Chasing an innocent wish...

In a lazy afternoon, possessed by silence and loneliness, she is lying on the sofa. It seems that she is watching television, browsing through different channels, but perhaps her mind is analyzing her life.

“Ma!” A shout jolts her attention. She looks towards the source of voice and skips several beats. Her eyes seem as if they will pop out any time.

Her nine years old son Keshav is standing in front of her…smiling. And saying something that she cannot comprehend. His voice so melodious. His smile so divine. His appearance so mesmerizing. Tall smart and handsome.

Oh, how she wants to treasure this image in her eyes forever but pool of tears blurs her vision, without any warning. She wants to say something but her throat chokes. She wants to catch him desperately. She jerks her body to cosset her child who is world to her. But suddenly, he is not there. She is perplexed. She runs towards the other room and…and stops abruptly.

Keshav is lying on the bed. Silent. Looking nowhere…blankly.

“Oh God! How she wishes to hear ‘Maa’ from him. To hear his endless innocent talks. To see him play like many other boys of his age. To see him excel in several activities. To see love floating in his eyes, for her. To see him express his wishes. To feel and savour his deliberate hugs. But…but she is not that fortunate. Keshav doesn’t do such things. He can’t.

He’s helpless.

He can’t walk.

He can’t talk.

He can’t sit.

He can’t see.

Or maybe he even doesn’t recognize her. Perhaps doesn't understand the meaning of being a son. Having a loving mother. A hard slash of pain hits her heart again though she feels it every single day. 

She wonders when her dream…actually a deep desire within, is going to come true. Maybe soon. She consoles herself. But why such a beautiful dream vanishes in a blink.