Hats off to all mothers

When my wife’s four days official trip was NOT cancelled unlike the unfortunate husband of Seagram Imperial Blue soda ad (men will be men), I thought myself to be lucky. But, never in my wildest imagination thought Piyus Pandey’s portrayal of lucky husband has serious fault. Please allow me 3 min to justify?  

I forgot which day of the week it was, but definitely not a weekend, as my IV std daughter was to reach school on time. When the alarm bell rang for the first time, I started pushing Rithvi urging her to wake up and brush her teeth. For the next 15 minute the alarm kept on snoozing and I continued the same sequence, thinking that she will wake up on her own, brush her teeth, sharpen her pencils, pack her bag, fill up her water bottle, have milk, eat her breakfast, press her uniform, wear her shoes, comb her hair, prepare her tiffin, and wake me up to drop her in the school. Because all these months I have been doing the last duty of dropping her at school without fail. But that weekday I forgot, I was a self-declared lucky husband without my wife at home. 

Here I go….

As I was surfing through the fridge in search of milk, I saw Rithvi coming out of bathroom with toothbrush still inside her mouth, enquiring “Papa, Hall of Fame song ka printout le liya tha na?” ….. “No beta…. there is no milk in the fridge, you please get ready, I will bring milk from Mother Dairy” I explained it to her. 

“Papa I am not asking about milk but about the printouts” …. “No beta, now let me bring milk first, will solve the printout problem later” and ran down through the stair with the milk bag in my hand.

By 6.30AM when I returned with the milk, I anticipated Rithvi to be ready after taking a bath. But instead found her lying on the sofa, playing with a peculiar pop-it toy.    (the tup-tup-tup sound wala). 

Me (slightly annoyed): Rithvi why are you not ready yet.
Rithvi (still playing): Papa uniform is not pressed 
Me: Have u packed your school bag
Rithvi : I do it only after I drink milk 
Me: At least you should have sharpened your pencils 
Rithvi: I can’t find the sharpener 
 
On one gas stove, I placed the tawa for toasting the bread and on the other, it was the milk. Pushing Rithvi inside the bathroom, I switch on the Iron(Press). As I was trying to figure out how to press the girls white school skirt, with multiple folds, Rithvi was shouting from the bathroom “Papa where is the towel?”. Halfway the ironing task, I sprinted to find the towel and check the milk. The bread already got burnt but somehow managed to save the milk on time. Now, Rithivi is out of bathroom and waiting for her uniform. Whatever, justice I could do with those complicated folds, I managed to convince her that her uniform is perfectly ironed. 

The tiffin box which was still inside the bag was pulled out, cleaned and the freshly toasted bread, butter and cheese were placed with a Choco pie biscuit to fill the empty space. As I was about to close it, Rithvi came to check what’s in her tiffin. 

Rithvi: Papa why haven’t you rapped the breads with foil paper? You even haven’t dried the box properly? and what about the fruits? 

Poor Panicking Papa...!  Already missing wife! So Surreal...!

Now, as she was drinking milk and I sharpening the pencils, she started again “Papa Hall of Fame Printouts ?????” 
With only just 5 min to leave and I was already sweating, Rithvi came up with an eureka solution “Papa why can’t you write the song for me, that would be equally good as printout, and I won’t have to make a sorry figure infront of my teacher”.

It must have been ages I haven’t written anything more than two lines with a pen. 
As I took up the challenge. Rithvi came up with the next problem “Papa who will comb my hair”. Fortunately, Volley (Rithvi’s elder sister) who was on vacation woke up and came for her rescue.  By the time I complete the last line, we were already late by 10 min, when Rithvi reminds me of the water bottle! 



Finally, we were on the roads and the car AC came for rescue. I was happy to have somehow managed the show when my mobile rang “Pinka calling…!”. She stated with “Did Rithvi revise her English test?”.

Papa: Rithvi do u have English test, Mumma is asking?
Rithvi: Yes Papa, give the phone to me.
Mumma: Rithvi have you revised the chapters?
Rithvi: Yes Mumma 
Mumma: “Why did Tom deserve a sugary donut?
Rithvi: “Because, Tom whitewashed a 30-yard fence”

For next two minute the exam related question and answer continued between Mumma, and daughter and clueless Papa concentrated on his driving. 

As we were manoeuvring the last leg of traffic near the school, Rithvi pulled on her “weightlifting school bag” and gave me a goodbye kiss by saying “Thank you Papa”. I felt like winning a gold medal in the national championship.

 
After dropping her at the school gate, I saw few handsome dads in similar roles and could very well empathize with them. I also saw much more rattled Mumma’s without makeup, uncombed, in their pajamas sprinting to be on time. But, still Mumma’s were looking much more beautiful than they usually look with their make-up during the annual parents meet. Perhaps, I was able to appreciate the inner beauty that morning. I felt like complimenting each one of them for the herculean task they undertake every morning but fortunately took a wise decision to start with Rithvi’s mumma’s first, fearing it may misfire. 

After this wonderful experience of self-realization, I hope next time I will be able to convince Piyus Pandey to come up with another ad celebrating “Men will not always be Men”, in absence of wife. 

After accomplishing the mission I reach home, only to find Rithvi’s mask hanging on the dining chair! Immediately I realized two things, Rithvi is in school without a mask and Men will be Men!

Abhijit Bhattacharya