BEING "MAASI" ON MOTHER'S DAY.. what a feeling!
"Happy Mother's Day" is as American as it gets.. right "up there" with Mom and apple pie.. right? Not absolutely necessary.. in my opinion!
Mother's Day is a day to celebrate those people who brought us into the world and have been consistently the most sacrificing loving giving and understanding people on the planet.. and I agree!
Am irresistibly tempted to share my take on the occasion of Mother's Day this year.. In Hindi (which is our national language) "Maa" means "mother" and "Maasi" means "Maa si or Maa jaisi" which means like a mother" and that is so lovely!
Traditionally "Maasi" has been the person who has loved you the most (after your parents) and a number of Bollywood movies have shown "Maasi" to be the default "natural choice" for remarriage if a mother passes away leaving young children behind..
Being "Maasi" in India is super fun.. because you get to be "Maa jaisi" with all the joy and none of the responsibilities! You get to do the "fun stuff" without the headache of planning and coordination! You get all the "non-transactional" hugs and kisses and don't have to be the "bad cop" who says "No"!
You get to be the indulgent adult who doesn't have to discipline them.. and the "sounding board" who is often the first "court of appeal" (Can you please explain to Mamma because she isn"t listening to me?)..
Speaking for myself.. I am.. technically speaking.. definitely NOT a mother.. but luckily am "Maasi" to a number of young (and not quite so young" people all of whom call me "Maasi"! All of them are my."betus" and I can't imagine my world and my life without them!
They are the ones who fill that "slightly empty space" in my heart with their unconditional love and acceptance of me just as I am.. with all my faults and failings.. no matter what!
Some of them are from my family and hence related" or they are my friend's children.. and for still others "Maasi" is a brevet title.. but it makes no difference because I love them all the same!
All my "betus" are super special and I am blessed to have them to love pamper and cherish! Whether it is Ujwala (who often gives me "motherly" advice).. Brinda (who tries to save my money).. Rehaan (who's coming over to have lunch with me today.. Radhika (who calls me her "university") Shefali (who actually considers me to b a wise person..) Samir (who's been my quintessential "laddu peda".. SK (who tells me in a million different ways that she loves me).. or Taera (who keeps in touch regularly despite a gruelling work schedule in medical college) or any of the others.. and there are so many more!
It is an incredibly special feeling for me to be unconditionally loved respected and truly cherished by them and vice versa! ❤️ Who needs the big declarations of love on Mother's Day? Not me for sure.. because my heart is full of gratitude! God bless and thank you so much all my precious "betus" for being in my life.. and know that you are impossibly and madly loved!
And let's always remember that we are often "mothers" to our friends families colleagues neighbours and staff as well.. whenever we say or do something to nurture.. nourish.. accept.. understand.. solve a problem or "kiss it and make it better (even virtually speaking..) because THAT is the magical power of being "Maasi who is Maa jaisi"!
My prayer is just that these bonds always remain as sacred pure and beautiful as they are today! The special moments that we share with each other are what help to keep our "lifeboats afloat" when the waters of our lives get choppy!
Thank you ( as always) for reading and Happy Mother's Day to you! If any part of this blog has resonated with you.. please feel free to post a comment and do remember to add your name at the beginning or the end of it!
