“I must make a point to visit Amma this Mother's Day," Kannan thought. Although his mother was staying only about an hour's drive away, he could hardly find time to pay her a visit. There would always be some emergency to handle, some problems to look at, some work that needs to be done - the list was endless. Especially once the children began to arrive, one after another - all four of them.

“Sweetheart, we have run out of salt, please go over to the mart and get me two kilos,” Gomathy asked.

“Why do you do this all the time? Why didn’t you ask me earlier?" he grumbled to a wife who was no longer listening.
But there it was. His life was made up of errands, office, school, hospitals, supermarkets, etc.
“What a life, I should have remained a bachelor,” he continued grumbling.

This weekend was going to be hectic. The first Sunday in the month of May - Mother's Day. Kannan had already booked a table for an event to be held in conjunction with Mothers Day on Saturday. His children will definitely enjoy it. At least the children would be able to learn a thing or two about appreciation. Gomathy would be pleased that he had remembered and made an effort.

He had to get some gifts for the children to give their mother. If he didn't, he would have to face a glum Gomathy. Besides, he liked giving her gifts, even if they were through the children. He felt warmth at the thought of Gomathy's face lighting up as each present was opened.

That evening, after office hours, he bought four gifts, one from each child, got them wrapped and hid them in the boot of the car. It was little game they played every year. Gomathy would be certain that he would buy gifts, as she would for him on Father's day. But she would feign surprise. And that thought pleased him too. He was lucky to have such a loving family.

Saturday came and the day sped by. Soon it was time to leave for the event. True enough the children enjoyed every moment of it. There were games, sketches, cartoon-clips, songs, and not to mention the speeches. It was during one of the speeches, that one professor came on stage with a jug and some boxes. He posed a unique problem to the audience. He placed some stones in the jug to its brim and then faced the audience:

"Is the jug full?"

"Yes" everyone chorused.

"But no," he replied as he put some pebbles and shook the jug. The pebbles filled up some of the spaces between the stones.

"Now, is it full?"

"Not totally," the audience had warmed up to the professor's line of thinking.

He smiled and this time filled up with sand, taking up almost every millimeter of the space.

"What about now?"

The audience was quiet daring not to comment.

"There is still some space," he said smilingly, while now filling the jug with water, which it amazingly took.

"What can we learn from this exercise? You." He pointed at Kannan who was seated among the front tables.

With the spotlight on him, Kannan flushed before saying, "It probably means that there is always space for additional things."
The audience laughed.
"I know, I know," he continued, "It means that one can always find time for everything." he added victoriously.

"Not quite, my dear friend," the professor said. "It means that you have to put the larger items first, or you will never be able to get them inside at all."
"Prioritise." he emphasised.

Kannan was stunned. He thought of his mother.

He was quiet as he drove back home.
“Why are you silent all of a sudden?" Gomathy asked with concern.

“Nothing – it’s been a while since I visited Amma.”

“It’s okay. Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Let’s visit her."

“Ok, we will go there for lunch tomorrow. But I didn’t buy any gift for Amma?”

“No shops will be open. It’s okay – buy her a cake.”

"Good idea," he agreed and upon reaching home, called his mother.

"Amma, how are you?"

“Why all of a sudden Kannan? I am fine. How are the children? Is Bhaskar still coughing? How is your blood pressure now? Are you taking medicine properly?”

“We are all fine Ammaa. I will come there with the family tomorrow and have lunch with you.”

“Come come. It has been a while,” happiness melted and crept through the telephone line.


“OK maa, we’ll talk later. Go to sleep now." Kannan slowly replaced the telephone.
“In spite of my being busy I didn’t forget to buy gifts for Gomathy and that too four gifts, but I totally forgot about Amma,” he thought guiltily.
He turned thoughtfully to his wife, who was busy changing the children's clothes. “Pack all the clothers tonight itself. We will leave immediately after breakfast.”

“Alright, but we must return early. There is school the next day.”

"Hmm," he grunted irritatingly.

The persistent ring of the telephone woke him up the next day. He glanced at the wall clock. Way past 8 o' clock! God, he had overslept. Next to him, oblivious to the telephone shrill, Gomathi was sleeping.
He rushed down the stairs to answer the phone.
"Hello," groggily.

"Hello Kanna. Did I wake you up?" she laughed. "What time are you coming?"

“In a while maa."

“OK, drive carefully.”

Chaos broke out over the house as one by one of the children got up. Gomathy started her chore of preparing the children while Kannan prepared to go to a nearby restaurant to get some breakfast. Just as he was leaving the phone rang again. It was his mother.

"Kanna. Will you be here by 11?"

“Why maa? Anything special?”

“No, nothing. I am cooking all your favourites. If I know what time you will be here, I will cook the rice so that it will be hot when you arrive.”

Kannan laughed. Typical of her to get excited. "I should be there by 12. Don’t trouble yourself too much. Just sardine and rasam would be fine for me.”

"Hmph! What nonsense. Cooking is not a problem for me. OK, I will see you soon."

"Okay maa."

Kannan left to buy breakfast. The cake shop wasn't open but the florist was.
“Why waste money on flowers? Might as well get her something worthwhile,” he thought.
By the time he was through with buying the breakfast and through the traffic, it was almost 10.00 am.

Midway through breakfast. His mother called again. “Haven’t you left yet?”

“Why are you calling so many time maa," beginning of irritation.

“No Kannaa, I just want to make sure that the rice is warm for you. Ok, I won’t call any more. Take your time and come.”

With a grimace, Kannan continued his breakfast.

BY the time, they left the house, it was after 11.30 am. Because of the late hour, he decided against buying the cake and instead planned to get a gift on a later date.
The drive was uneventful.
He reached his mother's house at about 12.30 pm.

“The rice would be cold and Amma will be annoyed," he chuckled to himself.

Surprisingly the door was closed. He knocked on the door a few times. He could hear the sound of the television. He knocked again, harder this time.
His father opened the door, ashen faced.

“Come Kanna. Your ammaa was waiting for you for a long time….”

"Where is amma?" Kannan asked a sudden fear grasping him.

"Go and see for yourself," his father pointed at his mother sitting there watching the TV, oblivious to his arrival.

"Amma," he approached. Gomathy and the children retreated to a corner, seeking each other out, unconsciously.

His mother's eyes were closed, like she was sleeping. But she was not.

"Appa, what happened?" Kannan's eyes darted to his father.

"Heart attack Kanna. Your ammaa has left us."

"Atthai" the cry of Gomathy.

Kannan was in a state of shock. Scenes of the florist, the bakery, fleeted across his mind, like images of conscience.

He touched his mother. Cold.

Ironically, the rice she cooked for him was still hot.

Have you visited your mother, lately?