Youth’s Reflection: Beloved Mother

Father was a teacher in a registered primary school. His salary was very poor. He also earned small amount of money from tuition. Throughout the year, he used to maintain his family by this poor income. Penury took its place in the family permanently. It can be said after meat comes mustard. Their only vow was to make us fit in the society. Parents had been trying their best to the last breath. We were four brothers and sisters. We, brothers and sisters, also kept the word given to parents. We studied carefully. We would have preferred education to sports. Parents were also happy to see our studies. Mother used to help my father in different ways. For a few of money my mother used to stitch clothes and make rope by jute fiber awakening deep night. My father sold that rope in a little profit. Different kinds of vegetables were born on two sides of the road in our locality. The mother got up early in the morning and started picking up the leafy vegetables. I had seen my mother for a long time to collect cow dung from the road. Then she dried the cow dung in the sun for fuel. I saw many people made my mother fun of doing this. Mother did not pay her ears to them. But I had a lot of trouble. I could not say anything. I endured all keeping mum. Then I promised that if I get a job then I will not let my mother to work anymore. I was waiting for the desirable day to implement my promise.
One night I was reading books at night. One neighboring aunty was making bread in a nearby house. Its smell was blowing in the air that entered into my nose. I uttered before my sister if I could eat hot bread with potatoes fried now. Ah! What was fun! My wish entered into my mother's ears that I understood after a couple of hours when I saw my mother appeared in front of me with potatoes fried and hot bread. Frankly, I ate some loaves of bread with fun that day. This incident may have been forgotten like thousands of other events but I did not forget it. It took place on the memorial page in my heart when I came to know that day mother request Aunty two breads for me but she refused my mother without bread. Then mother borrowed flour from another house and made bread for me. Even today, when I remember that day my eyes are to be filled with tears. While studying at the University, my mother had been suffering from brain stroke in the hospital. After two days she died. My father could not accept the unexpected death of mother in premature age. The father became alone in the family. Loneliness excruciated him. He suffered from severe pain. Without ending the year the father went to my mother. In the absence of parents, we, brothers and sisters also became helpless. We are all established today by their endless supplications. Only anguish is that parents could not see it.
Administrative Officer, Ministry of Public Administration