Lekhny composition -14-Dec-2021

                                 YOU NEED NOT GIVE BIRTH TO BE A MOM

Once I attended a party thrown by my friend. It was a lavish party, and she had invited numerous guests, many of whom I did not know. Since she was my best friend, I started helping her out with all the chores. She was busy and asked me to look after all the guests. She introduced me to many unfamiliar faces. I was busy serving juices to them. When I had done the work, I sat on the chair in the corner to rest. I sipped the fluid in my glass and observed the people around me. All of them were enjoying the party. Few were eating while many were on the dance floor, moving shabbily and funnily over the music. I sat smiling, looking at them. Many kids were playing, running here and there, giving a tough time to their moms. As I was busy observing, my eyes just caught sight of a boy sitting silently on his mom's lap. He was clapping at the people dancing and trying to repeatedly draw the attention of his mom if she turned her head. He looked mentally deformed, so I looked at him with the sight of pity. He was nearly seven years old, cute, but abnormal. I felt terrible in his situation. I just imagined the condition of his parents. I thought looking after a child who is mentally challenged might be a big deal. Something drew me more towards that kid. Unable to bear the rising questions in my head, I went close to that lady and sat. I saw that the boy was unable to talk clear even. He stammered.

I thought how much patience that lady might be having to take care of such a child.  To my surprise, that lady looked too patient and divine. I thought God knows who can bear such tension and accordingly distributes. When I was drowned in all these thoughts, my friend came and introduced me to that lady. I was incredibly pleased to meet her. she was sweet and talked with a lot of sense. But her son would not allow her to speak with me and keep on persuading her to see the dancing people. I felt annoyed at the boy's behavior. After a while, his father came and carried him away. It was then that the lady turned towards me. She gave a grin. I used this opportunity and told her that it might be challenging for her to take care of the kid. She smiled and said that he was their lifeline, and when we love someone too much, nothing seems complicated. I was taken aback. I thought I hurt her. I said sorry if I hurt her. She noted that it was natural that I felt the way all felt. There was a long pause. Then I asked her whether he was her only child.

It was then she told me her story. She said that she was married for 15 years and had no issues. She underwent all the treatments and IVF too, but it failed, and it shattered her. All the members of the family started asking her hubby to marry again for children. But he refused, saying that if his fate had a baby written, he would have a child from her. She was incredibly sad. They planned to adopt, but her mom in law was against it. So, they dropped the plan. She was drowned in sadness and depression.

Finally, one fine day, she decided to end her life, unable to bear her loneliness. It was a late night. When everybody at home was asleep, she came to the portico to cut her wrist. She sat on the swing in the entrance collecting all the courage to cut her wrist. It was not easy to quit life. It needs a lot of guts. As she was gathering her courage, she heard an infant crying near the garbage drum. She ignored it. But then a dog was barking restlessly and dragging a garbage bag. She found it unusual. She wanted to see what it was. She went close by, drove the dog, and carefully brought the garbage bag inside, which had an infant crying in it. She opened the bag to see the baby bath in blood. It had scratches all over its body. The way the dog was dragging it, it was wounded in its leg. The animal probably held it on its head, or because it was thrown with force, even the head was damaged. She screamed, seeing the baby. Her hubby and her mom in law ran to her rescue. They were also surprised to see the baby. They immediately rushed to the hospital to treat it. The baby held the lady so tight that she forgot her pain and grief. Doctors treated the baby as best as they could. When the baby was brought home, her mom in law advised them to leave it in an orphanage, but the lady begged to keep the baby till it recovered completely.  She allowed her. When the baby stayed with them, it recovered slowly and started winning everybody's hearts at home. Initially, her mom in law did not like the baby, but now he is her heartbeat. He loves everybody, dearly.

She said that the baby was innocent, and an angelic form sent by God. How could anybody hate it? Since then, that baby is the purpose of life for them. They live for it. His tantrums, his laughter, his mischiefs are the reason for them to keep going. She said that she found the purpose of life in him. How will she ever feel it difficult? It was her pleasure. Her one statement that God gave her that precious gift because of her patience and tolerance and extremely grateful for it showed her love for the baby.

I hugged that woman and felt strange tranquility transferred to me. That night I wondered how anyone could throw an innocent, fragile baby away? Didn't they have a heart? What if that lady had not seen the baby? Would the dog have killed that peaceful life? Have we lost all our humanity? I complained to God, why he gave kids so such stonehearted people when there are thousands of couples craving for babies? Our society has so many diverse people—one group who are so insensitive that they do not even think once before killing a baby. The world would be such an evil place to live with them, but on the other hand, there are people like this woman who embrace wholeheartedly others' sin. She finds her life in him.  It made me think extremely hard that we do not need to give birth from the womb to be a mom. A heart filled with excessive love and selflessness makes every woman a mom. This world is a beautiful place to live because of such good-hearted Samaritans. May God increase such good people in this world and bless all those who live for a good reason in life.

                                 ……………NOOR TABASSUM…………………