It was 10 August, 2001. I was at office that night, working late. My mother was hospitalised and I had to see her before going home. I reached Nanavati Hospital at around 9:00 pm. My father was reading a holy book and my mother was browsing a news paper. She was admitted for kidney failure and was on dialysis. The doctors had visited her before I reached the hospital and had told my father that they would discharge her the next day. My mother was happy because she was getting discharged and there would be less physical and mental stress on my father and me.

Being closer to me, she told me that she was worried for me since I was not yet married. This was her dialogue every time she looked at me with love and affection. That night my father decided to leave since he was tired and asked me to come along. I told him that I would stay the night with my mother and would go to the office next day. But, my mother who was more concerned about my work told me to go home and get a good night sleep. She told me not to worry since she was getting discharged the next day.

I drove home with my father and wanted to take a quick shower before I took my dinner. It was 11:00 pm. It was only two minutes I was in the shower my father told me that the hospital called and wanted us to rush immediately. Not knowing what had happened, I immediately stepped out, changed and stepped out of home with my father.

My younger sister told me to drive carefully. As we left home and I was speeding I suddenly heard a voice which was undoubtedly my mother's calling me. It was so loud and clear to me that I told my father that Mom is calling me and I can hear her. He did not hear me since he was too tense.

As I parked the car in front of the hospital, my father rushed to the hospital entrance while I was locking the car. By the time I entered the hospital, the corridor was dark and no one was there.

As I rushed to the ICCU the doctor called me and asked me to follow him. He told me that my mother was sinking and everything was being done to bring her back. But, she was not responding. At that moment I felt as though the earth under my feet had given way. I was too close to my mother than anyone in the house. My father and me were at loggerheads all the time since our basic principles clashed.

My mother finally passed away leaving me alone in this world. My father sat there staring at me blank. Somehow I gathered myself and dialed home. The pain in my voice told my sister that Mom had passed away. She couldn't control herself. She was 5 months pregnant. I then dialed my elder sister in New York. She was luckily home and when I told her it was a great shock to her. While I was talking I did not realise that I was walking slowly out of the hospital. I came down and was staring at the night sky. Not knowing what to do. My father still in shock was still inside the hospital.

At that moment I felt as though I was touched on my shoulder from the left side. I turned. What I saw cannot be put in words. My mother was standing right in front of me. She was wearing the same sari she wore when she got admitted. I had taken that sari home to wash. My mother hugged me and then, the same dialogue: "I am worried about you! I don't know how you will manage without me, but, you will now have to look after yourself, take care of the home and also look after your father. Baby (my younger sister, Sujata) is pregnant. Do everything possible you can for her. Father does not know much but, you will have to explain it to him. Tell Sucheta (my elder sister) to take care of her health and also the kids." As I write this the hair on my body stands. I remember that she asked me to bend and kissed my forehead. She blessed me and said that everything will be alright.

A car came in and with its headlights on me came closer. When I looked around, there was no one. I touched my forehead and it was moist with Mom's kiss. I could still feel her hand on my shoulder. I went up again and told the doctor I wanted to see my mother. When I went inside, I saw that my mother lay clam with a smile on her face and her eyes closed. No one could say that she had passed away. It seemed that she was sleeping, resting before she got discharged the next day. I looked at the time, it was 1:00 am. Mom had been discharged.

Now, when I am tense and have some mental stress, I still look at her photograph, smiling, and it gives me assurance that everything will be alright.

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