AMMA

Some memories stay with us forever. This is one such memory. It makes me smile every time I think about it.

I was a happy child, living with my sister in Kadapa. My amma worked as a teacher in a faraway place called Nandyal. To me, she was everything ,my superhero, my best friend, my whole world. But then came a time when we had to be apart.

One morning, amma told me she had to leave for three days for some important work. She smiled and whispered a promise,she would bring me toys and chocolates when she returned. I believed her. I was excited. But I didn’t know that three days would feel like forever.

As amma packed her bags, my sister and I hugged her tightly. When she got into an auto and left, we stood there, waving, our eyes filled with tears. The house suddenly felt empty. Amma was gone.

That night without her was hard. I missed her hugs, her voice, the way she made everything feel safe. I woke up crying, searching for her. My tata sat beside me, patting my head, telling me amma would be back soon.

Every morning, I ran to the gate, hoping to see her in every passing auto. But she never came. “She’ll come by noon,” tata would say. I sat near the clock, counting the minutes, dreaming of the moment she would walk in with her big smile.

But noon came and went. Three days turned into weeks. Weeks into months.

One day, they finally told me,amma had started working as a teacher, and she wouldn’t be coming back soon. My little heart broke. I cried and cried. I had never lived without amma before. How could I now?

I went to school near my ammama’s house, but nothing felt right. My heart was always waiting for amma.

Then, one day, the wait was over.

It was Dasara time, and amma called. “I’m coming home,” she said. My heart exploded with happiness. I screamed, I jumped, I danced. But I also made her promise,this time, she wouldn’t break her word. She promised.

From that moment, every morning, I asked tata, “How many days left?” He never got tired of answering. He just smiled and told me the number. He loved me so much.

And then, finally, the day came.

Amma called me,she was on the bus from Nandyal to Kadapa. I was too excited to sit still. I kept running to the gate, waiting, waiting, waiting.

Then, the gate opened.

I turned. And there she was,my amma.

She smiled, and I ran. As fast as my little legs could go. She bent down, opened her arms, and held me close. I hugged her so tight, I never wanted to let go.

That moment. That feeling. I will never forget it.

For me, that was the real Vijayadasami.
Because my amma had come home.
Because she is my goddess