My mom and me

Me and my mom on my 1st birthday

My mom used to be strict and conservative, just the way Indian moms are supposed to be, even though she had me as a child, someone whose obedience, innocence and goodness left no shred of a doubt in the minds of my proud family. Besides, I, being the only child of hers, was entitled to more than the usual share of pampering which a child is expected to legitimately claim.

Amidst pampering, I grew up. I never threw tantrums, not because I wasn't capable of, but simply because I never needed to. Even the smallest of my wishes were fulfilled by my mom and my godmother masi, who, despite the financial troubles, always bought me smiles at the expense of theirs.

One dreadful incident which I won't forget till eternity, though my mom must have forgotten it, took place when I was in my mid-teens and was caught watching 'fashion TV'. The fault lay with me, coz I developed the audacity to tune into the tabooed channel right before my sleeping mom who, by some conspiracy of fate, chose to open her eyes at the same time when I had relaxed my guard.

Over the years, my mother has become cooler and less conservative. I have programmed her to accept me the way I am- a grownup guy who refuses to grow up. She now finds it easier to accept that her son, however childish he may still be or however innocent he may try to act before her, will have his righteous share of female friends. She has also accepted, though with a sense of resignation, that I won't go to bed at the time at which she wants me to go to bed, but will keep the light turned on till 2 am, and, at times, even 4 am, if not 5 am.

~Ritesh the ‘laadla’ ladka