Un-withered..!

Well, I had this image over old-age homes – unlucky and depressed lifeless parents, stupid children and cunning daughter-in-laws…possibly! But, this story did change that image…quite. After all, ‘Dread is not always a dread’.

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She is walking in the garden breathing in, the fresh evening air. Nature surrounds her entirely. From the warmth of setting sun, the stream of gentle wind, to the colorful garden in front of her; Nature envelops her gently and completely. She has no regrets. She has no complaints.

With her shoulders bony, skin wrinkled and hair silvery – anyone would say ‘she’s old and so she’s weak’. But those who see her eyes can never miss the spark in it. And that spark tells a completely different story. Oxidation – does some irreversible change in human body which results in ageing. But this phenomenon holds false for that spark. With that spark in her eyes and gentle smile in her lips, her face lights up – which make her look younger, than she is. And she’s really stronger than anyone think! (Else, how she would’ve thought of living in an old-age home than with the comforts; though she had the choice!)

As she sat upon the wooden bench surrounded by the green of plants and trees, she saw him entering through the gate. Him – her son! The reason of her life! The one who make her stand straight with pride. The one who has never let her down! He smiled as he saw her watching him.

The other elder people were talking and walking in the garden. It is evening. Specially, a spring evening! There is no other thing worthy, than getting lost in Nature’s mesmerizing looks. He sat beside her and smiled. She returned the smile, her whole face lighting up.

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She is pitied upon, by the outer world. ‘Coz she’s in the old-age home – with the bunch of older people. The world may think that she’s unlucky to be left there. It may think that she has no one. The world may think she’s depressed and broken beyond repair. BUT, there’s a reason for her being there. And no one can ever see it in distance.

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A few years ago…

He came home with his call letter from an IT company. His salary is really huge. He always wanted to make his mother happy. He’s the only son of her.  They lost his father when he was just six. From then on, she strived really hard to bring him up. I really cannot justify her pain in mere words. But yes, it was…hard for them.

He is a responsible son. He just wanted to see her smile. He would do anything for that…he would even stretch his boundaries for that.

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As he has this call letter now, he believed that he can make his wish true. But she had different plans.

He showed his call letter to his mother and told her that they can move to bigger house and be happy there. They were in small rent house till then.

She smiled and blessed him. And she said, “I want to move out to old-age home.”

He was shocked. “Why mom? Don’t you trust me? I won’t leave you just like that. I just want to be with you and see you happy.”

She said, “I know what you wish. But, if you want me to be happy…this is what I want.”

“But, why mom?”

“See dear! I know I’ve you forever. But, there are parents who were abandoned by their children. I just want to help them cope. Not everyone is as lucky as I am…I hope you understand.”

“Then, you want to abandon me, mom?”

“No. That’s not what I meant. And you know that well. Listen, if you need your mom…you can have many there! Just come there whenever you need. And, those people can feel that, they too have a son.”

Yes, he did what she had asked him. And, there they both were.

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He bought food for all of them every evening on the way from his work. It’s always bliss for him to go there and be with them. As he came and sat beside his mother, everyone joined them.

They tell him tales and their life and experiences. And, he would tell them daily affairs. They talk and talk a lot. It never was boring.

She saw her son smile. And, she is smiling as well. The moment is rich. No money can buy it.

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His mother was totally right. “If you need your mom…you can have many there!”

He may not need them. But, they need him in some ways. He saw them as his own. And, they did the same. He planned to build a house for them with his own salary. And, If he can…he wanted to make a change in this society…perhaps a change in everyone’s thoughts!

No one can steal the place of parents. No one can pour true love on us, than ‘them’.

Yeah! 

-Sp-