Chapter 2
2946 Words
“Mother will I be able to reach my dream ma?” asked anxious Lathmi.
“Yes, for sure dear. Everyone has their own ambitions in life. See, when I was four years old I already have a wish to become a teacher. And with the full support of my family I was able to went school to study for Teaching profession’’ started mother Shanta.
“And what happened? How you did it Mama? asked Lathmi.
‘’Oh well, since we cannot afford financially, my father, your granny Ikhubi did all their best to save money. They earn as much as they could, and by and by they were able to send me school for teaching studies. Every week granny Ikhubi need to go downtown to sell anything in the market. One time, granny Ikhubi were able to make his own crafts, like of wooden stuff crafts. It was like of a picture frame with many designs. Those designs, was that time made by his wife, granny Lutha. Granny Lutha, unfortunately left us very early. She died when I was about to finish my studies. I still have two more years to accomplish my school term. She died for health reasons, she has a very low of blood count. And surprisingly, she was diagnosed of having a Leukemia disease. Granny Shanta was not able to see my graduation rites of finishing my teaching school’’ detailed mother Shanta.
‘’Carry on Ma…I want to know more please’’ requested little sweet Lathmi. ‘’ I mean, I just want you to share more of your inspirational story, and I know I could to get some insights for me of pursuing my ambitions. Is that possible Ma? asked Lathmi.
‘’Well, why not so? Listen dear, we are not obliged to be forced by what’s interests us. No one can ever push through anything with our own interests. See, if you really wanted to become a doctor someday like of what Dr. Khari, pursue your inner will. We are all here for you no matter what as long as we could. Do not ever be worry what will lie ahead, you are already heading to your ambition dear, stay on it. Keep what is worth keeping like study hard, be humble always and keep all things in a genuine way. I have finished my studies with humility and honor. It was all possible only by the people around me, God gave me each of them for me to become the best out of me’’ inspired mother Shanta.
“So that was it, my mother died earlier before she supposed to see me marching on forward the stage and let her see how proud I am, all because of her support’’ continue mother Shanta.
The night is getting deeper, yet little Lathmi is very intuitive with her mother’s inspirational story. She is just so determined to follow hers too. Like her mother, she wanted to finish the profession she wanted and interests most, to become the downtown Doctor.
“Ma, so what happened after that? Did you get the job right away? How and where was it?’ asked Lathmi.
‘’Well dear, after I graduated. I pursue finding a teaching job. It took me three consecutive weeks applying. And I was got hired by a nearby downtown public school, who urgently needs a shadow teacher for the junior students. There were some challenges on early experiences, you know as an Indian teaching lady, it was a little bit challenging for me, because I need to be home from work earlier, before the day turns to night. I need to travel daily by bus, and if I happened to get an hour trip after five in the afternoon it will be no so well for me as a lady because most of the passengers were all men, fathers and boys.
“Why is that so?’’ asked little Lathmi.
“The reason was, except the teaching job the rest of the ladies who are working in factory, government and medical works, they end their working shift before three or four in the afternoon in maximum time. If by chance, they end up almost five or after five, they are opted to stay in the work vicinity accommodation. To make the long story short, I was not supposed to be travelling daily if I end my teaching shift after five. But it happens for five months long, that challenge I could still remember that I met thief in the bus and some not well mannered men along the trip. Thanks God, I was somehow safe even I always felt nervous every trip. See dear, there are things like that will happen along the way, even maybe you can face different challenges, but one thing I could assure you, when you always desire a genuine life, with a good intention toward life and people, God will take good care of you.
“Oh wait, I forget to tell you…during those challenges of mine, there I met your father Tauru along my daily bus trip life. I have mentioned a while ago regarding some of not so well-mannered men right? See, once in my life, I only met a person who I could consider my best gift in an unwanted situation. Your father just rescued me from such unmanned man. I was about to be robbed by a stranger when your father was just in time, to rescue me. I am almost got killed if I cannot give my belongings to that thief, good thing father Tauru was there.
“Oh really mother? what happened, tell me…tell me!’’ insisted Lathmi.
“Hhmmm, well not this time Lathmi I will tell you on some other day. You must need to get a good night sleep now, you’re a little late awake dear’’ said mother Shanta.
