Grown Up, but still Mamma's Girl

Now I am a mother too and my mother is just a call away whenever I need her. At the same time, I also make it a point to be there for her whenever she needs me, says Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Reddy as she shares her most treasured moments with mother Radha Reddy As a daughter, I always want her to be happy. I wish I could take away all her worries so that she could relax and be peaceful for the rest of her life. My childhood memories, especially the time I spent with my mother are special for me. My mom and I used to hang out a lot together. Though she was busy with her dance, she constantly took time out for me. She used to make great food for me. We used to go out a lot for shopping besides having food together. Every moment we spent together I cherish the most.

I remember troubling her on stage to dress me up as a dancer. Whenever I dressed up like a dancer, my parents used to assure me 'Your turn will come', but it never happened. So, once when they were performing I went on to the stage. I was around 3 - 4 years of age then. I went and slapped my father who was shell shocked. I told them that even I want to dance. It was only then that my mother realised that I was passionate about dance. It turned out to be the moment which we can never forget. I still remember her reaction when I performed for the first time. She was proud and elated seeing me perform on stage. As I shifted my base to Hyderabad I felt that we could have spent more time together when I was with her. I miss her immensely. But now I got used to it. However, she continues to be a pillar of support, as she always stood by me. I used to depend on her, no matter how busy she was and still do so. Like every daughter, I too have been majorly influenced by my mother and many say that my style too is much like hers. I have also inherited my mother's hardworking nature. She always told me that work comes first before everything else. It is from her that I learnt to be patient and caring. She is as patient as mother earth. We had our share of similarities and dissimilarities. Our common link has been food and the places where we enjoy our food. Clothing is an area where we are yet to come to terms with. I usually like to wear the opposite of what she tells me to wear. I feel that your relationship with your mother changes as you grow up. As the years go by we now share a mature relationship. We are very supportive of each other. Now I am a mother too and my mother is just a call away whenever I need her. At the same time, I also make it a point to be there for her whenever she needs me. When I was a child, I used to listen to her, as there was no other option. But now since I am grown up; we have a proper discussion on every matter. She understands me me and when we draw a conclusion she supports me with my decision.

As a daughter, I always want her to be happy. I wish I could take away all her worries so that she could relax and be peaceful for the rest of her life. I also wish that I can share her work load and let her relax more. I try to do my best of whatever I can for her, wherever I am. I wish I could do more. She never wanted me to be a dancer. She wanted me to be a doctor, but when I did MBA, she was okay with it as she felt I should do something in business administration so that I'll have a safe and secure life unlike that of a dancer. She was always of the opinion that it takes 'too much time' to settle down in dancing. But when she understood my passion she asked me to pursue it. I still remember she hated two things about me. I used to bite my nails and even used to slap me to give up the habit. She also did not like my habit of eating my favourite food repeatedly, almost on daily basis. She was annoyed to cook for me tandoori chicken everyday. Despite being a busy mother, she found time to balance work and personal life together. She used to look after me even though she had to travel for shows on a regular basis. I sometimes feel that I was the reason that she couldn't enjoy her life. But I know that, more than work I was her first priority. Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Reddy, daughter of famous Kuchipudi dance Gurus Raja Radha Reddy. She presently lives in Hyderabad and runs the dance school, Natya Tarangini. -(As told to Askari Jaffer)