Preethiya Amma

Dearest Amma,
The whole world is celebrating Mother's Day, today. Unfortunately I can n0t celebrate with you as I am staying far away from you. But that does not stop me in expressing my feelings to you through this letter.
"Amma", the very first word every kid will say when it start learning to speak. "Amma" anno aa eradaksharadalli, esht preethi, vaathsalya ide... varNisalasadaLa.
Maa, you know why I like you very much??? Not just that you are my mother.
Because, you carried me for nine months, tolerated n enjoyed my football kicks when I was still within you.
Because, of the pain you underwent when you gave me birth, so that I could come to this world safely.
Because, you taught me the values of life.
Because, you brought me up facing all the odds and battling with life.
This letter has very less space for me to write about you.
Amma, I still remember, on one Diwali, when I asked you two rupees for bursting the cracker, you silently cried 'cos you did not have to give me. And then searched all your hidden treauries and finally succeeded in giving me a old two rupee note with a smile... I am sure that smile was the satisfaction of giving me money. How can I forget that??? Is that reason for me stopping in bursting the cracker even now...? Well, I dont know.
I have not forgotten the days when we had to live eating only a bun a day, and you managing the whole four of us with just three rupees. How did you manage, amma?
How can I forget the day when you beat me so much that the "magucho kai" itself got broken, when I did wrong. That beating was enough for me to remember till now... :-)) Later you gave me a big hug crying and cursing yourself for beating me... I was wondering why should she cry when I am at the receiving end. After that, No, I dont remember a single day taking your beatings. That was a lesson for me, kaNammaa.
You are not educated, and you still regret for that. But that did not stop you in bringing up me and Santhosh, when everything went wrong with us. You challenged the the life and succeeded. You gave the best education possible within your limits. You never thought about yourself. All your aim was to take good care of us. How can you be so selfless amma? Are all mothers like you? I think Yes. Thats why every son/daughter likes their mother, no matter what their father gives them in terms of material stuff, love or emotional caring.
I dont have words to describe the happiness I saw when I gave you my first salary. You kept that money in front of god and did pooja. You were so proud of your son. Each and every single good moments of us, be it we passing out of class, securing first place in debate, or just helping out ajji when she was in hospital, you went on blowing the trumpet - My son is like this, he is that; he passed out with first class; he got job..... Oh!!! amma neenesht oLLeyavaLu!!!
Amma, I want your love till the end of my life...
Finally a song dedicated for you - "tusu mella beesu gaaLiyE..... ee laali suvvali" from the Kannada Movie - "Tutta Mutta". Incidentally the hero, Ramesh Aravind's name in that movie is also, Harsha.. :)

preetiya,
~harshaaa