story of a mother

                   Years ago I read a story about a mother. It may be a real or imaginary story. But it touched my heart. I retell the story for you in my language.

                   My mother only had one eye. She was in an ugly look. My mother worked in houses for domestic work in daily wages. Most times I smelt sweat smell from her dresses. I hated her. I did not know anything about my father. When I was studying in elementary school, one day my mother came to my school. Because of the interval time all my classmates saw her. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school, my classmates taunted me as -"Your mom only has one eye?!"

                  I blamed the god for the ugly mother and my poverty. I wished that my mother would just disappear from this world. When I was angry, I said to my mother, "Mom, why don't you have the other eye? You are always shame to me.  Why don't you just die?" My mother did not respond. Sometimes I felt bad to say such words. But when I was angry, I could not control the words because of my frustration. My mother hadn’t punished me.  I didn't think that I had hurt her feelings very badly.
 One night I woke up to drink some water. My mom was crying in the kitchen, so quietly, as if she was afraid that she might wake me. I looked at her, and then turned away. I said some hard words that day, which might hurt her. I felt sorry that time. Even so, I hated my mother who was crying out of her one eye. So I told myself that I would grow up and become very successful, because I hated my one-eyed mother and our desperate poverty.
                        Then I studied really hard. I left my mother and came to Mumbai and studied in a famous university. I completed my engineering degree with high marks and got a good job in a MNC. I got married. I bought a house of my own. Then I had kids, too. I was living happily with my wife and beautiful children. I liked that life because it was a place that did not remind me of my ugly mother.
                       One day unexpectedly someone came to see me. That was my mother with her one eye. I was so embarrassed. My little son ran away and scared of my mother’s eye. She disturbed our happiness. I asked her, "Who are you? I don't know you!"  I shouted at her "How dare you come to my house and scare my son! Get out here now!" My mother quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address," and she went away.  I thought that she did not recognize me. I thanked god. One big burden went away.

                   One day, a letter regarding a school get-together came to my house. I lied to my wife as “I am going to a business trip.” After the get-together, I went to my old house just for curiosity. I saw some crowd in front of my old house. I found that my mother was died that day. But I did not shed a single tear. She had a piece of paper in her hand.... it was a letter to me.
 

My Son,
          I think my life is more enough now. I won't visit Mumbai anymore. I am very sorry to make unhappy in your life. I prayed god to see you one more time. I miss you very much. I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I decided not to go to the school. Once again I am sorry that I only have one eye and I was an embarrassment for you. Many times you asked me “why do you have only one eye?”         

         My son, when you were very little, you met an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't see you with only one eye... so I gave you my one eye. I was so proud of my son that he was seeing this world with my eye. I was never upset at you for anything you did. Many times you got angry with me. Those times I thought to myself, “it’s because he loves me.” You are the meaning of my life. One thing is true- I miss you and love you so much my son.      With love - your mother.

         I cried. First time I felt LOVE.