Mother’s Day falls on May 10:

Mothers unlimited

He had innocently strayed into an insurgent hideout. Being a bird watcher, he had his camera and a sensitive tape recorder with him. He was eighteen years. Hauled up before the leader, he was sentenced to be shot. A spy. Blindfolded and his hands tied behind a post, the firing squad was awaiting the order. “Aim,” shouted the leader.

Before the next fatal word, he walked up to the boy. “Tell me boy, what is your last wish?” The boy was silent for some time. He spoke. “Sir,” he said, “I wish to relive a memory.

The memory of when at the age of ten, I ran up to my mother, my head and face streaming in blood from a head injury. She ran towards me, arms outstretched, tears falling from her eyes. She literally lifted me, embraced me and held me. I embraced her, put my head on her shoulders. Her beautiful face and her dress was soaked with my blood and our tears.

Please sir, I can picture that moment while being blindfolded, but please undo my hand, so that I could embrace her when I die. Thank you.” His hand were untied. He simulated the loving embrace experienced about a decade ago. No one moved. The leader took his gun from the holster. He threw it to the ground. He dismissed the squad.

“His mother is embracing the chap. We cannot shoot his mother. We cannot shoot any mother.” He let the boy free. “Son,” he stuttered “Go tell your mother that her embrace saved you. All of us have or have had mothers and all of us have beautiful memories about them.”

The leader’s supporters were amazed, when the leader embraced the boy and kissed him on both cheeks. All cheered him. They led a weeping lad to safety and to the embrace and protection of his mother.

- Sripathy Jayamaha