The sun slowly set, spreading the color of twilight in the western sky. Ethan washed his hands and face and sat in prayer.
But even in the meditation of the Creator, his mind kept wandering elsewhere. The failure to buy medicine for his sick mother kept driving him away.
He was asking himself— Is there really such an unfortunate child in the world who cannot buy even a small amount of medicine for his sick mother?
As he thought about it, he felt that Mary was not at fault. She had done the right thing from her position.
If anyone else had been in Mary’s place, he might have made the same decision.

At that moment, an owl started calling in a low voice from the old plum tree on the north side of the house.
Leela’s anxious voice came from inside the house—
— Say the name of God. May everyone be well.
Then she called Ethan and said,
— Ethan, drive the owl away. Such an owl’s call at dusk is not a good sign. It brings bad news.
The hoarse call of the owl also created an unknown uneasiness in Ethan’s mind.
Even as he prayed, a sense of unwarranted fear kept hitting him again and again.
After finishing his prayer, Ethan slowly walked out of the house…

To be continued…

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when Mary’s smile was full of warmth — not sharp like it was now. When she first came into this house as a bride, her eyes were filled with dreams.
Back then, life felt simple. It was just Lila, Daniel, Ethan, and Mary — a small but happy family. Lila would proudly say,
“I need to find someone just like her for Ethan.”
Ethan had dreams too — a car, a home in the city, a life others would admire.
But everything changed.
Daniel’s business collapsed.
Ethan had just finished his studies and had no stable income.
Slowly, financial pressure took over their lives. Surviving in the city became almost impossible.
After thinking deeply, Ethan made a decision—
“You all move back to the village. I’ll go to Chicago. I’ll try to build something there.”
Daniel agreed with a heavy heart.
Lila didn’t want to let him go.
But reality left her no choice.

And just like that, Ethan left.
Daniel stayed in the village with his family.
Everything has changed since then.
Because sometimes…
when distance grows — hearts grow distant too.
After a while, Mary returned again, smiling.
“Well… she came, saw you, and left. And you didn’t even notice!”
She paused, then added—
“She was really impressed. Said—‘Such a handsome man… and still unmarried?’”
Mary looked straight at Ethan and said.
“Ethan… You should get married..
Otherwise, we can’t even save face in front of others.”
Ethan said nothing. He simply looked at her—. quiet… and completely helpless.

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“My son, I’ve picked some fresh lemons. It’s market day today … you’ll have to take them to sell.”
Little Ethan would object without understanding anything —
“No, I can’t sell those! My friends will laugh at me.”
His mother tried to explain gently—
“They don’t understand our situation, that’s why they tease you. But we have to think about our reality. Your father’s income supports the whole family. Even this little extra money helps us. And the lemons are going to waste anyway.”
Mom’s words made him think.
He felt a deep pain for his father… and silently wondered —
Why is life like this? Why so much struggle? Why so much pain? Why not for others?
his mother came close, gently placing her hand on his head.
“My dear son… don’t be like that.”
Her calm, soothing voice brought peace to his heart.
With a heavy voice, he finally said—
“Alright, Mom… I’ll take it. You get everything ready.”
Seeing the condition of the once life-giving lemon tree, Ethan felt a deep sadness.
There was a time when this tree had been a quiet partner in their survival—almost like a member of the family.
Now, it stood fragile and neglected, as if silently pleading for life.
Arian tugged at Ethan’s hand.
“How long are you going to stand here, Uncle? Come on—let’s go that way. I’ll show you our cow.”
Ethan let out a quiet sigh.
“Alright… let’s go.”

Walking beside Arian, Ethan slowly immersed himself in the familiar surroundings.
The open fields, the trees, the calm breeze—everything felt like a forgotten piece of his soul returning.
Nature didn’t just comfort him…
it freed him.
For a brief moment, the weight of his worries seemed to disappear.
He wasn’t the same tired man anymore — he felt lighter, almost whole.
From a distance, Annie’s voice called out—
“Uncle!”
Ethan turned and walked toward her.
“Come home,” Annie said. “Mom made breakfast. She asked me to call you.”
Ethan nodded.
With Arian and Annie beside him,
he slowly made his way back home.

