Amma’s Heart

By Manoshi De Silva

"Amma, can you take us to the park this evening?" Kavi asked her mother. "I don't think that's possible," said her mother, who was weaving a cane basket. "I have to finish weaving these baskets and give it to the shop, at least by tomorrow." "But you didn't take us yesterday also!" complained Kavi. "I'll try to take you there tomorrow," replied her mother. But Kavi was not happy.

Kavi's father was a fisherman and they lived in a small house by the sea. Her father went fishing on his boat and he was rarely at home. Her mother stayed at home and looked after Kavi and her two younger brothers. In order to earn extra money, Kavi's mother weaved cane baskets, and sold them to a nearby shop. On some days she even weaved baskets late at night, while Kavi and her brothers slept.

"I put some washed clothes out to dry. Can you bring them in?" Kavi's mother asked her, while she continued to weave the basket like a machine. Kavi went out sulking, because she wanted to go to the children's park that evening. Kavi was feeling angry and disappointed with her mother. So she carelessly pulled the clothes out from the clothes-line, one by one.

The school uniforms and the coloured clothes of the children looked clean and new. But as Kavi took off her mother's clothes, she noticed how faded and old they were. Some of her mother's clothes wereeven slightly torn. "I wonder when Amma last bought any new clothes for herself?" thought Kavi, feeling sad for her mother.

Usually Kavi left the washed clothes on the bed for her mother to fold. But today she felt sad to leave them there for her mother to do it. "She's busy all the time. Once she stops weaving the baskets, she'll go to the kitchen to make dinner for us. Then she'll wash us and put us to bed and start weaving again!" thought Kavi, as she neatly folded the washed clothes.

Once Kavi finished folding the clothes, she went towards the seashore, which was just outside their small garden. Kavi's mother lifted her head and said, "Don't go too far. Stay within my sight!". "Okay!" nodded Kavi. "Even while being that busy, Amma is still alert about our safety and cares so much about us!" thought Kavi. "I've never stopped to realize how much effort she puts into our lives to protect and care for us." 

For the first time Kavi wanted to do something to make her mother happy. "If only I could give her a gift. Maybe a nice new frock, maybe some jewellery or even a nice cake!" Kavi walked a little distance away and sat down on a rock by the sea and looked back at their house. She could see her mother who was seated on their door step still weaving the basket non-stop. "But I don't have any money," thought Kavi, with tears running down her cheeks.

Kavi stared at the sea. There were some fishing boats far away. Maybe one of them was her father's boat. He worked hard to provide for the family. But while he was away, it was her mother who managed the entire house, keeping it tidy, providing food and caring for the children, and spending all her extra time to earn additional money for their family by making baskets. "A mother like that is a treasure!" thought Kavi, "how can I thank her and make her happy?"

"But the truth is, I won't be able to give her any gift because I have no money!" thought Kavi, wiping off her tears. She started walking back home with her head held low, feeling very disappointed. A sea wave gently touched her feet and something stopped by her feet. "What's this?" Kavi bent down to pick it up.

It was just a piece of coral but in the perfect shape of a heart. "How beautiful!" thought Kavi."Such a rough piece of coral turned so smooth, and perfectly shaped like a heart. This would make a perfect gift for Amma!" She looked around happily and saw a shrub at the edge of the shore, with some tiny white flowers dancing in the wind. Kavi went and plucked a few of them.

When Kavi walked in, her mother asked her whether she was hungry, while weaving the basket without stopping even to lift her head up. "I'll finish these baskets tonight and somehow take you three to the park tomorrow, I promise!" she said. "No need Amma. You stop that and rest now. You can finish them tomorrow. Let's go to the park on another day, when you are free!" said Kavi, putting her arms around her mother's neck.

"These flowers are for you Amma. And this coral heart is also a gift for you! I know that our lives are rough like the corals. But like the sea waves that has smoothened this coral and turned it into something beautiful, your love and care has made our lives beautiful. Thank you for all that you do!" Kavi said kissing her mother's soft cheek.

Happy tears ran down the cheeks of Kavi's mother, as she took the little gifts given to her with a smile. "How easy it is to make her happy," thought Kavi wiping her mother's tears away, "even the simplest things can make Amma's heart happy. She has the purest heart filled with so much of unconditional love. There is nothing else on earth like Amma's heart!"