Nina was upset in her mind about what she had gone through in the last few days. Her son, Ron, had left her alone in their ancestral house the next day after the Christmas celebration, and no one had cared to ask about her since. How long will she continue to be fooled by her own daughter-in-law and son? Nina thought, if they don’t need a mother, then why doesn’t she accept this?
Nina’s eyes were filled with tears from this painful situation, as she was getting ready for the party in the neighborhood when her son Ron’s call came, "Mom, I will come to pick you up. My boss and a few colleagues will come home for dinner for the New Year’s Party. " Nina felt bad when he disconnected without listening to her.
Nina felt very sad since Ron had dropped her off at her home and called after four days. She thought about how Ron had treated her every time she called him in the last four days, and how he had disconnected her calls, saying, "I am a little too busy mom, I will call you later."
Tara, her daughter-in-law, was no different. Tara wasn’t working right now, but she had no time to call her. However, she never hesitated to call Nina when she had some work for her.Image
The ringing phone brought Nina back to the present. Tara’s call didn’t surprise her, as she was expecting this call at any moment. "How are you, mother?" Tara asked.
"I’m fine," Nina said, and asked. "How are you all?"
"We are all good! Mom, did Ron call to tell you we’re expecting a few guests for the New Year’s party? It is a party of 15-20 people. You should come a day earlier. We have to prepare a few dishes for the party, and you know, I am not good at cooking".
Nina didn't reply, but she thought, "So, you need me as a cook."
Tara continued, "Everyone loves the food you cook, mother. Be ready, Mom, Ron will come to pick you up. "
Nina felt disgusted. She wanted to disconnect, but she said, "I’ll call you later" and hung up. Nina couldn’t stop thinking, ‘Why do our children sound so selfish? She thought, "No one cared to ask how she was, or how she was doing living alone in this house, but they remembered her only when they wanted to use her."
A storm of thoughts was running through Nina's mind. "Ron, I never thought you would be so rude to me." We did everything while your father was still alive. Your father and I did our duty to the best of our ability. Whatever I and your father had, belonged to all of us, and belonged to you. We have given you freedom, a career, the best education, and the freedom to make decisions on your own. Now what has gone wrong with you, my son?
We always thought that with all these things, you would live a better life. But now you have become so self-centered and so selfish that you have started making decisions about me? Her eyes filled up with tears once more.
She was crying silently, thinking, "Why do people become so selfish?" This was not the way she wanted to celebrate New Year’s Eve with her children. Nina had decided to not go to Ron’s house for the New Year.
