The moon, that elusive must for all ceremony - eid, karvachauth - is finally sighted at a respectable hour and on a clear sky. Suddenly all the heavy rain and clouds seem to have moved away to make way for the ladies to have some solace at the end of an arduous day.

The day was filled with the banter of many relatives, friends and acquaintances, all devoted to the ritual and all filled with respect and devotion for their counterparts. The media came and camped their OB Vans much ahead of time on the streets below and about, wanting to desperately catch us catch the moon on our terrace with the ladies. This is such an obnoxious intrusion. Nothing can be conducted in the privacy of our house without the fear of being watched through prying and news hungry eyes of the television. This is a private personal ritual. This is my personal individual house. We are wanting to maintain the sanctity of the occasion. We do need to go to the roof of the house to be able to see the moon and to be able to perform the traditional puja. But the electronic will be perched at vantage points on every surrounding building, poking their lenses out from apartments and adjoining roof tops to get a shot of the family in prayer. Thank you media for your divine sense of etiquette. I wonder how you would feel when your own privacy were to be so blatantly invaded. I wonder too how many of you get a peaceful night’s sleep and whether or not you possess that most sought after element in decency - a conscience.

But all the bitterness of intrusion was wiped out with the sudden and unexpected showing up of Abhishek and Aishwarya a little later. They drove in from Nasik where they are shooting, all the way just to be with the family and for Aishwarya to break her fast within the confines of home. Such a joy and a pleasure to see them. They will go back early again in the morning, but really sweet of them to have come down to be with us. A wonderful surprise.

So we chatted and caught up and watched all the goings on in Bigg Boss and ate and talked and just remained in a huddle for long hours. Simple family deeds bring such happiness. I love the idea of a full house - parents and relatives and children all busy and running around. Different people involved in different chores. The clatter of movement and sound, of voices, of mingling and laughter. I am happiest when everyone is around, not necessarily getting in the way of all that they do, but just the thought that they are around, is fulfilling.

That age old custom of joint families fades away. I hear of terrible stories where the children have left the elders to fend for themselves. Where the aged are coerced into leaving the house so the younger lot can live without the fear of their presence. Perhaps a very prevalent culture in the West begins to creep in here. This is sad. So much has been written on this issue on this blog, but still one gets influenced to repeat it again and again.

No matter how old I may have got. No matter what my public profile may have been, I always kept my parents with me as much as possible. And still took great pleasure in asking them before leaving the house, or coming back and informing them of the day’s proceedings. The pain of isolation has no comparison and if not taken care of soon enough, can lead to conditions not conducive to being healthy. For the male it is perhaps his job and his work that keeps him occupied. For the female it is a lot tougher. You lose your husband to work. Your son and daughter get married and you lose them to another home in one case and to another woman in another. For the Mother the daughter and son shall always remain the daughter and son that she gave birth to ; small insecure and needing assistance. There is a pride in her dealings with them and shall forever be so till the end of her days. She never leaves them as it were. And it is these qualities that shall forever attach the children to the Mother. She is the friend and the confidant. She is the one that all turn to from treating a cold to that major life shaping decision. And no matter where your present love and attention may lie - the woman you are married to or the man you have chosen to live for the rest of your life - there is no and cannot be a replacement for the Mother.

How does she know when you hide a cigarette from her during the early college days. How does she guess the girlfriend in your life. How does she know what you will eat at a particular hour. How does she know when you have had a bad day at work. How does she protect you from the anger of your Father. How does she protect you from all those that wrong you. How does she know who is bad or good company. How does she be the only one that keeps awake for you, no matter what time you return. How does she become the only one that gives patient hearing and then solace. How does she always have an encouraging word to give you. How does she be the one that reprimands you and yet be the one that suffers more. How does she fulfill all your material demands, even when there is paucity and meagre resource. And above all else how does she cook the best and most delicious food in the world.

More love and attention to you from all those that care for you …

Amitabh Bachchan