There are these little things that your parents do that you start loving them ever so more. It is the bond that is there or just plain coincidence, one can never tell. This one incident gave a an entirely new look at what parental love actually means.
It was my mehendi ceremony. All of us were super excited about it. We had called the guy for putting the mehendi in the evening. But the guy got late and arrived at 7:30 pm. An Indian bride would understand what pain it is to put on the bridal mehendi. It takes 3-4 hours to apply the henna and then another 3-4 hrs for it to dry. One can not rest their hands and feet properly until the henna dries or you will end up smudging the designs.
Now it was already so late and we were re-thinking whether we should get it done or not because we knew that it would get late. Finally we decided that we would go ahead with the ceremony. So we got ready, had a brief photo session and the ceremony started. The ceremony, as such, was uneventful. We put on some music and the guy starting applying the henna. As the hours passed by my sister and my friend went off to sleep, but mom was there by my side while the guy was applying henna. She even stayed up when the henna was drying. At around 1 am, it was getting really late for mom and I told her that she should sleep as the next day was going to be even more exhausting for her. But how could she sleep leaving me alone and in cold. So she got a blower (incidentally my mother had brought a blower for my sister) and covered me up with a shawl to keep me warm. She clicked some pictures of me in with the henna (which turned out to be some of the best pictures of the day!) And then with a lot of reluctance she went off to sleep.
The way I was sitting was so uncomfortable. My whole arms were being supported by my finger-tips which I had kept on the arms of the chair I was sitting on. My legs had to be kept straight with both my feet constantly touching the ground/chair whereas I find sitting cross legged more comfortable. Imagine my plight, uncomfortable posture and cold weather. But still I managed to fall asleep.
It was around three o'clock I woke up, feeling uncomfortable. By now the henna had dried and I was contemplating how can I sleep. "Maybe I can sleep in the carpet. Oh no, it would get dirty! Only if I could get some polythenes to cover my henna, I could lie in bed inside a warm duvet. Ah!! but where are the polyethenes? Damn!! They are in Mom and Dad's room. Only if somebody could get the polythenes for me."
The suddenly the door creeks and I think it some stranger. I think "what if the person attacks me? How will I protect myself without spoiling the henna." But to my surprise its not a stranger, its Dad. And I can't believe it! He asks how is it going? I tell him that the henna has dried. I ask him how come he woke up at this hour. Wasn't he able to sleep? He says he just woke up and came to check on me. I told him that I wanted to lie in bed and but I would end up spoiling the bed-sheet and duvet. But if I covered the henna with polythenes, I would be able to sleep comfortably. I asked him if he could get them for me and told him where he could find them. So he brought the polyethenes for me and tied them around my hands and feet. He walked me up to the bed and tucked me in. Covering me properly so that I was warm. He kissed me good night, turned off the light and went to sleep. I fell asleep quickly after that and woke up only in the morning, when my parents were already up and ready, welcoming guests and preparing for the functions for the day.
I think there was something, this bond, this silent communication between me and Dad that he realized that I might need him and he just woke up and came to check on me. There are some things that we cannot explain but they happen, we do them out of love, out of care. I can never forget this day. Mom waking till late to give me company even though she was exhausted and Dad coming to my room just when I needed him. What Mom and Dad did for me might be a very small thing but isn't life all about these little things you do for your loved ones.
I just hope that one day I can be like them.
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