The night lamp flickered a little and then it was total darkness. Sneha heaved a sigh of relief as she found comfort in it. Within ten minutes her mother lit a candle and turned towards the wall to resume her sleep. Smita was afraid of the dark from childhood. It had rained heavily that day. Thunder and lightning gave them company in the two-room house. Mumbai, a metropolitan city of India is a little harsh to strugglers. Just last month Sneha was recruited for a furniture store. For a fortnight both had stayed at a friend’s house but by God’s grace they shifted to a rented place in the third week. God was kind but it was a long road indeed. 

Sneha, a little on the heavy side, was more focussed on giving her mom the life she deserved. Smita was from an affluent family but falling in love with Aman had changed priorities. Sneha’s parents had eloped and got married. After a year the couple was blessed with a daughter. They named her Sneha. Aman worked in a government bank as a cashier. Years ago for some money withdrawal Smita had visited the bank and in no time that chance meeting with Aman had turned them into inseparable lovers. Smita was not ambitious and loved kids. Her goal was to get married and start a family. Her industrialist father wanted Smita to take care of the business but all dreams shattered. Her choosing Aman was a major setback. 

For Aman Smita adjusted to his three room apartment with no house help. She saw it as an opportunity to stay fit as her parent’s house was full of servants and this aspect she had felt spoiled her. Her in-laws were decent people and had welcomed their grand daughter with open arms. After their demise Smita was all the more protective about Aman and took most of the household burden on herself. Raising Sneha was not easy but she never made a spectacle of it. Caring for the love of her life and munchkin came naturally to Smita. The lovebirds used to feel blessed but as Sneha was growing she could see the sacrifices her mother was making to keep it all sane. 

Accompanying Sneha to Mumbai was turning out to be a good decision as Smita rested most of the day. Something that Smita missed and never acknowledged once she came into the Kumar household. Aman is in his village with his pet dog as caretaker while his wife is with their daughter. In the candlelight, watching her mother sleeping peacefully gave Sneha joy. Her shadow on the wall was bliss. The curves on her tummy etched a very sensuous silhouette which Sneha admired. She loved her mother in an indescribable way. For her she was an epitome of a complete woman. She did not idolise her but saw in her the beauty of God. Couples fight, crib and get distant when a child comes in the picture but Sneha was brought up in a very loving environment. Money was limited but there were moments of richness. 

Sneha was filling up for the attention and care that Smita deserved while taking care of her immediate family but never got. She was earning only for Smita. They were baby steps but a sleepy mom beside her filled her heart with content and gratitude. Smita had less sleep for years but now here she was totally living it. The Kumars never celebrated Mother’s Day but here in that two-room rented house every minute of her life it felt so. Nothing was made obvious by Sneha but somehow Smita felt like a queen. In the darkness for a few minutes before her mother lit a candle Sneha saw visions of possibilities for her mother. Smita was a fit woman all thanks to the years of doing everything on her own. 

Aman, her father was not a looker but was sincere. He gave Sneha a good education and this was more than enough for her. Throughout their lives Smita had a peaceful face even in her struggles. There was love, commitment and togetherness even in their brief fights. This meant the world to Sneha. She wants to settle down eventually but before it all her mother comes first. Daughters are more closer to their dads but with Sneha it was the opposite. It seems she fell in love with her mom in her womb. That is what she sees in the temporary spells of darkness and she loves it.