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Erma Bombeck, When God Created Mother
When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."
And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands... no way."
It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."
That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.
One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."
God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow..."
I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."
The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.
But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."
Can it think?"
Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.
There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."
It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."
What's it for?"
It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."
You are a genius, " said the angel.
Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it
Cabir's moms reaction is spot on its not pandering to "Mahanta" nor is it catering to trivialisation. It is real and raw and I hope the writers explore this further.
Her rejection and denial is heartening because at the core of it is unfaltering love. She is not rejecting her child but instead rejecting the obvious social stigma. She has to protect her child and she is so helpless in the face of the magnanimity of this situation. She is going through all the stages of grief and am so glad it's denial,anger. She is going to start feeling guilty as to how she has failed her son as a single mom. Then she will finally accept it and once she does she will rise magnificently to the occasion.
I get nervous if my child gets made fun of whilst dancing because I know it's not his strength. I'm not afraid of his failure but his rejection by the world. No one will tell you that it's gut wrenching to watch your child feel rejected. And you don't know how to protect them. Cabirs mom is processing this information as a severe social failure with fierce protectiveness. I'm sure this will be another USP of this serial. To every mother who faces a moral dilemma or social stigma be it mental illness,homosexuality,or being different I hope they don't feel alone and am glad a mainstream serial is dealing with it without making it comical.
Arjun
