Inside the hazy room, she sat staring at the mantelpiece clock. She wrote- “ Son, I am spanning through the last days of my life. This ailment is taking me in. I want to see you before I die. Please come. – Your Mother ”
There at the Army camp, her son’s eyes were filled with drops of grief, the letter in his hand. He immediately applied for a leave. All there were supposing that a war could be proclaimed owing to the enemy activities at the border.
Two days later they all were packing up their things. His leave had been sanctioned. Others were preparing to leave for the war. He looked up at them trying to decide whose fate was worse. His mother was keeping her eyes open just to get a last glimpse of him. He thought of that woman who had nurtured him throughout his life, protected him within the boundaries of her own restrictions, punished him whenever he went astray, gave him comfort and company and shelter and joy. She was his courage and his strength. In her old age, he had tried to be the same for her. He left the merry camp and reached the station. But, now, all he could do for her was to go to her, helpless, and see her dying. The arrival of the train was announced. Why couldn’t he protect her or do anything for her? Thinking of it, a second thought came to him. Hadn’t his country been a second mother to him? Hadn’t it done the same for him? Hadn’t it nurtured, protected, punished and comforted him. The train arrived at the station and people started getting in. Maybe, it was a the time he could really do something for his mother than to allow her to slip past him while he stood and saw. The train gave the whistle for departure. He would fight for his mother. He would do his duty as a responsible son. He turned back and walked towards the camp.
They all had the same fate.