"Arey Shubha, what are you even thinking? Look, the milk is all over the stove now",Shubha's husband Arun switched off the stove while Shubha came back to reality from her thoughts.

"Oh god! I was thinking deeply. No worries, I'll do it. You are getting late for the office and you need to rush",she said, pushing him out of the kitchen.

"Alright, but we need to talk about this for sure in the ev-",Arun was about to complete his sentence and they heard a yell from Arun's mother asking Shubha for her morning chai.

"Arun, we'll see what to do. You go and freshen up and please wake up Esha as well she needs to get ready for school. The bus will be here within 45 minutes",Shubha said and sensed that it wasn't the moment to discuss things he  left from there.

Shubha's routine starts with serving chai to in-laws in the morning followed by a cup of coffee to her husband, getting Esha her 10 year old daughter ready, packing a lunch box for both her husband and daughter and sending them off to the office and school after serving them breakfast. Late morning which is already mid afternoon she has her breakfast after doing the dishes and stuff. Every alternative day she's gotta do the laundry and then serve lunch to the inlaws and arrange things in rooms which were left messy in the mornings. Keep the home neat and tidy, in the afternoon prepare lunch for her in-laws, take a nap till the time Esha comes or  folds the clothes and put them back into their respective places. Later go to pick up her daughter from the bus stop, help her complete her snacks and then put her to sleep for sometime and then make her complete the homework while making preparations for the dinner and have a dinner with her in laws, husband and daughter, do the dishes,prepare things for the next day and repeat.

Amidst all these she was looking for the Shubha who had high aspirations in her career to be a jewelry designer. She did her B. A in jewelry designing after which she got married. Marriage was no halt for her dreams was what she thought initially.

Arun never said no to her dreams directly but he was the kind of person who wanted his parents to be treated well without any issues. Shubha applied for post graduation in Jewelry designing but when she was in her first semester she got to know that she was pregnant and carrying a life within her who was excited to see the world. Nobody had to force Shubha to drop out of the course but she did it on her own.

Two years passed by after that and with every passing day she was searching for that Shubha who could mold herself into any possible role. Most of her time passed by in looking after Esha. Esha wasn't an obstacle but a blessing from the Lord was all Shubha thought.

She was the best mother in her own way, with Esha she had many new things to learn and experience in her life. Time flew within years and Esha was now in front of her as a 10 year old girl who is in her 5th grade.

Lately Shubha had been thinking of resuming her course in Jewelry designing yet again but didn't know how to discuss it with her husband and in-laws.

That evening, Arun came home early and both her in laws were watching some daily soap on the television. Esha was in her room taking a nap.

"Athaya, mamaya, Arun I wanted to talk about something",she spoke out after gathering courage within herself.

Her father in law reduced the volume and all of them had their eyes on her. She averted her gaze from all of them and looked at the table.

"I was thinking of resuming my career",she said and there was pin drop silence in the room.

"Well, Shubha, it's been eleven years already and Esha is going to be a teenager soon too. She would need you a lot more than she does now. Also, you weren't ready to have another kid. Why don't you take care of the one and only daughter that you have. We're also growing old and we can't take care of Esha at this age. What do you say, Arun?",Arun's mother spoke out.

"Athaya, I know it's been eleven years already and Esha is going to be a teenager. I believe I can take care of my daughter and the home as well while doing my studies sideways",Shubha spoke out. She felt it wasn't the time to keep mum rather speak out and awaken the dreams which were going to drown in the race of life.

"Well dear, nothing is going to come out of this except for the loss of money and time and most importantly precious time that you spend with family which duly becomes impossible when you get into these degrees and all '',Arun's mother said and Shubha was taken back. She quite didn't expect something like this. She looked at Arun with hopeful eyes hoping he would take a stand for her at least.

"That doesn't mean she'll give up on everything. You can't decide what Shubha wants to do and not, neither can you influence her. She has her life and her dreams. Would you say the same thing if she was your daughter?",the words came from the most unexpected person, her father-in-law.

"Oh, so your father in law is on your side huh? Arun, What do you say in this?",Arun's mother asked and Arun had a blank expression on his face.

"Are you looking at his face? He clearly doesn't want it",his mother said and Shubha's face fell.

"No, amma will continue her studies",the unexpected voice came from the corner of the room and Esha ran into the arms of her mother.

"Yes, that's like my granddaughter. Look at you, even a child can understand the importance but you both are adults namesake grown ups. Arun, just imagine if one day I had asked you to give up on working for your dream company and asked you to stay back home. What would you feel? You've been married for 10+ years and is this what you understand about her? If you all are so worried about money, Shubha isn't going to depend on anyone, rather she would study with the money she brought as dowry",her father in law announced and Shubha sat there with Esha in her lap. Esha was happily clapping and squealing.

