Shyamnath, eager to impress his boss and climb the corporate ladder, had invited his **** boss and some senior colleagues for dinner. The dinner, in honour of the boss, was to be held in the house of Shyamnath. Shyamnath and his wife began to make preparations for the arrival of the guests. Chairs, a table, stools, napkins and flowers had all arrived on the verandah. The drinks had been arranged in the sitting room. Now all unnecessary domestic articles were being hidden behind cupboards and under beds.
Suddenly an obstacle appeared before Shyamnath: What to do with mother? Neither he nor his capable wife had directed their attention to this matter. He thought it would be a severe embarrassment for him and a dampener on the party if the guests, especially his **** boss, chanced upon her. He wondered what he could do to keep her away from the guests.
The behaviour of her son and daughter-in-law made the mother sad but she never said anything to her son. She endured everything. Sometimes, because of his wife, Shyamnath had even insulted her. But she said nothing and agreed to whatever he asked her to do.
Eventually, the boss arrived at Shyamnath’ house. Soon Shyamnath’ party had begun to touch the summit of success. The conversation was flowing as swiftly as the glasses were being filled. And in this flow of drinking and offering drinks, the clock struck half-past ten. Finally, everyone drained the last drops of their glasses, rose for dinner and left the sitting room. Shyamnath was in front, showing the way, behind him the boss and the other guests.
Stepping on the verandah, Shyamnath suddenly stopped ****. What he saw made him stumble, and in a moment his intoxication took flight. On the verandah, right in front of her room, his mother was sitting on her chair just as she had been. But both her feet were on the seat of the chair, and her head was lolling from side to side, and from her mouth issued loud snores. The moment he saw her, Shyamnath was enraged. He felt like dragging her to her feet and shoving her into her room, but this was not possible; the boss and the other guests were standing nearby.
When they saw his mother, some of the wives of the Indian officials began to giggle. At once mother hastily sat up straight. Seeing so many people in front of her she was so alarmed she could say nothing. She immediately pulled her dupatta over her head, stood up and began to stare at the ground. There was a smile on the boss’* face. He greeted mother. He then stretched out his right hand for a mother to shake. Mother was even more alarmed. In her confusion, she put her left hand in the Sahibs. Shyamnath was annoyed. The wives of the Indian officers tittered.
The sahib took control of the situation. The atmosphere became less tense. People began to laugh and joke with one another. Shyamnath began to feel slightly less agitated. The sahib even enjoyed a song that mother sang. He just wouldn’t stop clapping. Shyamnath’* annoyance turned into joy and pride. His mother had brought a new colour to the party.
Next the sahib enquired as to how phulkaris are made. Shyamnath promised to get his mother to stitch one for him. The sahib thanked him and made his way towards the dining table. When they had sat down and everyone’ eyes had turned from her, the old lady slowly stood up and, avoiding notice, went into her room. The moment she sat down there, her eyes flooded with tears. She wiped them with her dupatta, took the name of **, and prayed for long life for her son.
Once the guests had eaten and left, Shyamnath came to his mother’ room and embraced her. He said that the sahib was impressed and that she had done wonders that night. Tears welled up in her eyes. Then the mother said that she wanted to go to Haridwar. Suddenly Shyamnath’ anger began to build up. He said that he did not want her to go to Haridwar and be disgraced by people that he had sent her away as he did not want to take care of her. He then reminded her about the phulkari which he had promised his boss. He said that if they made the sahib happy, then he would probably be given a better job. Hearing this there was a glow on her face. She agreed to do it for him.
And in her heart she again longed for a bright future for her son.
