Yesterday, in the lane leading to our apartment block I noticed an aged couple. The old man was obviously not well. He was lying on a torn bedsheet, and the elderly lady was sitting pensively next to him. Looking out of my window, I saw the lady distraughtly going about, getting him water, then something to eat. She look harried and her worry was evident. When till late at night they remained there, under the lamp post, I thought I would go and enquire about them.
She told me that she was from a village near Pen. Her husband was very sick and on the pretext of taking him to a good doctor, their son brought them to Mumbai, some days ago. He took them to the Bhabha hospital which is close to my residence in Bandra, and after getting his father some treatment, he told them to camp in the bylane opposite, since they had to visit the doctor again the day after. He explained that he had some work in the city himself and would dutifully be there, the day they needed to visit the hospital again. He gave them 200/- and left. That was a week ago. Ever since they have not seen him. The couple had been shooed off from other lanes, and finally yesterday had come to the lane leading to our society.
The lady was certain that some unforeseen predicament had befallen their son and was equally worried for his well being as she was for her husband. Her husband was more pragmatic and felt that their son felt them to be a burden and had thus washed his hands off them. He requested me to only allow them to pass the night there and that they would go elsewhere, come morning.
I explained to him that I had no reason to hunt him off and I was not going to do so.
The incident really makes one wonder what the world is coming to.
On one hand was the callousness of the son, leaving his old ailing parents defenseless in an unknown city.
Then, the people who instead of helping them, or guiding them towards help and aid, just shooed them away, from place to place.
And finally, the devotion of the old lady to her ailing husband. The care and feeling with which she looked after him was to be seen to be believed.
The incident touched me. Just sharing it with you friends.
its really unfortunate.hope the world realises it soon
it shocks me at the need of old age homes and the number ob children abandoning their parents in their hour of need…..its not only cruel but shameful too…..hope that no parent has to face such a degraded attitude at the hands of their children..and also a mother’’s love which seems convinced that that the only reason that son wont come back is becuase he is in trouble….
hope and optimisticism keeps us going……may be watever the old lady was thinking would have been correct…. may b this faith will bring her son back to her……
Reminds me of sorry state of so many old people……… wish someone could help them!
our world is a terribly selfish place… we see it in so many aspects.. sympathizing is one thing.. in the long run, kya hoga unka? ..
exactly my feelings when I see old people left to fend for themselves…
fir aapne kya kiya????????????
so sad na…………. fir aapne kya kiya????????????
A cocktail of mixed feelings and yes, it’’s reality. Nobody is an embodiment of either good or evil but what disturbs me most is the “whats-in-it-for-me” attitude of the youth and the disrespect for their parents. Very disheartening.. It was very nice of you to write on this topic.
This again is a reflection of how as a society we have not created any Institutions for the care of the aged. Wonder if it will feature in the new governments agenda. Homes for the care of destitutes and the poor. Must not the state take some responsibility and not leave it to random individuals? I think it should. That is why my blood boils over at Marine Drive being beautified by cement phallics. This is the context of that anger.
very touching …always look after and take care of your elders…
very saddening indeed…..magar aapne ye to bataya hi nahi ki fir aapne unke saath kya kiya?? have u supported them in any manner?
very touchy.thnx for sharing..Take Care…..
This description presents pathetic and inhuman state of our society, Basant. Son deserts is parents, others are too busy in their own affairs and no social/government organisation has come forward to provide the necessary help.
what a family!!!! it is possible now a days..i am not surprised.
I have seen children dumping their parents in old age homes and fly out..
In fact they rob everything from their parents ..very saddening..
But I like to believe the son will get back soon to take care of his parents..
thanx for sharing this news
Rather call it a twist of destiny….Else what? But in that also there is love and care. A wife’’s care for her husband….A mother’’s care for her son(and i strongly say that something has happened to the son, otherwise how can he leave his own creator on the pavements)…Hope their son’’s back…..On the other side its a dark side of humane nature. The lost feelings in the hearts of mankind pushes us to beasthood….The life plays bitter games sometimes bro……Thanks for sharing……Take Care…..
just a reflection of life as it is…somewhere there is love & caring,somewhere there is washing ones hands off from loved ones,on the one hand there is faith that her husband will be cured & on another a fear that something may have happened to her son,etc…..& in the midst of these paradoxes life goes on….beautiful post on the realities of life…
How can a son do that….wud something have happened to him as d mother fears.now am worried….
very touchy.thnx for sharing