The night conversation ended with a very good thought of advice from mother Shanta. She just simply let her dear daughter to be enduring, perseverant, and determine in her ambition. She wanted to let her daughter know that all things will be possible with a genuine intention in life and people and the rest will be in place, by the guidance of God.
The very last advice was, how important to let God be the center for everything in their lives. Mother Shanta, was very religious Indian lady, God-fearing and well-mannered lady. A very well-trained and disciplined by her both parents.
The same thing, what she wanted for her dear Lathmi too. Lathmi has a big ambition and she is determined enough to pursue them by all the people around her who God perfectly provided her to be a great aid of becoming what she wanted to be.
It was still snowy weather outside, the fifth month of snowy season of the year. It is getting cold, the family needs a lot of wood stocks, reserved water for food, bathing and washing. Granny Ikhubi and father Tauru must double provide the necessaries. As the men in the family, they always make sure that everything is already prepared before they could hardly prepare due to the danger of working outside during heavy snowy weather.
“Tauru we must be working double this time I know we can still find more wood stocks outside. You take care of fetching the water, and I will do the stocking of woods’’ instructed granny Ikhubi to father Tauru.
The family must have enough wood stocks and water for the heavy winter season. Approximately as good enough for three months’ stocks. Since granny Ikhubi has a limited strength to sustain the preparation, father Tauru must need not to stop.
Before the heavy snow will happened, they both must finish the three-months’ stocks in a week only. They cannot call for neighborhood additional hand, since all men will be doing the same thing, somehow for their respective families. It is really a man challenging works to do.
On their third day of preparation, granny Ikhubi got flu unexpectedly. There were still remaining four days to finish, and father Tauru need two days and half for completing the water stocks. And the rest of the days he must to continue granny Ikhubi’s wood stocking.
“Father, you must take a full rest now. I will handle the rest of the preparation’’ father Tauru told granny Ikhyy.
“Son, I do hope I could still make it. Yes, I must get a rest so I can catch up for following weeks and months until this heavy winter season ends’’ replied granny Ikhubi.
“Yes Pa, I will double my time and hard work this week’’ answered father Tauru.
On the next day, the fourth day of the week father Tauru was already awake and he must be outside the forest very early morning.
“Honey, it is still four in the morning are you sure you wanted to leave now?’’ worried question of mother Shanta to father Tauru.
“Yes Hon, I must be early don’t worry I can bring food along with me if you would please. Can you prepare breakfast and lunch for me please? I can sip a coffee shortly this time, and I will leave by ten minutes now’’ said father Tauru.
“Yes hon, give me few minutes and I will prepare more than enough as you needed’’ answered mother Shanta.
Around 4:15 in the morning, father Tauru left home and headed to the nearest forest where their little brick house is. Father Tauru was very determined to get things done even before the week of the preparation will end. He started to pitch his little tent in between the forest where big stones are. He can use those stones as his table and bed for a nap. After he had put off all of his stuff, he started to check the surroundings for any suspicious wild animals, but he is confident that it could not get him as early as before five in the morning. The animals are still cold to get out and they can hardly get over. By around 5:55 in the morning, after an hour father Tauru already sewed big woods, there are around eleven trunks he did, and five big socks of pile branches. It was really a double work than of granny Ikhubi. Father Tauru rested for a while and start preparing his breakfast with pancakes, double-stored mushroom soup, and breadsticks. What a sumptuous breakfast he enjoyed, and it was really special meal made by his beloved wife Shanta.
“Oh my wife, love me so dearly…Huff, what a great food’’ expressed father Tauru.
“Ughh, wow it is almost daytime… I must get this wood stocking done today, and tomorrow I will have finished the water stocks ahead too’’ said father Tauru.
Meantime, as father Tauru was very busy outside the forest; at home little Lathmi was already awake around six in the morning. She was wondering where could her father be?
“Mama…I did not see father Tauru. I must be greeting him a very sweet good morning this time’’ asked little Lathmi who rushed to the kitchen where mother Shanta finishing the remaining meal for the rest of the family.
“Oh my dear, father already left very early this morning. He left the house around four. He must be three hours earlier, since granny Ikhubi is not feeling well and couldn’t finish the wood stocking. So Papa Tauru did the job to be done for him, and for us. He wanted even to finish the stockings earlier this week.
“Oh, I wanted to help Papa” said Lathmi.
