My parents separated when I was two years old. My mother brought me up single-handedly. My mother is a very strong woman. She is not very educated. She grew up in poverty. She has seen many crises in her life. The worst being her divorce. My mother often tells me that she loved my father a lot. She never says anything bad about him. She always says that she is thankful to my father for giving her two beautiful kids. Me and my sister.

Divorces are very traumatic. I can say that because I come from a broken home. If both the partners mutually decide to part- then it is still fine. The problem comes when one partner falls out of love while the other can’t live without that love. Life becomes hell. I have seen my mother many times crying silently in the kitchen when she thought that we kids were not watching. Her tears, her pain, her suffering are deep inside my heart.

My mother didn’t get a job when she looked for one after the divorce. Lack of qualification became a huge obstacle. Finally she became a saleswoman. She would go from door to door selling products. On many such trips, I accompanied her. On most of the days we could hardly sell anything. People would shout at us, hurl abuses at us when we rang their door bells. I don’t know why but even today when I ring somebody’s door bell, I have a sinking feeling in my heart. Somehow I have this fear that the person will come out and shout at me.

Me and my mother would walk long distances. We used to start early morning and come late at night. My mother used to pack a couple of sandwiches which we would have for lunch. We were very poor. But my mom always made me feel that I am the best. She would tell me that I am the best son any mother can ever have. This is my biggest security in life.

Now my mother lives with me for six months in a year and the rest she spends with my sister. She says to everyone she meets that she has had a very good life. And people feel jealous of her smile, her contentment, her happiness. Foolish people!!! They don’t know how much pain is hidden in her smile. I wish they knew it.

But I must take your leave now. Someone is at the door. Let me just go and check. Take care. Bye.

That someone at the door was a saleswoman who was selling cheap vacuum cleaners. Her face was sad and tired. Tiny drops of sweat  were glistening on her face. She was immediately given a glass of water and a vacuum cleaner was purchased from her by the “common man”.