A Letter from Maa

The letter lay untouched on his desk, its creases marked by dust.

“Who has time to read a letter?” he had scoffed.

On the envelope was written his name. Someone had put it on his desk for him to see it later.

He came from the hospital. After freshening up, he had once glanced at the letter. However, he had felt no interest in touching a damn stupid letter. In these days of email and whatsapp, who would write a letter and send it by post.

He had been working hard to improve his social stature. Today, he was a successful doctor. Every second was now measured. He couldn’t waste it on such trifle things. Besides, many letters from the medical community arrived every day. How many would he open and answer?

“Better hire a PA!” Someone had suggested. “He would do your errands. He would take care of such stuff.”

But he hadn’t managed enough time to even interview somebody for this post.

….

Emergencies, corona outbreak and he got busy with his tight schedules. He was working over the clock. He became a pawn in the hands of ‘peers’ and social hypocrisy. He got completely inebriated and drowned himself in the loud noise and camouflage.

When money begins to speak all other whispers or voices get muffled.

His changed behaviour baffled everyone. No one dared to warn him of his risky adventure yet they silently prayed for his awakening.

….

One day, the hospital was raided. Many underhand deals and under-the-table operations came to the limelight. The administration was put behind the bars.

He was also handcuffed.

After few months he got bail. That too, his relatives, whom he had rejected and misbehaved with earlier, saved him. He came back to his home. He looked at his desk. The unopened letter still lay there. Today, he felt this urge to open and read it. His trembling fingers brushed the dust coat, tore the envelope and brought out the letter inside.

“My dear son,

Don’t get too busy in life that you forget your morals, values and ethics. Remember, in times of crisis only then shine the brightest. And, take care of your behaviour. Improve it but never soil it to fit into this world. You never know, who comes to your rescue when you get in deep waters.

From,

Your Maa.”

“How could it be?” he was shuddered, “How could she know what was going to happen in my life?”

“Thank you, Maa. Better late than never. I have now realised the futility of running behind materialistic pleasures. I promise to rectify myself, and live up to your expectations.”

He looked at his mother smiling at him from her spotlessly clean photo frame. She had died a long time ago. But who had sent the letter, then?