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, Mery 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 (Episode – 4A)
• “Next episode – 4A coming on -Tuesday”

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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.”

• To be continued…My Mother and Homeland (Episode 3B)
• “Next episode – 3B coming on -Thursday”

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My Mother and Homeland (Episode 2B)
Pain, Realization, Return to Life –

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.

• To be continued…My Mother and Homeland (Episode 3A)
• “Next episode coming on -Tuesday”

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– Ashish kumer banik

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.”
The 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 the Mary! The words that the 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 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.

• To be continued – My Mother and Homeland (Episode – 2A)

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