MY SUPERHERO

My superhero

You waited patiently to hold me in your arms
The embrace that calmed me down
The embrace that told me everything’s going to be alright
The embrace that made the world a better place to live

I grew up a bit
And threw tantrums and fits
You scolded, chided me
Then, I felt my world was shattering
But after every mischief, when the storm had finally cooled down
You loved me harder, fiercely
The world was better again.

A rebel in me protruded its head in my teenage years
Everything was a chaos
Everyone became my imaginary enemy of wishes
You sat with me, cried along for every broken desire
You told me ‘don’t give up’ and neither did you
You held the fort along with Baba.
My two superheroes.

I had lost my way in my adulthood
Head in the clouds with a new job and livelihood
You cheered me when I flew across the seven seas for the first time
Missed me immensely and worried like no one
“Did you eat?” was your way of showing the unflinching love
And I, like most, tried to cut short your calls.
Ofcourse, I was a fool.

With Baba gone, you became my everything
Our fights, pain, misery increased
Yet, somehow we found our best friends in each other
Maybe it was a cruel ploy to make us come closer
You became the pillar, the shoulder and the scaffolding to hold me up
I fought with the world and its demons, knowing you’ll be there by my side
I became brave.

And now, when I hold my son closer to my heart, I know
Whatever minute goodness that is in me, I can proudly pass it on to him
Because you were there
I miss you Maa everyday, not all the time, but everyday
An emptiness that is quite but loudest when I am alone
A part that is gone
The world doesn’t seem so good now.

But, I try, I try to do what you had taught
I try to love without conditions applied
I try to be strong and brave
I can never be you
You were unique, different and there can be no one as you
You, maa, are and will always be my superhero, my strength, my lighthouse
I miss you.