"Well, when decisions are already being made then what is the use of me sitting here? Do whatever you want",saying Arun's mother got up from there and went to her room. Arun tried to stop her, but he couldn't. He gave a what-is-this type of look to Shubha and she just shrugged.

Soon Arun went back to their room too.

"Shubha, you see the application fees and stuff dear and don't worry about anything just concentrate on things which you left years ago. It might take some time to get back on track but this will give you immense happiness and peace",he said, patting her head gently and going to his room.

Esha and Shubha went to the balcony and Esha was seated on the swing.

"Esha",she called out to her softly.

"Yes amma",Esha chirped in her cute voice.

"Do you think what I am doing is right? I am hurting appa and nanamma. Only thatayya is okay with it",she asked, kneeling down in front of her.

"Amma, I heard what nanamma said and don't worry I am a big girl now. I can take care of myself now. Moreover you'll be home right at the end of the day. We'll paint and do homework together. I will come back home by myself and freshen up and do my work without troubling nanamma and thatayya. I'll study well too. Don't worry amma! It's time for you to open your wings like in the Ramayana story Sampati and fly across the sky",she said and Shubha was emotional. She hugged her tight and Esha gently patted her back.

First day of Shubha in Post graduation

Shubha tried her best to complete all the chores in the morning and got ready along with Esha. Arun and her didn't have any proper conversation since she announced that she was going to start her post graduation. Since she knew Arun wasn't going to drop her, she dropped Esha at the bus stop and made sure she got into the bus and went to her university.

It wasn't as good as she expected. The people whom she was supposed to study with are lecturers and the youngsters around her were supposed to be the trainees which she had to train if things went as planned. But she believed whatever was meant to happen would happen for our own good.

The day she came back to find Esha sitting on the dining table and completing her homework and a maid servant was appointed to do all the household work. But still her mother in law and husband were quite not okay with it.

Days passed by and there were indeed a lot of troubles.

One day, Esha got her first period and it was the first semester exams time for Shubha, she had to skip them and look after the guests who came for the function and also teach her daughter what it was and how she had to take care of herself.

Every now and then Arun and her argued over very simple things and that was totally affecting her mental health. The day has come when it went to extremes and just because there was some misunderstanding between them Arun hit Shubha. Everything was being witnessed by Esha and she was feeling indeed very low as well. Nobody would ever want to see their parents fighting with each other.

With every step coming closer to her dream, she was moving a step away from her family but never her daughter. They were always together, being there for each other. As time passed by, Shubha had some good friends who knew her situation. They helped Shubha in every way they could.

There were nights when Shubha cried herself to sleep and never let her daughter know about it. Esha on the other hand supported her mom in everything. They would complete their assignments together and talk to each other about their day and share everything with each other.

When Esha was in grade 8 she made some maggie for the first ever time for Shubha and served it to her. Though it wasn't the best thing, Shubha got her a wrist watch as a token of love.

Secretly, Shubha was working in a local shop as an assistant for a designer. With her first salary she got a wrist watch for her daughter.

Days passed and Shubha had to put in more and more efforts to get into a good job after her post graduation and her exams were the most crucial ones since it was the time for Esha's exams as well and Shubha had a guilt in her heart that she wasn't able to help her daughter.

Esha noticed that and told her it was completely fine and she could manage them. Both the mother and daughter gave their exams and by God's grace Shubha got into a very well known Jewelry store as a Senior Jewelry Designer seeing her skills in Jewelry designing.

The graduation day, Esha and her father in law accompanied her. Being one of the merit students Shubha got a chance to speak a few words and address the audience.

"Good morning to all the audience. First of all, thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak a few words at such a huge function. If I am standing in front of you today taking one more step closer to my dreams, here are two of my all-time supporters, my father in law and my daughter, who supported me and gave me the confidence to make it till here. To start from, I did my B. A in Jewelry designing fifteen years ago. Well! Yes, what you heard is right and after eleven years the thought of pursuing my career was not supported by most of my family members. But that was all secondary, I always wished for whatever I did, my daughter should be proud of me and most importantly I should be proud of myself and here I am standing in front of you with a proud smile and there is my daughter with another smile on her which I suppose is a proud one? Yes, Eshu? Did I make you proud?",Shubha asked and Esha ran onto the stage.

Esha grabbed the microphone from her mother.

