Saturday 11 June, 2011

The Other Day

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 21; the twenty-first edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

It was evident from his sad face that something wasn't well. I haven't seen him like this before. But since last couple of days he was looking as if he had lost everything.

"What's wrong grandpa?" I used to call him grandpa because he was of that age and more because I haven't seen my grandpa ever. He didn't reply and walked away. I picked up the paper he forgot on the bench. It was acceptance letter from the famous old age home 'Home Like Home'.

I followed him and brought him back. How could I let him leave like this? He started with a low tone, "Yesterday my son gave me a wonderful gift on my 73rd birthday. A new home, 'Home Like Home'. He says his four bedroom home don't have a single corner for me," he continued, "He says both he and his wife go to work so they can't take care of me. They say they don't want me to suffer in their absence so they have arranged a place in an old age home for me".

I was quietly listening to him. "I said I can take care of myself, you don't need to suffer your work for me but I didn't know my son is smart enough to tackle these questions. So he promptly replied that I'm not safe at home alone when they both are out all day. The incidents of attacking aged people and then robbing are rising day by day. My son had a point", he put his heart out.

Silence took place between us for quite some time. "When is Nitin coming?" Nitin is his grandson gone somewhere outside India to complete his studies.

"I don't know. I don't even know his whereabouts. We rarely talk to each other. He don't call me. He talk to his parents.", there was a considerable pause after every full stop and his tone got slower after every sentence.

"Can I ask you something grandpa?", I hesitantly questioned. I myself was surprised because I never felt a need to get his prior permission to ask anything. He was surprised too, I guessed, though he granted it immediately.

"Can I take you to my home?" was my next hesitant question.

He smiled. "My dear son, thank you so much but I can't. He might be making excuses but I, a father, will always be one", he continued, "Life is an echo and he has a son too". In these lines I learnt a lesson for life.

We bid adieu and he promised to meet me right here in this park where we used to meet everyday. I kept my promise and came everyday. He never returned. Maybe he was aware of it from then on.

I'm here again, knowing that he won't come. The other day, when we met last, is the one I never want to remind nor do I want to forget altogether.



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24 After Thoughts:

Blasphemous Aesthete said...

Poignant.

It is a growing concern in the cities these days, people sending their parents to old age home following an excuse that the routine doesn't allow them to take proper care of their parents.
It's really sad.


Regards,
Blasphemous Aesthete

Aashish Sood said...

It really saddens me how children just leave their parents like that and that too without any concerns about those who took care of them for so long!

ATB for BAT

Read mine at The Other Day

Someone is Special said...

sadness... hope he come to park one day.. I wish you good luck for BAT and for him to return.. Wanna know what happened the other day?

Someone is Special

Anonymous said...

A beautiful post my friend. I could almost feel the pain inside the old man. It is sad that things have come to this even in India now.

Sureindran said...

It's the same everywhere nowadays. Old folks homes are sprouting like nobody's business. A mind provoking post and you have tackled in your writing one of the top social illness these days. Keep writing.

Sureindran - The Other Day

s said...

Awww....This was kinda sad. It is so unfair and totally selfish on the part of those who leave throw out their parents into an Old-Age-Home, once they cease to be useful. With all this technology at our disposal, taking care of others should be deemed easier not harder.

S. said...

yeah got busy with CS exams and unfortunately they didn't go well. :( might have to face the dec attempt with all 6 exams of executive..instead of just three.huh..

how are you doing anyway?

Creativity said...

Very Sad. These Days, People Are Becoming As You Have Said Here. Don't Understand, Why Children Hesitate To Takecare of Their Own Parents ?

Anon said...

And from the end of this post begins the blame game. Its this bittersweet truth that dwells in. Well written, I must add.
Well, I'm hoping you drop by to see what I was up to the other day here- http://utopian-nadir.blogspot.com/2011/06/other-day.html

D2 said...

Poignant. The nuclear family is a terrible offshoot of this society. You wrote something true and really sad.
All the best for BAT.

Srikanth said...

I like your concept.. Good luck

aativas said...

I wish you meet grandpa again .. jsut like the other day :-) .. But true, it is becoming a sad fact.

Nikhil Patokar said...

not an excuse to put away old aged people for sure... but ya old age home surely not an solution...

it is sometimes said that both children and old aged peole are alike...maybe we can have a arrangement for seniors that we have in place for toddlers...

ATB

Though choice to make--- wife or Peace of mind...
Find out what happened - The Other Day on my blog -THE SILENT WORDS

Deepak said...

@ blasphenous: hmmm its sad, really :(

@ ashish: perhaps they consider themselves more practical.

@ someone: thanks and same to u

@ the lover: thanks a lot my friend. yes, India is on competition with its global counterparts now

@ sureindran: thanks and good luck

@ shilpa: yeah its so sad. technology cant do anything in this case my friend. it can keep you in touch through the gadgets at most

@ sunakshi: best of luck for the result. I am doing fine.

@ creativity: agree. thanks for coming

@ no glory: thanks and good luck

@ D2: thanks a lot

@ srikanth: thanks

@ aativas: thanks for the wish

@ nikhil: thanks and good luck to u too

Rinaya said...

a beautiful post...it is indeed sad to see kids thinking of their parents as their liability in old age.. :(
All the best for BAT

Geeta Singh said...

liked the moral behind this post:) all the best !!!
The other day

Sweta said...

Mother and Father gives everything for their child.... they don't enjoy their lives so that thay can save for the kids.... and at the end also they decide to live alone so that the kids live happily

Deepak said...

@ rinaya: yeah, it's quite sad

@ geeta: thanks

@ sweta: that's why they are mother and father and children realize when they themselves become mother/father.. that's the sad part..

the critics said...

this is touching ...nicely narrated

Deepak said...

@ the critics: thanks a lot :)

S. said...

hey,where are you these days?
no post..!

Deepak said...

@ sunakshi: I am at facebook these days :) not inspired enough :(

S. said...

haha its ok..happens!FB is such a waste still we waste so much time on it :D

Deepak said...

@ sunakshi: yeah, true :p

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