You are supposed to take care of things you need in your daily life routine, but if Mother is there, she will take care of it, all of it.

I was about to leave for Karachi, and my mother was helping me. In fact, I was sitting and she was running here and there packing…

“That’s your wallet, your glasses…Oh han! Do you have your keys in your bag?” she asked while checking my shirt buttons.

“Jee Ammi! I have it!” I replied.

“The day you arrived, you gave me these documents. Here; take it…” she gave me these documents and started checking my bag again.

“Everything is fine, Ammi, I have everything in my bag. You don’t worry,” I urged.

“Think again, beta! Is there anything else that you gave me? Because that’s all I remember you brought home…”

It was the fourth time she asked this question, and she was obviously worried. But I was at ease because I knew that I had forgotten she would remember and to take care of it, as she always had from day one.

What I may need or want if this or that happens, she knows.

Do I need a lunch box during my travel? She will take care of that.

And when I’ll be reaching my place? Yeah, she will do the math.

It’s as if it’s her burden to carry, not mine.

If I need towel, Ammi will find it for me.

My watch, my shoes, my handkerchief… she is there.

Even if my cell phone is not there where it was (or I thought it was) last time… I will ask Ammi and she will find it for me.

I smiled seeing her checking all my stuff and making sure that I did not leave anything behind.

“Do you need money?” She asked.

(Oh, my sweet mama, I have everything! Please don’t worry and don’t be tense! I will be fine…)

That’s what I wanted to say, but instead I simply stated, “G Ammi, I have money, I got my ticket, and I have everything.” Finally I saw that she was satisfied (or maybe I just thought she was…one could hope!).

While on my way back to Karachi, I was thinking about her, how she had always been there every time for everyone, for me, my siblings, my father…for all of us.

And what did she ever ask for in return? Nothing. She never wanted anything for herself. Where on the earth could anyone but a mother show such self-giving love, for his whole life, day and night?

My cell phone started to ring. I checked it: “MAMA CALLING”

I answered it, and she said, “Paani ki bottle le lena rastay main, garmi bohat hy.”

“G Ammi le lunga.”

Ammi: “Ya phir juice le lo.”

Me: “G Ammi theek hy.”

Ammi: “Pohanch kr call lazmi krdena“.

Me: “G Ammi krdunga.”

She even told me in which pocket of bag my belt and other things were located. That’s mother.

There is no way to thank her enough for everything she has done. How could I even try? Is there even a way to count out how much she’s done for me from the day I was born until now? I don’t think there is…

How selfish I am, how very selfish…

And how selfless she is…

There is no way I can repay for all the difficulties and hard times she faced raising me. I can’t, because no one can.

But I can make her proud by becoming a good son, who cares about her, her daughters, her husband.

And I will, insha ALLAH.

Thank you, Mother, for being there 24/7 and 365. I know I can’t even take a single step forward without your support, prayers, and help.

You know what…I need you forever.

I LOVE YOU, MOTHER!