As Ethan reached the house, he noticed a pair of unfamiliar shoes outside.
Someone else was inside.
Just as he stepped in, Lila called out—
“Ethan, sit in the other room. Your cousin David’s wife is here.”
Ethan quietly moved to the next room.
Moments later, Mary entered with a soft laugh.
“David’s wife has never seen you before. She’s heard about you though. She came just to take a look.”
Ethan stayed silent.
There was a hint of sarcasm in Mary’s voice. Ethan understood this, but remained silent.
Placing the breakfast in front of him, Mary added playfully—
“Sit over there… Let him have a good look. After all, she came all this way just to see her handsome brother-in-law.”
She laughed again and left.
That laughter pulled Ethan into the past.
There was a time –

• To be continued…My Mother and Homeland> Part -5 (Episode> 12- 14)

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After finishing breakfast, Ethan picked up Aria in his arms and was about
to step into the yard when a voice called out —
“Ethan! Oh Ethan, are you home?”
Lila quickly adjusted her scarf and said,
“Ethan, your Uncle Robert is here. Ask him to come inside.”
From the yard, Uncle Robert replied,
“No need, sister-in-law. I won’t sit. I just heard Ethan has come.”
He coughed heavily a few times.
Lila responded,
“Yes, he has.”
After catching his breath, Uncle Robert asked,
“How are you feeling?”
“The same as always… sometimes a little better, then worse again.
How about you? I heard your breathing problem has gotten worse.”
“Yes… it’s been quite bad these past few days.”
Ethan stepped forward, touched his uncle’s feet respectfully, and invited him inside.
“No, no… I won’t sit. Haven’t even taken my medicine yet.
I just came because I heard you were here.
How are you, son?”
“I’m doing well, Uncle.”
Uncle Robert looked at him with a mix of concern and disappointment.
“Tell me something… why are you all like this?
Uncle Robert said – At our age, shouldn’t someone be there to look after us?
Or does that not matter anymore?”
He paused, struggling to breathe again.
Mary brought a small stool and asked him to sit.
Lila added with a sigh,
“Please explain it to him…
Can someone really leave everything behind like this and stay so far away?”
Uncle Robert sat down slowly.
“Don’t mind my words,” he said, looking at Ethan.
“My suggestion is—don’t go back to the city. Stay here. Do something here. ”
Many people are building their lives right here. I believe you can too.
Stay here… get married… build a family.
You’ll be able to take care of your mother,
and at the same time, give your own life some direction.
Life can’t go on like this forever.
And your age isn’t standing still either… you should think about that too.”
Ethan remained silent.
His stillness said more than words ever could.
Uncle Robert stood up slowly, placing a hand on his back.
“Don’t be upset. I only said what I felt was right. You’re wise enough to decide.”
“I should go now… my health isn’t good.”
Mary offered—
“I made tea. Please sit.”
“No… not today. I’ll leave.”
Coughing, Bimal walked away.
Ethan stood there, motionless—
watching him disappear down the narrow grassy path. That peaceful path…
covered with soft green grass and morning dew…
For a moment, Ethan wished — he could disappear just like that.
Away from everything. Away from failure. Away from this helplessness.
“Who can’t even afford to buy the medicine their mother needs..”

Suddenly Annie grabbed his hand and pulled him—
“Why are you standing here, Uncle? Let’s go for a walk!”
Ethan snapped back to reality.
“Yes… let’s go.”
They walked toward the eastern yard of the house.
These days, it looked abandoned.
Once full of life and bustle, it is now abandoned —
covered in wild vines and bushes.
When something loses its need, it loses its value—
the yard seemed to be a living example of that truth.

Ethan stepped into the courtyard with Aria in his arms and stood silently, lost in thought.
His eyes suddenly fell on a nearly dead lemon tree, tangled in vines.
Memories rushed back.
There was a time when his mother would bring water from the pond every evening,
pouring it carefully at the base of that tree.
The dry soil would absorb the water eagerly,
and a faint earthy smell would rise into the air.
She never felt tired doing it.

With her care and affection, the dying tree would come back to life—
full of leaves, flowers, and fruit. A smile would light up Mom face.
Sometimes, the branches would bend under the weight of lemons.
Sometimes, ripe yellow lemons would fall to the ground.
And mosquitoes would buzz happily around them.
Sometimes his mother would say to him —

• To be continued…My Mother and Homeland>Part -4 (Episode> 9-11)

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The mother’s cries at the crematorium still ring in his ears today.
“What will happen to your beloved son? Why did you leave him behind like this?”
That painful memory returned vividly.
His vision blurred.
Tears rolled down his cheeks, one after another.

