Remembering Love Blog Hop : Embracing Infinite Love
She shouted at her mom, "You always do this to me. See, now I will be late again to school because of you."
Mrs Dixit, a woman in her mid-forties enduring her kid's lashes and tantrums, became habitual of the fact no matter how much she tried, they would always blame her for their mistakes. But that morning was different. She walked off before her younger daughter, who misbehaved with her.
Sheenu, a teenager and Mrs. Dixit's younger daughter was more moody and repulsive in accepting anything against her wishes. Every morning, she would wake up late, even after multiple trials by her mother, to wake her and start the fiasco of blaming her mother. "Oh! Poor kid, why don't you get ready? There is still time. You will make it," her mother prompted.
It irritated Sheenu even more. She mumbled how her mother could behave as if nothing happened. She started throwing things she could get hold of. Bucket, mug, reaching to the kitchen, turning off the gas, telling her mother she won't let her cook because of cooking she did not wake her in time.
Mrs Dixit kept herself calm due to the fear of her father waking up and thrashing Sheenu for her misbehavior. She pulled Sheenu close, hugged her tightly, and caressed her, explaining it was six and she could leave for school by 7:15 am. If she kept throwing tantrums, she might surely get late.
Pushing her mother away, Sheenu rushed to the washroom, closing the door with a thud. Her grandparents watched her silently, offering pity to her mother, who would get up early every morning and sleep at last at night, finishing all chores to receive this attitude.
Days passed, but Sheenu showed this behavior every third day, and the same drama repeated in their house. One morning, her father woke up before time and watched everything closely without reacting. Sheenu was unaware her father's silence was the one that prevailed before the storm. He decided to drop her school, and she happily agreed. They reached school, and her father told her he needed to see her teacher. She was carefree until her teacher walked towards them and shook hands with her father.
The bombarding started when her father voiced complaints about Sheenu before her teacher. It embarrassed her because her image in school was of a sincere and innocent student. Her teacher kept watching her with a smile as he heard the grievances of her father. To console her father, he had to accept her misbehaving attitude at home, which seemed the opposite of what he noticed in school.
After her father left, Sheenu's teacher told her that he would talk to her in some time separately. She pulled back her tears and went running to her class. Sheenu feared receiving another dose of shame before her friends. But it did not happen. Her teacher handled this situation carefully. He talked with her separately without anybody knowing about the morning's episode. As Sheenu went to see him, her eyes were red and filled with tears. He consoled her and tried to exemplify her with her attitude at school.
That day, Sheenu went home like a decent kid. She did not say a word at home, surprising her mother. Instead of asking for lunch, Sheenu started doing her homework diligently. It worried Mrs Dixit, and as soon as her father came home, she told about the changed behavior of Sheenu. Her father smiled, and his eyes conveyed a silent message that Mrs Dixit understood.
Fast-forward to Sheenu's life after two years, she got her first-period cycle, and that was the time she looked for her mother. As she saw blood stains on her pants, she started having random thoughts of deadly diseases. She rushed to her mother, who explained to her about menstruation. When her mother told her to wash her pants to remove blood stains and take a bath, she felt confused. Sheenu said, "I never washed my clothes. Please put them in the machine. And I took a bath in the morning." Now, it was her mother's turn to lash her and ask her to do as she told her.
Reluctantly, Sheenu did everything. As she was about to crash in bed, her mother stopped and laid a folding bed for her. Sheenu looked at her mother timidly and asked why she was behaving weirdly. Finally, her mother spilled about the restrictions Sheenu has to bear every month from that very point.
Sheenu could not control her emotions and started venting out by throwing things. She threw her mobile phone and TV remote, and finally, she tried to push her mother, who carefully held herself. Mrs Dixit knew Sheenu was having mood swings and hugged her to calm her and explained to her the importance of the menstruation cycle. Sheenu kept sobbing while in the embrace of her mother, and her mother did not realize when she fell asleep. She picked her up and tugged her into the folding bed, hoping to see Sheenu in a better mood when she woke up.
Every month, Sheenu would undergo terrible mood swings due to her period cycle, but every time, she would find her mother by her side. Her mother would bear all her tantrums because she knew every woman goes through this. Mrs Dixit would tolerate Sheenu during her PMS, and Sheenu would feel proud of her mother for being committed and thoughtful about her.
One night, Sheenu had the most painful cramps. Mrs Dixit sat by her bed the whole night. She held her tears because she had to calm Sheenu and couldn't be weak in front of her. She gave her a hot glass of turmeric milk to soothe her pain. Sheenu reluctantly drank milk and tried to sleep. As Sheenu dozed off, Mrs. Dixit silently got up to leave for her room.
Sheenu held her hand and murmured, "Mom, I love you the most," in her sleep.
