“My mother is a walking miracle.” It is indeed the best way I can describe my mum. I usually get shocked at how does my mum know everything about me and my siblings. Sometimes I have even thought that my mother was a doctor because the way she used to discuss the medicines that suited me when she took me to a doctor. And what more, her suggestions or recommended dose of any medicine acted more effectively on me than what any doctor prescribed!

I have been completely baffled many times in my life when this lady has made the dish that I was secretly craving for. I have though that my mum knew telepathy or had mind reading skills when she bought me the dress I had liked in a shop but didn’t buy because it was expensive. I didn’t know how she did all this but yes, I know she has some sort of magic! Magic through which she can see us, know us and read us all the time!

In my tender years of life, she was not just always there to fulfil my physical or emotional needs, in fact, it wasn’t easy for anyone to mistreat me or my siblings, as a lady was at our back and would not let the world be tough on us!

She was my teacher, and helped me with my assignments by even staying up all night! The next day I would sleep late, but my mum would be up early managing her daily chores! But she was happy as I was able to accomplish or complete my work.

In my teens, when I became infatuated by things, this lady was always there as a friend to guide me so that I would never be manipulated by people and situations.

I have always been conscious of my mum’s selfless favours for all of us in the family, but in this lockdown, I came to know a completely different side of her. She is not just the main person managing the entire household, she is multitalented as well!

She has been the one in our family who has best handled the sudden transition into a completely locked-down world. She has been suddenly loaded with extra work without domestic help and all the family locked at home, but she has managed it well.

There were times when we, as students, panicked with the new online learning experience or dad had been down and worried about his office closing down, but my mum has kept us all moving and stayed strong for all of us. She has lifted our moods when we were down and tried to make this new strange reality into a normal one for us.

I realised how difficult it is for her as well, as she cannot pay a visit to her ailing parents, but she never lets that thought ruin our day. I have seen her tears during the video call with my grandma, but as soon as the call was over, she returned to normal for us!

Since all the shops and malls were closed, my miracle lady searched online for Eid outfits for each one of us and ordered very nice clothes so that we feel the fervour of our much loved festival.

My mum has never been a cooking freak and she liked to dine out as much as we have done. But in this lockdown as we can’t go anywhere, my mum has been making us yummy meals. She had to make extra effort for this as cooking was never her passion, but she did all this to keep us happy.

I am simply out of words as to how to thank this lady, without whom we would have never been the same. In all these days, I have come up with only one conclusion and that my mum doesn’t need material gifts from us, all that she needs is to see goodness in us. She has worked hard just to nurture that ’goodness’ in us.

I want to make my mum proud of me, I am sure this would be the best gift ever. So here I pledge to become the person my mum wants me to. I would be as truthful and loyal to my loved ones as my mum wants me to. I surely would not stand for a second to think, but act fast whenever someone would need help. I surely would be gentle with animals and other creations of the Almighty. I would remain thankful for the blessings of my Creator and obey Him. May Allah help me in making my mum proud of me. Ameen!

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 9th, 2020