He didn’t know how long he stood there like that.
Suddenly, a kingfisher dove into the pond and rose again, perching on a thin branch.
A tiny fish struggled briefly in its beak before becoming its meal.
Ethan watched quietly.
Such is life…
In this world, survival often comes at a cost.
A strange thought dawned on Ethan’s mind – how diverse life is!
Some struggle to survive. Some satisfy their own needs by taking the lives of others.
This scene brought him back to reality.
Wiping his tears, Pathik stepped down to the water and splashed his face.
His tears blended with the rippling surface of the pond.
Just then—
a soft voice called out—
“Uncle!”
He turned back.
Little Annie stood by the pond, calling him again—
“Grandma said you should come quickly.”
The innocent voice of his niece filled his heart with warmth.
“I’m coming,” he replied gently.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Grandma told me.”
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
Ethan lifted her into his arms with affection. Then he hugged her and slowly started walking home.

Entering the house, Ethan gently helped his mother, Lila, from the bed and seated her on the sofa. He sat beside her.
Annie came in quietly and placed the breakfast on the table.
Lila leaned closer to Ethan and whispered—
“Did you see? She didn’t even come herself to serve food. Sent the child instead…”
Afraid that Mary might hear, Ethan pressed his finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet.
Lila let out a soft sigh.
“Well… what else can I expect…”
As Annie was about to leave, Lila asked,
“Has Aria woken up?”
“No,” Annie replied.
“Go wake her up. Tell her her uncle has come.”
“Okay.”
Annie left the room.

Ethan sat silently, staring into the distance.
Inside him, a storm of pain continued to grow.
A thought echoed deep inside him—
“I could have been content decorating my life with the faint glow of a crescent moon…
But why did I crave the brilliance of a full moon?
Now, chasing that light, I find myself exhausted… completely drained.”
Noticing Ethan’s thoughts, Mother Leela said –
“Son, you shouldn’t sit like this with food in front of you. It’s not good. Eat.”
Ethan nodded.
“Yes, Mom… . You eat too.”
“ Give me my medicine first. I need to take it before eating.”
Ethan picked up the medicine box.
“Tell me which one.”
“I don’t know the name… but I’ll recognize it.”
Just then, Mary entered the room.
“Give me the box,” she said.
Ethan handed it over.
She took out a medicine and gave it to Lila.
Lila hesitated—
“I think I need another one…”
Mary replied indifferently,
“That one is finished. need to buy it.”
Ethan lowered his head. He said nothing.
Mary placed the box back and left.

In the bedroom, Annie tried to wake Aria—
“Aria, wake up! Look, Uncle is here! He brought cookies, chips, and grapes!”
From the kitchen, Ashrapurna’s sharp voice echoed—
“Don’t wake her now! Let her sleep. I have work to do.”
Lila looked at Ethan and whispered—
“You heard that?”
Ethan sighed, slightly irritated—
“Mom… please…”
Lila fell silent.

• To be continued…My Mother and Homeland> Part – 3 (Episode> 6-8)

