made herself comfortable on the chair. She rested for ten minutes and then went to her son’s room.

His friends and left by then but the room was in a mess with dirty plates and empty cartons spread across the room. He was busy with his laptop, tucking into the fast food ordered by his friends, the food cooked by his mother with such affection still lying in one corner.

“I called you many times to know if you wanted something from the market. But you did not take the call”

“Nope! I did not want anything,” he said.

He turned around and shouted at his mother, “Why did you come so late? My friends had to fend for themselves; I was so embarrassed.”

Dismissing her attempt to reply, he turned around. “What’s the point in saying all this now? They have already left. Now, can you help me finish this food we ordered? I am unable to finish it and don’t want to waste it. It’s so costly and I cannot afford to throw it away,” he said, munching on a pizza slice.

“No beta, I cannot,” She replied, quietly wiping her tears with the corner of her sari’s pallu,

“What’s the harm in having my food? Do you have no value of your son’s hard-earned money? Have this. I am sure you will like eating something other than the regular fare you cook daily,” he said, trying to force feed her.

“Beta, I would have loved to share the food with you but I cannot eat it today. I have observed a fast today, for you,” she said, her heart sad at her son’s callous attitude.

 “Maa, who on earth compelled you to keep a fast today!”

“It was not just today beta and nobody forced me. I have been observing this fast since your birth; it’s been around 25 years since I have been doing it. It’s my love for you. You came to know about it only because you were home today. And I do value your hard earned money. Please store the leftovers in the refrigerator, I will eat them tomorrow. I do not allow myself even water on this day.”

He was stunned; frozen in shame. He almost got out of the chair...
but then promptly plopped back and returned his attention to the laptop, taking his mother’s love for granted.

As the saying goes, God couldn’t be everywhere so he made mothers. But children often forget that they too need to be loved. But they are selfless and will continue to sacrifice, even when not loved back.