I had joined back to my work when my li’l baby was just four month old. A darling he is – accepting life as it is without complaining ever - Monday through Friday mommy is available only just before dinner and for the full day only on weekends. Never ever he tried nor wondered if mommy can be held back at home to play with him on a week-day! Occasional holidays when mommy stays back home for the day must be a “Saturday” according to the innocent guy!

How accommodating these little beings have developed to be to the limitations of we grown-ups – mainly to the fact that we are not able to give them enough time (for whatsoever reason) – leave them at the mercy of the ayaah or a crèche - unlike our parents who’d spare long hours with us. I still remember how upset I used to be when even for a single day my mother would not be around at the time of my returning from school. And quite contrary to that I find my li’l one laughing, giggling and welcoming me with a big broad grin every evening as I enter home. Instead of me making his day, its he who actually makes my day with his sweet smile and soft touch after the strenuous day at work.

But deep within does he have some pain ? Some ‘missing you’ feeling? Some ‘my pals mom stays home but my mom doesn’t’ kind of thoughts? I wonder… for I have observed that off late he had become very conscious of the Saturdays and the Sundays and anxiously waits for those two days to arrive. Put any question to him in the form of – “You know what it is tomorrow…..?” and pat comes the reply, “Saturday?” even before my query is complete!

The other day he had a school holiday, now that he is an energetic four year school going kid. I did not have any holiday though. Never before did I observe such behaviour with him, but that day he would just not leave me, not let me go. With tears in his eyes he pleaded, “it’s a ‘Saturday’ today. Why do you go to work today mommy? You’ll not go anywhere. You’ll stay with me. Play with me. I shall do no mischief. I shall be a good boy. Do not go anywhere today. It’s a ‘Saturday’ today.” And he clung to me, holding me tight with both his hands. (After few minutes I sent an SMS to my boss stating I am not coming, though till date I do not know how far was he convinced with my reason. )

I surrendered. To my precious little one. For the first time in four years. Knowing not how to react. I felt bad – for being absent at work with no such compulsive reason. But then…….deep down in my heart I felt great somewhere! A sense of pure satisfaction filled my heart that day. It was as if a great achievement – I could be the perfect mommy-on-demand that beautiful day! I could not recollect when I felt that way the last time.

My joy didn’t end there. Four days later another holiday was due. A common holiday for school as well as office goers. The day before his teacher reminded the children about the holiday next day. Obviously unaware that I too would be having a holiday, he rang me up after reaching home to say something, which I would cherish for life. He said, “Mommy tomorrow I have no school. But you go to office. I shall not stop you. I shall stay with didi. The other day I did not let you go to office. You stayed with me that day. You played with me. Tomorrow you go to office. I shall not cry.”

I could not hold back the tears wanting to roll out of my moist eyes. Were they 'Tears of Happiness' – at being able to truly please a four year old by just giving company on his chosen day! Or 'Tears of Sadness' – at the realization that how much a four year old could be missing his mom yet not express, so that the company given one  special day could create such a deep sense of gratitude in his tender little heart! I do not know.

That very moment all I wanted was to run to my cherub and hold him tight close to my bosom…..