"It takes a hug to steal all the pains."
This post is a part of Remembering Love Blog Hop hosted by Sukaina Majeed and Manali Desai .
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This story beautifully portrays the deep bond between Sheenu and her mother, Mrs. Dixit, during challenging moments associated with Sheenu's menstruation cycle. The portrayal of Sheenu's emotional outburst and mood swings captures the physical and emotional toll that menstrual cycles can have on some individuals. A very touching narrative that highlights the strength of familial bonds and the importance of empathy and support during challenging times.
ReplyDeleteThank you Romila for picturing the essence of the story
DeleteWe are different as parents and children, let's accept it. There would be some reason to Sheenu's behaviour also, I am sure of that, I hope you bring part 2 of this story as well! Very thoughtfully written!
ReplyDeleteThe terrible teens! That was a nice ending to this story. Love can be maternal love or the love for a mother, I am glad Sheenu could appreciate her Mother's love in the end.
ReplyDeleteI think if a child's emotions are not looked into when young, everyone will behave like Sheenu. It is very important for parents to be aware of their children's discomforts emotionally more than just letting them yell and shout whenever they want.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between a daughter and her mother is often fraught with love allied with frustration. However, when she is in pain, there is no touch warmer than a mother's to make her feel complete. Sheenu was going through a lot in life, including hormonal swings. Thank God she finally was able to realise her mother's warmth and care for her.
ReplyDeleteThis poignant tale wonderfully portrays the beauty of relationship of a mother and daughter! The relationship changes with time for it consists of teenage brats, conflicts and miscommunication only to appreciate growing together as their relation turns into an unbreakable bond by sharing stories. By presenting the menstrual cycle as a defining passage, narrators add depth to the story not only showing how strong maternal love and understanding is but also presenting this example through a different lens. The sentence describes in the last line is also an effect of a simple move that pictures how mother can be watched over and cared for. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteSheenu is a disturbed child but after all the screaming and shouting she goes back to her mom. mom's the word. hopefully, her behaviour take a turn for the better.
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful story, Tanvi
ReplyDeletemother-daughter relationships are always complicated but I feel that after a certain age, generally once our menstruation hits, we start looking at our mother like a friend; we also start appreciating them in a new light
You brought that out quite well.
Your story illustrates effectively the emotional rollercoaster that runs inevitably between parents and adolescent children. The understanding shown by the parents in this story is the redeeming factor which may not be quite so available in many families.
ReplyDeleteA mother is perhaps the most misunderstood and unglorified in a family. The teen tantrums are so true and not a myth as I myself am a Mother to one. I loved it when the dad intervened and took charge of his misbehaving daughter and the end was so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMa... she is the one who teaches us the real meaning of love since the day she held us in her hand. The mensuration episode in the story reminds me of the pain I used to have when I was a kid and the moment ma used to touch me... aha half the pain is gone. A very beautifully penned story.
ReplyDeleteI guess we each one throw such tantrums to our mother. But mother's love is always infinity. I am facing same situation sometimes. Love the way you portrayed the bond between mother and daughter. Mrs.Dixit who strong and emotional but support her daughter in her PMS.
ReplyDeleteIts a right of passage for every child and parent during the teen years and even later, when life makes us want to lash out. I'm glad you chose to depict an interesting love dynamic through mom and daughter.
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartwarming story! You have beautifully portrayed how a mother and a daughter relationship evolves. A mother always stands by her child even during the challenging situations, that's called unconditional love. Great storytelling!
ReplyDeleteTeenage kids and their tantrums! I'm facing one at home now so this is a very relatable one for me.
ReplyDeleteAww. This made me go and give my mum a hug 💓 I remember the first time she gave me my period talk and it was as horrifying as it was for Sheenu, as I expect it's for most girls, but it's amazing to have a supportive mother during this new phase of life. Wonderful story 💕
ReplyDeleteMood swings are acceptable to an extent but here it's strange to see daughter's behaviour towards her mother. In fact, others also not telling her to be a little polite. With time, kids do understand that they were wrong but by then precious time has also gone.
ReplyDeleteDamn Tanvi...this is so beautiful and such nicely written. It had me hooked till the very end
ReplyDeleteThe terrible teens. We often take our moms for granted but need her when we are feeling low. That said, there is that invisible line we cannot cross. The support the mother got from the father in your story is refreshing.
ReplyDeleteA mother is sometimes the most misunderstood person who loves you the most. Onset of puberty is no doubt difficult and It is the most challenging years for parents as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is sucha nicely written story. Some stories can only be written thought the experiences you take or witness in your close family.
ReplyDeleteThis emotion filled story is so realistic and can be seen in families. A beautiful one. one of the challenging seasons in life!
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