"Yes amma, you did. You made me proud not only by being here but by surviving every single thing for me and being the mom and dad for me. Everything was fine until you started studying, Appa was moving away, nanamma was moving away. There were moments I felt alone and lonely but you know what that was all for a short time, every time I felt low you were there with me. You helped me take every step in my life and I am proud and lucky to get an amma like you. Not everyone gets lucky like me and I know all the behind the scenes, the sleepless nights, your panic attacks and your anxiety attacks. Nothing was gone unseen by me amma, just like you know every bit of me I do too and you are my inspiration amma to grow higher and higher. On this note, we're moving out of the hell from today. Your little girl is no more a little girl, I got into a good start up as well because of my artistic skills which I've learnt from you. We'll live our life with no restrictions and sadness but the happiness and happy memories for the rest of our lives. With this being side Happy mother's day maa,this is just a special day to remember you for the outer world but for me every day is my mother's day",she said and side hugged Shubha while Shubha broke into tears.

Esha wiped Shubha's tears and both of them walked down the stage. Shubha's father in law blessed her. Shubha and Esha shifted to their own house which they converted into a home as days passed.

One day, while searching for something Shubha found a letter and recognized it was from Esha to her.

Dear Amma,
                        Heyyy from the other side, now c'mon no glares amma I am your one and only daughter and you are my one and only best friend so, you do know right I am not too good while speaking but I can express better with my writings so my mind popped out this idea and tadaa you gotta read all of this and just kiss me on my cheek when you complete reading this, I'll know about it hehe.

So first if all I love you amma and I love you ❤ just wanted to tell you. Let's start from the first gift you gave me, you gave birth to me amma after like taking in so much pain and welcoming me into this world after preparing me for a life time battle in your womb. What can be a better gift than that tell me? Moving to the next one my most precious gift is the wrist watch, I know you spent all your salary for it and gifted it to me. It's my lucky charm okay? Just like you I got into the start up with that watch and then passed my +2 with flying colors with that watch. Now I know you'll say that's my hardwork but I'll say one thing my hardwork + your prayers = my success. That's my success formula.

And I know amma, no matter how many times and situations you tried to hide and pretended to be strong for me you were going through the worst which nobody every deserved to go through. Sometimes I feel guilty maybe I was the reason you were struck there too and I got to know from thatayya recently that you had to drop out of your pg because you got to know you were pregnant. Now, comes the main part you could have you know the decision was in your hands still and you gave birth to me sacrificing your dream job for me. I promise you amma, for the rest of my life you will never have to give up on anything thay you like and we'll make the best ever memories.

Do you remember? Of course you will after my friends betrayed me and I had serious trust issues in believing people you were there for me and helped me get through the phase and helped me in getting better. The moment I saw appa hitting you I decided you won't be there for a moment more and I will save my amma before I loose her. I don't believe in this amma whatever you say, nobody gave the right to appa to hit you just because there was some misunderstanding because of external factors. Hitting and then saying sorry is just start of it who knows in frustration one day he'll do something and regret it. Once done can't be undone and better late than never. I am happy we are here in this new home. Hoping we'll make many more happiest memories amma!

And Shubha my subbu, remember to eat on time and take care of yourself and your baby daughter she's just so small even if she is too old to be called as small.

That's all for now

Yours loving Daughter
Esha Shubha ❤

Shubha was in tears by the end of the letter and she kissed Esha on her cheek and both of them cried their hearts out till they felt light from within.

It didn't take long time for Shubha to get recognized for her talent. She was getting placed in higher and higher positions and in a span of three years she was a divorcee from a toxic marriage which lasted for about fifteen years, had her own brand of jewelry designing and a proud mother of a daughter who is working along with her mother and completing her bachelor in business degree. No matter how late it gets they have a meal together and share everyday's things with each other and then on the free days they spend their time with each other...

The End

Happy mother's day to every mom out there. You are strong and powerful and what not, with you on our back we can even solve the world's difficult problem as well. Sometimes your sweet taunts, scoldings, gossips, love and what not. You are a mixture of everything, and you should know this amma as we are an open book to you so are you.

Mother's Day is just a day dedicated to you but let's talk about the life you dedicated for us. Now don't scold us for saying mother's Day wishes and giving gifts. What can we do ma? We got only one day excuse to do everything we can for you whereas you have your whole life jk jk.

Sometimes we understand you are frustrated too, and that is totally okay. You need a break and you need to rest instead of working 24/7.

In my life, my amma plays the most important and crucial role in moulding me into a better human and i love her more than anyone in this whole world. Dedicating this one shot to my amma and all amma's out there. Ladies, you're our power 💪⚡! We love you a lot that sometimes no not sometimes most of the time words fall short to express it.

Thank you for reading ❤

Do let me know your opinions in the comments

Sakshi Signing off.