The date was 26/11

"I am prescribing some tests, and only after that I shall come to some conclusion" the doctor said. I was sitting in the doctor's chamber of the nearby government hospital with my mother. The doctor jolted down some tests and also prescribed some medicines. I looked at him, my eyes were getting wet. "Look, son I have prescribed some medicines too, get them for now. It should better your mother's condition but the full phase treatment would only begin after I get the test results." the doctor held my hand and assured me that my mother would be fine again. I paid his fees and left with mom. It had been more than two weeks now that she had been suffering from fever and body ache. Yet after several visits to the doctor the illness refused to go.
I was worried about mom. My busy schedule would always keep me away from home and when I returned home late at night, I would still find maa awake, "Finally found your way back home?" She would ask in a feeble voice.
I will have to take leave from work, I decided. I held my mother's hand and walked out of the hospital with her." My son is the best" she said and held my hand tightly and even though she was weak and pale she gave a wry smile.
The roads of Mumbai were calming down as night progressed, the traffic was much less. The big clock near the bus stop hit nine. We waited for some time until we got a taxi. Maa kept her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. My heart became heavy and my eyes began to flood. I took out my kerchief and wiped my face. I looked out through the window of the car, I saw a little boy holding the hands of his Mother and father returning home happily. The beautiful green picture of my childhood flashed before my eyes. My heart became even heavier and my eyes even more wet.
The taxi halted and I paid off the driver. I held mom tight and unlocked the door of the house. "I have made some dal and roti, Sorry I couldn't make anything more." Mom looked upset as she pointed to the kitchen. I sat down beside her and kept my hand on her head, "It's more than enough maa, more than enough" I replied. We both had our dinner together. That dal was the most tastiest thing I had ever tasted in my life, it was her best preparation I had eaten. Even today I can fell the taste and smell the aroma of the delicious dal that I had that night.
I called my boss and explained him my mother's condition and that I would have to leave for some medical tests the next day itself. He granted me the leave.
The next day I got up early and went to a medical shop to get the medicines for my mother. Then I consulted the local doctor about the best test centers around. He gave me the names of some good medical test centers. By afternoon I left with mom for the tests.
It was time to avail the life line of Mumbai, the railways. The place was a bit far out but one of the best in Mumbai.
After a journey of about an hour by local trains we reached the test center.
I had already registered my mom's name there. "You may have a seat sir, we will call you when you turn comes." the receptionist at the hospital said with a fake smile on his face. I sat down with mom in the waiting room.
"Few years back I was sitting here with you in my lap, it feels so nostalgic. Like you were born just yesterday. Time passed away so speedily." Mom said and looked towards me. I tried to smile somehow. Her words were striking my heart directly and I felt more heavy from inside. Finally we finished all the tests by evening. We waited for two more hours to collect some reports then and there itself. I would have to come again the next week to collect the remaining reports of the tests the receptionist informed me.
"Beta, shall we eat something?" mom asked with that same weak voice. I realized that we hadn't eaten anything for long so we both went to a nearby hotel to have something. I took whatever mom wanted and we both enjoyed the time, it was after so long that we were eating outside together. "I wish your father was here" Mom said while eating. I just kept quite and held her hand.
We left for CST at about nine-thirty that night. After we reached the station I went to buy the tickets. I asked mom to sit nearby while I got them.
I was standing in the queue when I heard a very loud noise, it was a BLAST! I immediately turned back and ran to mom. "Be seated there" I shouted. We hid beside a nearby food stall for sometime and then there were firing of bullets. Within seconds we found ourselves amidst hundreds of dead bodies. I held my mother's hand and sat there praying to God. "Look a small child is struck there" mom pointed to a small girl."Probably her parents are dead" She said. "Shall I bring her here? or the terrorists will kill her too." I spoke mostly to myself. "Go son" my mother said. I didn't want to leave her. But she requested me several times and I had to go. "She patted my back and said," This man is not only a very good son but also a brave Indian and a great human. I am proud to be your mother."
I steadily moved towards the girl and safely took her in my arms and returned back to the same place, where I had left mom.
Mom was there but she was no more. She was lying in a pool of blood and a bullet had hit her.Actually that bullet had hit my heart that day. I held the girl tightly and the station left with my mother's corpse.~

Today after four years I woke up and sat quietly before the calendar. The date read 26/11.
26/11 - it was the day when I had lost my mother and found my daughter. Even after four years, I wasn't sure weather to cry for my mother or celebrate my daughter's birthday.I just kept looking at the calendar ...