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Ethan’s mother was on her deathbed. The news reached him, and he rushed from New York to see his beloved mother. Seeing his little son near her, the mother suddenly came back to life. She hugged him tightly and cried, saying :
— You have come, father! I am probably still alive because of waiting for you.
Ethan’s chest heaved with anguish. The tears in his eyes could no longer hold it. He wanted to wash away the stain of all his incompetence with those tears.With a voice choked by emotion, he said :
— “Mom… if you can, please forgive my helplessness.”
— “No, Ethan. You are not helpless. You are my precious one. Even if no one else understands you, I do. The fire in your chest will surely take you to your goal one day.
But—
— “But what, Mom?”
— “Perhaps… I won’t be around to see that day.”
Ethan held her tighter.
— “No, Mom! Nothing will happen to you. I won’t let you go, no matter what.”
Through the pain, his mother, Lila, managed a gentle smile.
— “Time is harsh, my son. Everything is the will of the Creator. Who can stop it? Not even you.”
Listen—
— Tell me, Mom.
— “Promise me one thing, Ethan. It might bring you luck.”
— “It’s not a request, Mom. It’s an order. Tell me.”
— I understand that my time is running out. The last time… don’t leave me and go anywhere else. Stay by my side. At least let me breathe my last in peace and say goodbye—only then will my soul find peace.
Haring this last wish of his mother, the Ethan was stunned. He stared at his mother’s face like a stone statue. He wiped away the tears that had rolled down the corners of his mother’s eyes with utmost compassion. He swallowed hard. He said in a choked voice—
— “Mom… you know everything… why did I stay so far in New York and leave you in the village?”
— “Yes, Ethan, I know. I understand everything.”
— Then why did you put me through such a difficult test even though you knew?
— It’s not a test, father, this is my last wish. Tell me, will you keep it?
Ethan thought quietly for a long moment. He realized: I’ve accomplished much in life… perhaps I’ll do more. But I may not get another chance to fulfill my mother’s last wish.
Then he said softly:
— “Alright, Mom. I will stay by your side. Give me your blessing.”
Lila wiped them away and said:
— “Don’t worry. My blessing is with you. You’ll grow to be great. I know fulfilling my final wish will cost you much, yet selfishly, I want to hold you close… Why? Because after I’m gone, you will be very alone. No one will truly belong to you. Then even your existence may be questioned.”
Ethan was stunned. He had always known his mother, Lila, was extraordinary—almost like a sage. She seemed to foresee everything. Whenever he asked, she would smile sweetly and say: “You’ll understand when you grow up.”
Even now, he was still in awe. A deep fear settled inside him.
— “Why, Mom? My elder brother, sister-in-law, and little Annie… they are all so close to me.”
Lila, with a faint smile despite her pain, said :
— “Did I ever say that they are not the closest to you? But the world is very strange… Human minds are even more strange. Everyone is busy with their own interests. How many think like you?”
It is not known whether he fully understood the depth of his mother’s words, but a sigh remained buried in his chest. He realizede — the road ahead is not smooth.
— “You’ve come a long way. Wash up, eat something,” his mother said gently.
Just then, his elder brother, Daniel, entered the room. He slipped his mother’s prescription for medicine into the Ethan’s hand and said :
— Buy ​​these and bring them. I am leaving, it is getting late.
Before Ethan could respond, Daniel left. Ethan stood quietly, then noticed his sister-in-law, Mary, walking toward the well with washing to do. A glimmer of hope sparked in his heart.
— “Mary… I need to speak with you.”
Even though Mary looked up, she did not respond. Yet Ethan stood beside Mary and looked at her humbly.
There was no sign of satisfaction in Mary’s eyes. Ethan stood humbly beside her. There was no sign of relief in Mary’s expression and she was avoiding his gaze. However, Yet Ethan’s sincere faith was not broken. Relying on great human trust, she slowly said :
Mary, I had left New York only after collecting the money for the car rental. When I heard about Mom’s illness, I had to come. I couldn’t tell Daniel… and truthfully, I don’t have enough to buy medicine. If you could help—”
Before he finished, Mary’s stern voice cut through :
— “I have no money. I don’t earn anything either; you know that.”
Ethan was shocked. The tearful Ethan could not have imagined that such a misfortune would make the final moment even more terrifying. He remained speechless for a few moments.
After his mother, the one he considered closest to him in this world, the one he considered to understand, to respect, to feel happy in his happiness, to be sad in his sadness, is this Mary! The words that Ethan could not dare to say even to his elder brother.
Lest he would scold him. He rushed to Mary to say them without hesitation. How sincerely can a person surrender to another person if they give space to him in their heart? It may be impossible to explain in words or in writing.
So, is my mother’s idea correct? In the absence of his mother, is there no one left to call Ethan his own? Who will understand Ethan, know Ethan!
Mary remained busy with her work. Nevertheless, she did not make the mistake of glancing at Ethan a few times with a furtive glance. Ethan stood there for a while like a condemned prisoner, then silently left the place and headed towards the pond.
Standing by the edge of the pond, Ethan fixed his gaze ahead in silence.The morning sun had just begun to spread its gentle light, casting a golden glow over the surrounding trees. The branches swayed softly, as if whispering in calm harmony with nature.
What a peaceful scene… Slowly, the quiet beauty of the moment began to ease the heavy pain buried deep inside him.
Suddenly, a few weaver birds chirped and flew away from their nests.Ethan’s eyes drifted toward the old palm tree standing at the northwest corner of the pond—still there, as if guarding a silent witness to a terrible scene from the past.
Just beside that tree lay their ancestral cremation ground. And there, in eternal rest, was his beloved father. A deep ache filled Ethan’s chest. Memories began to surface—
A modest household, struggling with financial hardship, yet filled with an unexplainable warmth and peace. Whenever his father returned home from the distant shop, there would be a glow of quiet joy on his face.
That joy brought comfort and hope to young Ethan. But after a few days, everything would change again — A shadow would fall over his father’s expression, His mother would grow silent and distant. As a child, Ethan never understood why.
Whenever he asked, his father would simply smile, pull him close, and shower him with affection.
In this way, drifting through waves of joy and sorrow, before Ethan could even finish school — his father was gone.

