A Mother's Birthday

“Happy Birthday amma,” I beamed pleasantly on phone.
“Thank you, dear, So are you dropping by here for lunch or anything?” asked my mother.
“Amma, today Suresh can't take leave from office, shall I come this weekend? All of us will eat out”
“You are welcome any day dear, but why to eat out, I will prepare something at home.” replied the mother.
“Oh! amma, you are always working in the kitchen whenever I come to stay or for lunch. We need to sit, talk and enjoy, so I suggest we all go out for lunch.”
“No dear, it is fine, I love cooking for my family, it is no work for me.”
We chatted for some time and I cut the call.
I realised that cooking is work for me, a chore which I do mechanically. Even though I love cooking for my family, it is always a chore to be completed before a certain time.
I then realised that modern-day woman has complicated her life by creating hourly and daily deadlines for simple things like cooking, cleaning or even caring for the plants.
I remembered how my mother used to enjoy the process of cooking, caring for the plants, and attending to my little needs when I was small. She did it without sulking or writing down a deadline for it. There were no To-Do lists for her.
So, why are we getting anxious to finish a certain task within a stipulated hour? Have we lost the humane touch which our mothers incorporated into everything they did?
Or, have we become too materialistic that we seem to separate chores from enjoyment.
I decided to drop by today at mom's place and observe her from a new angle. To observe and learn the way she cooks. I had to buy a present yet. Thinking I would be going this weekend, I had stalled the gift selection to Friday.
What did mom love so much? I set about thinking. I suddenly remembered mother used to sketch a great deal when I was small. Eventually, she stopped doing it, but she loved to visit art galleries and take in all the new forms of art.
Why not buy her a ticket for an art exhibition nearby? But this is nothing special. I dismissed this idea.
On googling I found quite a few books which help one learn the nuances of sketching. I decided that sketching kit with books and required pencils would be the best gift to mother.
With this in mind, I went to a bookstore nearby planning to finish my task before lunch and reach mom's place. Before that, I called my spouse and told him about my plan. As he was quite busy with the day's schedule he asked me to carry on. So, I called mother and told her about my visit hurriedly.
It took a long time to choose all the gifts and get them packed. I was late by few minutes for lunch but amma and appa were waiting for me eagerly.
I hugged amma and gave her the present. She simply put it aside and asked me to have lunch.
“You must be starving, have lunch first, we can talk everything after lunch.”
“That's my mamma, always knows when I'm hungry. Give me anything to eat, I barely had any breakfast today”
“Silly girl, why didn't you eat?” she chided me.
Soon after lunch, I asked her to open the gift. She opened it reluctantly and was surprised at the things. She said, “I am too old for sketching now dear”
“Age is just a number amma, get sketching, I am sure you will start loving it.”
Although she seemed reluctant, I observed a small glint of joy in her eyes. I was happy I chose this gift. Soon, my mother will be very busy with her own piece of art.