A Cup of Tea

Our flight from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad was at 9AM on Sunday. We wanted to leave for the airport at 7AM. The previous night, I cleaned up the kitchen and the refrigerator and piled up the sink with dishes. The maid said she will come early in the morning to take care of the dishes and other chores.  

Sunday morning came, I woke up by 5:30AM, got ready, got the kids ready and finished packing. We were ready by 7, but then the maid called and said she is not coming for some reason. I didn't have the heart to leave the dishes in the sink as the maid won't come until the next day. I washed them all up. 

My Mother-In-Law woke up while I was doing these chores. For as long as I knew her, I remember her starting her day with a hot cup of tea.  She always made the tea herself, sat down at the table and enjoyed the tea with some biscuits before she started her daily chores.  These days the maid made the tea for her. By the time I was done with washing dishes, we were well behind our schedule. I wasn't sure if we would be able to catch the flight.  I saw her sitting at the table.  I didn't want to leave without making her tea. I am so glad I did. That was the last cup of tea I would ever make for her.