> To be continued – My Mother and Homeland Part – 2 (Episodes 3 – 5 Complete)

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As Ethan reached the house, he noticed a pair of unfamiliar shoes outside.
Someone else was inside.
Just as he stepped in, Lila called out—
“Ethan, sit in the other room. Your cousin David’s wife is here.”
Ethan quietly moved to the next room.
Moments later, Mary entered with a soft laugh.
“David’s wife has never seen you before. She’s heard about you though. She came just to take a look.”
Ethan stayed silent.
There was a hint of sarcasm in Mary’s voice. Ethan understood this, but remained silent.
Placing the breakfast in front of him, Mary added playfully—
“Sit over there… Let him have a good look. After all, she came all this way just to see her handsome brother-in-law.”
She laughed again and left.
That laughter pulled Ethan into the past.
There was a time –

• To be continued…My Mother and Homeland (Episode – 7A)
• “Next episode – 6A coming on -Tuesday”

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Seeing the condition of the once life-giving lemon tree, Ethan felt a deep sadness.
There was a time when this tree had been a quiet partner in their survival—almost like a member of the family.
Now, it stood fragile and neglected, as if silently pleading for life.
Arian tugged at Ethan’s hand.
“How long are you going to stand here, Uncle? Come on—let’s go that way. I’ll show you our cow.”
Ethan let out a quiet sigh.
“Alright… let’s go.”

Walking beside Arian, Ethan slowly immersed himself in the familiar surroundings.
The open fields, the trees, the calm breeze—everything felt like a forgotten piece of his soul returning.
Nature didn’t just comfort him…
it freed him.
For a brief moment, the weight of his worries seemed to disappear.
He wasn’t the same tired man anymore — he felt lighter, almost whole.
From a distance, Annie’s voice called out—
“Uncle!”
Ethan turned and walked toward her.
“Come home,” Annie said. “Mom made breakfast. She asked me to call you.”
Ethan nodded.
With Arian and Annie beside him,
he slowly made his way back home.

• To be continued…My Mother and Homeland (Episode – 6B)
• “Next episode – 6B coming on -Thursday”

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“My son, I’ve picked some fresh lemons. It’s market day today… you’ll have to take them to sell.”
Little Ethan would object without understanding anything —
“No, I can’t sell those! My friends will laugh at me.”
His mother tried to explain gently—
“They don’t understand our situation, that’s why they tease you. But we have to think about our reality. Your father’s income supports the whole family. Even this little extra money helps us. And the lemons are going to waste anyway.”
Mom’s words made him think.
He felt a deep pain for his father… and silently wondered —
Why is life like this? Why so much struggle? Why so much pain? Why not for others?
his mother came close, gently placing her hand on his head.
“My dear son… don’t be like that.”
Her calm, soothing voice brought peace to his heart.
With a heavy voice, he finally said—
“Alright, Mom… I’ll take it. You get everything ready.”

• To be continued…My Mother and Homeland (Episode – 6A)
• “Next episode – 6A coming on -Tuesday”

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My Mother and Homeland
Where Memories Still Breathe – (Episode 5A)

Suddenly Annie grabbed his hand and pulled him—
“Why are you standing here, Uncle? Let’s go for a walk!”
Ethan snapped back to reality.
“Yes… let’s go.”
They walked toward the eastern yard of the house.
These days, it looked abandoned.
Once full of life and bustle, it is now abandoned —
covered in wild vines and bushes.
When something loses its need, it loses its value—
the yard seemed to be a living example of that truth.

Ethan stepped into the courtyard with Aria in his arms and stood silently, lost in thought.
His eyes suddenly fell on a nearly dead lemon tree, tangled in vines.
Memories rushed back.
There was a time when his mother would bring water from the pond every evening,
pouring it carefully at the base of that tree.
The dry soil would absorb the water eagerly,
and a faint earthy smell would rise into the air.
She never felt tired doing it.

With her care and affection, the dying tree would come back to life—
full of leaves, flowers, and fruit. A smile would light up Mom face.
Sometimes, the branches would bend under the weight of lemons.
Sometimes, ripe yellow lemons would fall to the ground.
And mosquitoes would buzz happily around them.
Sometimes his mother would say to him —

> To be continued…My Mother and Homeland (Episode – 5B)  

> “Next episode – 5Bcoming on –-Thursday”

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