On our way to the temple situated at the outskirts of the city, after switching driving responsibility with my dad; I jumped into the backseat of the car and laid my head on mommy's lap. As she waved her warm palm across my forehead suddenly plethora of thoughts sprinting in mind halted, suddenly the noise falling in my ears was sampled off, suddenly I began to feel flow of energy in every inch of my body, suddenly the cruel sun rays felt warm, suddenly the jarring horns began to sound rhythmatic, suddenly the bowing trees across the edges of the road turned into a tranquil den and suddenly my eyes got awestruck at her smiling face.
I got scared...
I got scared seeing interference of whites in her sable hair, I got scared seeing her smile being surrounded by frowns, I got scared seeing her dazzling eyes being empowered by tear troughs, I got scared seeing her vibrant skin turning blue. These inevitable transformations were being overlooked by fast rotating needles of my watch and this was what scared me the most.
She was successful in smiling through her scars lately, but now they were being highlighted, she was successful in faking her enthusiastic and dynamic personality lately but now her aging attire was acquiring the throne.
I never realized that the brightness of my christmas tree was being ice capped. I was not alarmed seeing her senescence, but was intimidated with rounds I had on my dial, to spend with her.
The dial offered inadequate time for me to learn to walk alone on the dusky paths, to face eerie stillness and inky backdrop of nights, to fall from high cliff and swing back high, to keep knots of social circle she forged tied up firmly and to embrace her in my arms and
Apologize....
Apologize for all the times I howled on her, all the times I said “ I am busy”, all the times I ignored her urge to learn fancy gadgets, all the times when I preferred cafes over her “ Rajma rice ”, all the times I showcased my immature understanding and disobeying her wise experience.

Sudden breaks applied I escaped my subconscious state, A midway restaurant came and my mom whispered in my ears “ Son get up, I bought your favourite Aloo Ke Paranthas”.
I got up and opened door of the car for her and holded her hand tightly and promised to myself
“ My hand will be her stick for her upcoming winter days”.
©ANMOL SINGHAL