Confessions of a Working Mom(Short story)

Ananya read the mail once again. Ananya Seth, Senior Vice President of AMZ Ltd. It was her dream come true. She had waited for this day and dreamt of it from the time she joined AMZ 10 years back. Her biggest aspiration and the reason for her toiling day and night, waking up at odd hours and boarding flights, shuttling between cities, in fact at times even at the cost of putting her family behind. And finally she had made it.

She got the official confirmation this morning from her boss. Until then her mind was in turmoil , unsure if she had made it this year or not. The news would be announced officially to all employees in a few days. This was her moment. She wanted to savour it, enjoy it to the fullest and revel in it. But she felt something was amiss. What was it? Her eyes fell on the mantle piece which had a family photo of Diya, her husband Aman and herself, taken at Hong Kong where they went on a family trip last year. How happy they looked and the gleam in Diya's eyes was so mesmerising. She was over the moon. She always craved for her mother's time but could not get enough of it.

Ananya's mind travelled back in time. After 3 years of marriage, Diya was born. Though Ananya was not someone who was very fond of babies, and in fact gave a great thought before she decided to have one , discussed, debated, argued and fought with Aman " We should ask ourselves if we are ready to have a baby not bcos people are asking us, we decide to join the bandwagon. I am not ready yet Aman. I need time." Things changed the moment Diya was placed in her arms. She was completely besotted by her little one. The next few months went by in a blur. Feeding Diya, putting her to sleep , attending to her needs took up all of Ananya's time. Finally it was time to go back to work, it was initially  decided that Aman's mother would take care of Diya as Ananya intended to continue working. It was very tough going back to work but slowly she got back into her old rhythm . Weekdays were jam packed, she left early and returned late but weekends she spent all of her time with Diya.

Watching her grow was a marvel. She missed those first moments - it was her mother in law who would call excitedly, tell her and video record it for her to see. Years flew by, Diya started school. Ananya got busier at work. She tried her best but there was only so much she could do in 24 hours. Diya cried for her, at times made a fuss when she went on tours but slowly got used to it. She could not make it to all the PTA's, the school functions. Aman tried to make up for it but Diya craved for her mother.

One day in a fit of rage when Ananya had missed her annual day she burst out" Mumma you just love  your job, everyone's parents had come and -they looked at me in such a funny way, I was tired of answering their questions where is your Mummy? You really don't love me Mumma, only Daddy and Dadi love me". Ananya was speechless, she dint know what to say. She had planned well in advance for this school program as she knew what it meant to her child . But the auditors report had created a hurricane in her company, the damage had to be salvaged and it had to be done at that  precise time. She had no choice.

The phone rang and she snapped out of her reverie. It was her husband asking what time would she be coming home, he was waiting for her to have dinner together. Let's celebrate the big day, let's go out tonight he said. She smiled and said she would leave soon. She switched off the lights, collected her stuff and left. On the way back she kept thinking " What would be Diya's reaction to my promotion? Would she share my happiness or would she burst out saying " oh so now you would have lesser time for me". I have achieved my goal as a professional but have I failed as a mother?

The guilt of a working mom plagued her for years and she had failed in snapping out of it. How much ever she tried to squeeze in time and make the most of her free time to give the best of everything to her daughter, be it playing with her, cooking her favourite food , reading her a bedtime story, making her study or simply having a heartwarming conversation, there was always another mother who prepared a better meal, who spent more time with her daughter, read her more stories. Her friends many of whom were SAHM's did not loose any opportunity of adding to her guilt. But you are financially settled na, Aman has a good job, why don't you quit and maybe take up some part time job? She was raised by working parents and she always wondered- should financially security be the only reason a woman needs to work after having kids? If she is financially stable and still decides to pursue a career, if she has ambitions of growing professionally- is she not a good mother? Does that mean she puts her baby second? She knew her priority was always her child but why does society look at moms who pursue a professional goal as someone who is selfish, she failed to fathom. It was a heavy bag of emotions she carried home each day, she did not care a damn about people , her only worry was - what her child thought? She hoped that as Diya grew up, she would gain maturity and understand things.

She reached home, it was dark. Suddenly the lights went on and Diya , Aman and her mother in law all came with a cake and a flower bouquet in hand, singing and congratulating her. Diya hugged her, and said " I am proud of you Mumma, I love you". Ananya was overcome with emotions, so many of them at once. "Beta I don't know what to say, I am just overwhelmed".  "Ma I know I have been really blunt on so many occasions and have thrown so many tantrums. But as I grew I realised I was wrong. You always strived to do your best, justice to work and justice to home. You gave me quality time more than anything and that really mattered. The comforts I enjoy today are all because of you. And being ambitious, having a professional goal is ok for a man but why not for a woman? And because she is a Mom does that make her a bad mother? I had found the answer Mumma and I believe you are the best mother. You are my role model , my inspiration and the epitome of success for me."

Ananya hugged her daughter tightly. Today she had got her biggest promotion in the true sense. Her ambition was fulfilled.