As I stepped inside the familiar local train, my eyes scanned the coach quickly, searching for that one person who always made my rides a little brighter. And there she was, with her sparkling eyes and inviting smile, gesturing for me to hurry and take a seat next to her.
I grinned widely as I made my way toward her, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me. The city may be strange, but the familiarity of our train rides always made it feel like home.
As she handed me the little steel dabba, I knew exactly what was inside before even opening it – the delicious besan laddus that reminded me of my late mother’s cooking. The memories of my childhood flooded back as I took a bite, savoring the familiar taste.
It was amazing how a simple treat could evoke such strong emotions and memories.
But it wasn’t just the laddus that made our train rides so special. It was the bond that we shared, despite having only met a few months ago. It felt like we had known each other for ages, and yet, every conversation still felt fresh and exciting. I remembered the day we first met – I was in a bad mood and just wanted to get through my shift. But then, there she was, struggling with her phone. Without hesitation, I offered to help, and that was the start of our friendship. As we chatted and laughed, I knew that this was a bond that would last a lifetime.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” I clapped my hands as I went through my bag finally handing her the invite to my wedding. But strangely enough, instead of the excitement and happiness I was expecting, I watched as her eyes welled up. I felt a pang of worry – was she not happy for me? As she wiped away her tears and looked up at me, I was more confused as I couldn’t decipher her feelings at all.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, concerned. But before she could reply, the train announced my stop and I had to rush out. As I stepped onto the platform, I couldn’t help but glance back at her. She was still crying, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t right.
For the next few days, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I wondered if I had done something to upset her. It bothered me so much that when I saw she wasn’t in the coach on the third day, I started to panic. Was she avoiding me? And if so, why? Days turned into a week, and I grew increasingly worried about her. I couldn’t understand why I felt such a strong connection to her. It was like she had become a part of my life, and I couldn’t let go. Then, exactly after a fortnight, I heard her familiar voice behind me. “Found you,” she said with a smile. Relieved to see her, I was about to ask her what was wrong when she interrupted me. “If you have time today, would you like to have tea with me?”
I agreed, still unsure of what was happening. She led me to a nearby café and gave me a box. Inside was an envelope and some small jewelry boxes. “I know this might be sudden and awkward,” she said, “but this is for you.” I opened the envelope and saw a check. “I can’t take this,” I protested. “Beta! This is all I could afford and collect for my only daughter. But as I lost her in covid, I couldn’t bring myself to sell it or give it away. I think it would be best if my other daughter could make use of it.” She said as her hand caressed mine.
She went on some more about how she adored her daughter and how every time she looked at me, she was reminded of her daughter. And that’s when it hit me – she saw me as a daughter.
I don’t know how long we sat with each other hand in hand crying and letting out all the pain we had of losing our loved one. “I guess I will be able to live my dream to see my daughter dressed up as a bride through you,” she said, sobbing.
Tears streamed down my own face as I realized what this woman had done for me. She had given me something more precious than any amount of money – the warmth of a mother’s love. As I hugged her, I knew that my life would never be the same.
At that moment, I felt as if my own mother was with me. And I knew that Amma – that’s what I called her now – would always be there for me, just like a mother. People often say that you can find love in the strangest of places, but I never thought it would be on a train. But here we were, two strangers who had become family.
As I walked away from that café, I felt lighter and happier than I had in years. And I knew that no matter where life took me, I would always cherish the memory of that day, the day I found a mother’s love.
Rutika Ranada is the second round winner of our weekly writing competition. She wins $150 AUD and publication in the archipelago
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