On being serene #writebravely

Ahalya sat on the edge of the bed. She had been suspecting it but after getting the results she was clear. The big C, the dreaded disease had stuck. Third stage breast cancer.

‘Amma, did you get the result’, it was her daughter Shreya who lived close by.

‘Yes, breast cancer, third stage’, answered Ahalya

‘What?’, shrieked Shreya and pulled the report from her hands.

After some moments Shreya asked, ‘Now what Amma’.

‘More test, chemo, some more tests I guess’, smiled Ahalya and then after seeing Shreya crying silently she added, ‘this too shall pass, dear, don’t worry.’

‘But why you have to suffer amma, always, why?, screamed Shreya

‘Karma’, answered Ahalya.

‘Crap. I haven’t seen you do bad or wish bad for others, then why’, Said Shreya

‘Must have done something bad in my previous lives….

‘Or the Lord must like you very much, say, go ahead, say’, said Shreya.

Ahalya just smiled and patted her head. Once upon a time she had been just like Shreya; impulsive, hot headed, outspoken. Thankfully she had changed.

She had been married young. She had Shreya within a year of marriage. But within a few months of Shreya’s birth her husband died in a road accident. It had been a battle since then. On one hand people claimed that Shreya was unlucky, on the other hand, family had created problems. Her husband was a government servant and legally she should have got a job after him but her brother in law applied but she fought with him and got the job. Her brother stopped talking to her fearing that she would land up in his house and forbade her to visit their parents. She  never stepped inside his house again but never stopped talking to her parents and always invited them home. Shreya was being cut off from her father’s inheritance, she fought for that too. On the work front too, so many challenges she had to face as a single woman.

Everything she managed alone.

She smiled and picked up the copy of the Bhagavad Gita and held it close to her heart.

‘Amma, amma,…..what are you thinking? How can you be serene at such a moment too…’.

‘tam eva saranam gaccha sarva-bhavena bharata
tat-prasadat param santim sthanam prapsyasi sasvatam

‘Explain  Amma’, asked Shreya

‘O scion of Bharata, surrender unto Him utterly. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode’, said Ahalya, ‘You and me have faced so many troubles Shreya but We were never really alone. Strangers came forward, difficult situations eased themselves and unknown strength blossomed in our hearts. Without our knowing someone always helped us and each moment made us stronger’

‘Amma, how can you be so strong and serene in this difficult moment too  ‘ Shreya asked.

‘Faith and Surrender give you strength and serenity my dear’, Ahalya smiled and hugged her daughter.

I’m Writing Bravely for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – March 2019’

Today’s prompt ‘Serenity’