Mother was a great fan of Agatha Christie.

A tragic accident almost a year back robbed me of my mobility. Unforeseen circumstances had a Chevrolet back up and hit me while parking. The impact was of such force that I suffered a large amount of distress on my spine. That spinal injury was fatal and almost caused my death should medical attention not arrive sooner. Such trauma left me paralysed temporarily from the waist down, with further analysis from physicians proving my chances of recovery to be low.

I seemed to lack a certain element heavily required for my recovery, and that was will.

I had lost my will.

Physiotherapy sessions were in vain. Every second of sensation I felt in my calves would be enshrouded by its insentience. My mind would flood with doubts each and every time – The odds of one recovering from a paralysis would be millions to one.

Would I be as fortunate?

Not only did the accident rob me of my mobility; I had lost my pride and patience. I became umbrageous and snide, flaring out at the world as though everyone did me a great wrong.

Doctors who came talking to me left with heavy hearts; Psychiatrists who tried to help were turned down rudely. A woman sat by my side silently all these while, watching on as I abused various strangers. So silent was she that one would not notice her until she muttered a quick apology when you exited the ward.

Finally, Mother spoke up.

“Could you cool down, Alice? They came in to help you.” Mother tried to look into my eyes. I turned away quickly.

Being a single parent, Mother took on the responsibility of both parents and has been supporting both of us for almost a decade. Little was known about Father – Mother had only spoken about him once, and the description consisted of him being an “irresponsible jerk that ran away in our time of need”. Apparently, Father had run away after building up a considerable debt via a failed business, leaving Mother in a scabrous situation.

Nevertheless, Mother shouldered the burden of his actions and paid off his debts while striving to build up his ‘failed’ business. I still remember the days when Mother had to rush off to unknown locations almost all the time. She seemed to be perpetually busy. Maybe I was young then, for I could not understand why Mother was never able to spare any time for her only daughter. All my needs were taken care of by my caretaker. “Did she not love me?” I asked often.

As the grains of time pass with significant rapidity, I realized that Mother started to substitute the lack of a mother figure with money. My materialistic wants were fulfilled, yet something felt missing. Something. No tears could be shed as Mother had to persevere in building up the business. Contacts had to be contacted, trust were to be regained and sullied reputations had to be improved. Mother had much to do, and it was done. All this, at a colossal cost – the inadvertent compromise of Daughter.

Word had gotten around that Mother had successfully overthrown competitors and gained monopoly in the region’s business sphere. Gradually, everyone came to know of me as ‘that rich girl’, the daughter of a female business tycoon. I hated her for that. A daughter, only by name.

Only after several years of hard work did Mother finally succeeded in her endeavors. It was not as though Mother remained unscathed through this ordeal – She had been transformed from an ignorant housewife to a sharp businesswoman with an acute sense for opportunities.

A self-proclaimed cynic, I doubted Mother’s good intentions. Was this just another ‘opportunity’ of Mother to bridge the gap between us? Mother has proven herself to be resilient when faced with difficult times, and she expected no less from her daughter.

No soon after did an acrimonious, at least on my part, debate start between mother and child.

“I have already said, Mother. You need not waste your money on me anymore. I accept my-“

“Nonsense! You will recover from this, alright? I’ll always be here for yo-”

“Here for me? You never were! Where were you when I needed you, when I needed you?” I cried, exasperated.

“Look, my dear. I had never intended for this to happen…” Mother trailed off. Was she speechless?

“Would you have started paying attention to me if I didn’t get into this accident? Tell me now, how busy is Madam Tycoon?”

“Watch your language now.” Mother warned sternly, softening only when she saw my tear-filled eyes. A sight she has not encountered for approximately ten years now.

“Please, my dear. Please continue the treatment. You’ll get well,” Mother’s eyes reddened.

I was relentless.

“On what grounds should I?” I shouted rebelliously.

“On the grounds that I love you!” Mother spluttered in a fit of desperation.

A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world…

“It doesn’t matt- What?” Shock had befallen me.

“Yes, my dear. I love you. I would have given up all years ago, should it not be for you. It was hard, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” Mother wiped a tear from her eye.

“But, why? Why did you swallow innocent companies, just for the sake of profit?”

It knows no law…

“I had no choice…”

“…If I did not, we would not have survived till today. I did what I had to do.” Mother continued on.

“I…” It was my turn to be tongue-tied.

“My child, I have always wanted only the best for you. When your father left us, I promised myself to bring you up in the best conditions I could afford. I didn’t want you to suffer. You are my pride and joy, and the only reason why I live…” Tears had already started to form out of the corner of Mother’s eyes.

Mother held me close.

“… Because I love you, Alice.” She whispered into my ears. Her blackened tears streamed down, each drop splashing on my bare skin.

Pitter, patter.

Pitter, patter.

Each drop lessened my hatred, my angst.

Was I ready?

I hugged back.

“I love you too… Mum.” That was the first time Mum ever felt so sincere, so dear.

“Now, do try your best to recover, alright?” Mum smiled at me, her ruined mascara highlighting her rosy cheeks.

I nodded, smiling.

“Okay. Here, Mum. Wipe this off your face. You look positively hilarious!” Giggling, I handed Mum a piece of 2-ply tissue paper.

I had found that missing part.

Recuperation had officially started.

=)

Happy Mother’s Day!