Mr Gopal happily walked into my consulting room the other day to share some good news with me. He was a NRI, settled abroad for the last few years. His trips to India were infrequent and only materialised when either of his parents fell sick.He in a relieved tone mentioned about the admission of his parents in an old aged home. His business was expanding and that meant fewer trips to India.His heart was abroad and getting smaller, day by day. I knew that his parents were not happy with this decision but their whimpers and grumblings failed to move their son.
I was perplexed by the son's happy demeanour. He was washing hands off his parents in an aseptic acceptable manner.
I revered my parents,always sought their company and counsel. They were just another part of me. Their mere presence in the house instilled a sense of security in me. My kids loved to play around them. I used to feel blessed by their auspicious presence.
As they withered with age, our duty was to love them even more. Sending them away to some old age home was a sacrilegious act.
The young couple had happily decided to send their 8 year old child to a boarding school. They claimed that it was a good thoughtful decision ensuring a better future for their child. They were displacing their responsibility. I wondered about their problems which made them take this drastic step. I pitied their pseudo satisfaction in this horrific decision.
A growing child needs the loving comfort and shelter of his parents all the time. To teach him rights and wrongs of life. To pamper him. The parents had missed this vital fact, glaringly. Their myopic stance would distort the long term vision of their innocent child. I miss my kids even when I am off to work. I call them up frequently, just to hear their sweet jargon.The mere thought of my daughter's marriage in the future brings tears to my eyes. Sending them away would indeed break my heart.
We work day in and day out to seek comfort for our elders and a secure future for our young ones.
Some people fail me.
I think they fail themselves too.
When I auscultate their chest to listen to the heart beats. My ears fail to detect any sounds.God never gave them hearts.
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