“He must too tired at this time. I wanted to catch up, and help him’’
Mother Shanta will not allow Lathmi to follow her father Tauru outside the forest. Of course, it is not really safe at all for little Lathmi. Her intention was really appreciated but she is too young, and it is not even a girl thing to do so.
“Oh mother, hope Papa will be home earlier then, because he left home early…right?’’ suggested little Lathmi.
“Of course he will. Meanwhile, why not freshen up and get some dress, we will be having our breakfast in a minute. And also, I wanted you to take some food to granny Ikhubi’s room’’ said mother Shanta.
The breakfast table was only shared by little Lathmi and mother Shanta. Father Tauru was at the forest, granny Ikhubi was temporarily isolated in his room for some health recovery.
“Thank you so much Mama for the yummy breakfast’’ thanked little to her Mama Shanta.
“Your welcome my little Lathmi’’ mother’s sweet reply.
(After breakfast, little Lathmi ask permission to her mother if she could make a thank you note for her determined and hardworking father Tauru. Little Lathmi is very sweet daughter to the family)
In the forest, father Tauru was still on hard labor work. It is almost ten in the morning that he still cutting some woods. He targeted that before lunch all the wood cutting, sewing and stemming out will be done. After lunch, he must be heading back home with the wood stocks with his manual cart. It was only half an hour distant away between the house and the wood area.
At this time, father Tauru will be taking his lunch. Mother Shanta prepared some cookies for him, with honey and butter, and shredded cheddar cheese with cinnamon roll bread.
He enjoyed his lunch and now getting ready to pack all his things up. The target was done.
On distant view, little Lathmi saw his father coming home with lots of wood stocks. She was very happy seeing her father safely comes back home. And also, she just finished her thank you card for father Tauru.
“Papa…papa’’ shouted little Lathmi.
‘’Dear just wait no need for you to shout out father Tauru will be here in minutes’’ said mother Shanta.
Father Tauru arrived, and mother Shanta took all his stuff and put them off beside the entrance door.
“Oh honey, you must be very tired and felt cold outside’’ said mother Shanta.
“Not at all dear. I had enough food that can boost me up on doing the wood stocks, and I thank you so much for preparing those sweet meals’’ thanked father.
“Hey where is out little one?’’
“Father, father…look! I have a special note for you. Open, open!’’ excited little Lathmi handing over her love thank you card for his hardworking father Tauru.
To my hard working father Tauru,
Thank you Papa for all you gone through,
I am so proud of you and I love you so,
Please take good care always in all you do,
Thank You Papa… by little downtown Doctor
-your Lathmi
“Aww, so sweet of you honey’’ father Tauru hugged with thanks to here sweet daughter little Lathmi. He kept her letter slowly folded in his pocket.
“See my little Lathmi, I will put this to my pocket when I will take a nap in the forest, I will read this again my sweet’’ said father Tauru.
It is now the sixth month of the year, the coldest month of the year. One more month and the heavy winter season will about to end. The family is much even more ready for the season. They will be experiencing two months of not going outside the house until the challenging season ends.
“Honey, we need to prepare special dinner for us. Just for a simple gathering meal, and will be having short sweet fellowship while dinner is going on. I will tell our little Lathmi to prepare short family program’’ informed father Tauru. “It will be a dinner of thanksgiving and supplications. We need to thank God for all the protection he gave, and the strength of preparing all our woods stocks, food and water’’ he added.
“And we will also continue to pray Pa Ikhubi’s health condition, it is his third day having this flu. And I think, it will take more time for him to recover since the winter badly attacked his resistance’’ said mother Shanta.
“Yes dear, we will be keeping each other in shape with our health, and all our things, concerns and plans to be in a place’’ said father Tauru.
Father Tauru’s anticipation needs a lot of work to do. Except granny Ikhubi, as one of the house leader, he must be more advance this time. Being a hardworking father, he still need more wisdom and guidance from God, especially this coldest month of the year. He planned the special dinner for him to be able to sincerely talk with his family members (including granny Ikhubi, if he could join). He wanted to challenge, even little Lathmi to stay positive in any situations in life. They all need each other’s back of supports, especially the moral and prayer supports.
As family is normally and usually doing for each other, they always support anyone who is in need always, most specially for moral supports.
The ancestors always inculcated that, it is always the family that helps a family member who is in need during their bad times in life.
- Writer
