MY MOTHER STILL RULES MY WORLD
A round 12 in the noon, today, I received a call from my brother, Rony. He has come home (Mangalore) on a short vacation from Kuwait where he works. My parents had five children – all sons, and they were called Pandavas! I was the second son, Bheem (Not as strong as the mighty son of Pandu, though!). Rony was the fourth son, Nakul. Pandu, our dad, is no more… Mom, at 84, is still around (She lives with my eldest brother, Fanky’s family); and, she is very alert and alive as she always used to be. Her physical health is a lot better than many other mothers of her age (Touch wood!). She is extremely pious; and, she is very fond of her immediate and extended families. Whenever I call her from Mumbai to enquire about her, before I ask, “How are you, mom”, I end up hearing from the other end, “Koso asai putha ”…. Translated from Konkani, “How are you, son?” Though our mom is fond of all her five sons, she, always, had an extra soft-corner for me and Rony. I th...