Adoption
All the procedures in the hospital was as usual, long and exhausting. The patient and the caregivers were enervated to the core. However, all the caregivers wished was that the patient recovered fast. That was what the boys were praying to the great Almighty. Prayers, duties, responsibilities, they fulfilled it all. It was their mom who was at the hospital. This was the first time she fell sick. Otherwise, she was always on her toes. She loved cooking, she loved taking care of her boys, she loved to go to movies, she loved attending functions of ‘bhajans’ and ‘kirtans’. Her boys took turns in taking her to the events. She was pretty independent herself as well. There were times when she would hire an auto rickshaw and go places. Her boys were concerned about her. They were concerned because she was around 65 years old now. It was imperative that she stays careful. She had to undergo an ankle surgery because she tripped on a stone. Ofcourse, that was an accident. All the same, staying away from their mom for a week was difficult for the boys. Hospital was a not a pleasant place for their mom. She never liked it.
Well, after coming from work, not seeing their mom watching TV was painful too. The housekeeper would leave by 8 pm and the boys would come from work. Once the boys came, Radhika would lay the table and serve dinner for her boys. After dinner, one of her sons would clean the table while the other would do the utensils. Radhika would keep the leftover food in the refrigerator and would go to sleep.
The boys missed their mom at home. Radhika always woke up early, said her prayers, chanted all the sanskrit shlokas before heading to the kitchen. The fragrance of the incense sticks and the jingle of the tiny prayer bell would wake the boys. The boys missed that.
Thankfully, the surgery was successful and today Radhika will be home. The boys completed all the formalities and got their mom home. Radhika was elated to be home. The house was clean. The housekeeper and the boys had ensured that the house was spotless because that’s how Radhika liked it.
Her elder son said, ‘Now mom, don’t go alone anywhere. Take the driver with you. I have hired a driver. Her younger son nodded and said, ‘Yes maa, please listen to him.’ Radhika patted her sons and said, ‘Okay my sons. Now hurry up. You guys are getting late for work.’ The elder son said, ‘ We have taken the day off. We will go for our prayers today and will be home by lunch. Don’t go to the kitchen for another one week. Hope I am loud and clear maa?’ . Radhika smiled and said, ‘ Don’t worry. I won’t hurt myself again.’
After that, Radhika’s sons Arshad and Shahiq went for their friday prayers. They were police officers. Radhika was a domestic abuse victim. Some social workers had got her to the police station to help her file a complaint. She had nowhere to go. Hence Arshad and Shahiq brought her home. When Radhika had asked, ‘Why are you doing this?’ They had replied, ‘ Who said only children can be adopted? Moms can be adopted too. We are adopting you. From today you are our mom.’ In the past 5 years, her two boys made this world a beautiful place for her. Radhika went to the tiny temple in her room offered flowers to the her Almighty, Lord Shiva and said, ‘ Thank you for everything. Take care of my sons God. Shower your blessings on them.’
