Bhubaneswar, May 10: You scream at her for not allowing you to wear those mini skirts or party with your friends. You love her for being by your side when you are burning with fever and writhing with pain. You tell her secrets and she guards it like a soldier protecting his country. That’s a mother for you!

Whether yours is as headstrong as Nargis of Mother India or meek and doting like Sridevi of English Vinglish, mom’s definitely the word this Sunday. And if actress Prakruti Mishra had to define her relationship with her singer mother Krushna, Tom and Jerry comes to her mind.

“The secret behind our bond lies in the fact that we strike a balance between her comfort and my happiness,” says the bubbly actress about her mother being supportive of her work. She plans to fashion a handmade card for Krushna besides nudging her to rustle up a Chinese lunch at home.

“When it comes to cooking Chinese food, no one can beat her,” she added. Her mother believes that Prakruti is quite talented, but her stubborn ways at times become a cause of worry.

“But the best thing about her is that she holds no grudges. She melts like butter after five minutes of the fight. She has a go-getter attitude,” says Krushna, a playback singer and television anchor.

Prakruti gets back at her by narrating an incident from her teenage days. “She never used to allow me to wear gold jewellery because there were a few instances of thieves coming after me. But, I got fed up with her and put my foot down demanding that she let me wear the jewellery. That very evening, she got me a nice finger ring of gold that I still wear,” she said, pinching her mother’s cheeks.

Prakruti’s colleague from the Odia film fraternity, Tanmay Mohanty, popularly known as Babushan, may be equally stubborn, but mention his mother and he gets emotional.

“I have so many vices. For years, she has tolerated me even at times when I could not tolerate myself. She knows every little detail about my life. She has loved and guided me, been there during my highs and lows like a true friend and played with me like a little sister,” said Babushan about his all-rounder mother, Aparajita, who used to rule the film industry in the ’80s and ’90s. Babushan wishes to surprise her with a diamond ring and whip up some scrumptious Odia dishes that she enjoys the most. Though Aparajita sounded flattered by his son’s plans, she said she just wants him to be a good human being.

“Everything else will fall in place once you are good at heart. I like his simple and honest way of life. He is very sensitive about others’ feelings. Once his father cooked something and forgot to add salt. Babushan ate it happily and even complimented his father for his culinary skills. But when his father tasted the food, he burst into a laugh and hugged him,” said the veteran actress.

More than anything, Aparajita trusts her son would never do anything to hurt their family’s reputation. “I know he will always do the right thing. He will definitely choose a good girl for himself. His short temper is what I am really concerned about,” she said casting a sideway glance at Babushan, who smirked and nodded his head in agreement. But not all mothers are happy to have their children by their side.

Noted gynaecologist Saudamini Mohapatra said she hated being away from her daughter Ankita, a top-notch model based in Mumbai. “It pains me, but you have to make little sacrifices for your kids’ happiness. I just wish that she gets what she is aiming for. I miss the way she mimics everybody in our family,” said the doctor, who is planning to fly down to Mumbai this Sunday to spend the day with her daughter.

The distance hurts Ankita in equal measures. She has a kitty full of bittersweet memories with her mother. “She once burnt kheer by mistake, but its taste grew on me. Ever since, I have been cooking slightly burnt kheer for myself. Being with her enriches my life. She is extremely hardworking and does not stop for rest. I want her to take better care of herself,” is Ankita’s wish for her mother.