The Fear of losing Parents!!

How many times do we ignore the calls of our parents due to ongoing meetings, get-together or whatever has caught us up at that time? At least in India there are curfew timings and when the clock is hovering around that time the phone calls from Mom start pouring in as to where we are, when we are returning and so on. And, to be frank, it bothers me too when I am out with my friends and despite informing at home that 'I will be late', after a certain point of time my phone starts buzzing with 'Maa ka phone aaya'. Most of the times, I am irritated with the constant prodding, I guess this is one thing that always bothers me, no matter who asks me this, about my whereabouts and what time will i return and blah blah. But while introspecting I realise the fear that my mother must be having, about me being safe, laughing and enjoying as for her also she took a leap for me to let me live my life on my own terms. She has given me the freedom but the social conditions have not yet given the girls that freedom. But, have we realised the day when we will not get that call, the phone display will not show that name of  Maa, Mom, Papa, Papu!

No matter when I return back home, Momma and Papa are awake, waiting for me and for my other family members (there is no bias). They have supported each and every decision of mine as their own,yes we have had discussions, altercations, emotional blackmails and what not, but it always ends with 'what do u want, and will you be happy?' Right now, I don't even think about a single day without them, I know they are there, and maybe I take them for granted at times (not that I dis-respect them or anything of that sort, but I do get irritated and get vocal about it at times). I have never imagined a life without them but whenever even one of them gets unwell these days I get sleepless, I wake up in the middle of the night and check on them, every morning when I wake up I am genuinely happy to see them walking around the house with their usual banters. One of the purest and selfless form of love, care, affection is what they always give us and we get so caught up with our lives that we start to take them for granted ( I know a lot of us will deny that we don't take them for granted and what not).... Recently I had a really long conversation with my Momma about certain things and since then I have been introspecting and introspecting... I pray for a really really long and healthy life for my parents and for all the parents, and of course introspect on Momma's words!!!