Relationships have shelf life!?

I was on my afternoon siesta when I'd got this strange call. He'd called up to say that his mother was in the final(?) stages and that he wanted me to be on standby(?) stations. Wonder what that meant? He went on to add the following that:-

         (a) his mother was now confined to her bed.
         (b) an airbed has been provided to prevent bedsores.
         (c) she'd become incommunicative and conveyed her needs through gestures.
         (d) she eased herself on the bed itself, prompting the home nurse to press for her release( it was
               strange because the nurses are trained for providing assistance on such occasions, so I thought).
         (e) she'd stopped taking in any food.

And then came the final bit which was that the old lady's end was imminent and that I'd be informed about it pronto if and when it happens. Sadly, he sounded eagerly expectant!

My nap had gone for a six. Here was someone predicting the death of another human being who was none other than his mother! Was he and his family tired of it all - looking after his mother over the last few years, that is? Granted that she was a difficult patient and that he was tied down to his home without being able to move outside due to the responsibility incumbent on him to take care of his helpless mother notwithstanding  fact was that his elder brother and family stayed next door, within the same compound!

I'd visited the old lady just a fortnight back and though she'd looked fragile and weak then, she'd spoken to me about a lot many things and recounted quite a few anecdotes in the course of our meeting. Despite her weakness, she was mentally alert and chirpy.

Seeing her condition then, some worthy had expressed the doubt as to whether she'd last beyond her birthday on the 3rd of August. Controlling my anger I'd to ask the guy to shut up and he'd slipped away quietly.


Tailpiece.

The truth about life is, at times, bitter. That relationships have a way of waning and losing their lustre is no secret. Wonder what the old lady must be feeling because she must be sensing everyone's attitude towards her, for whom she'd spent her life providing love, affection and care?

A feeling of futility and a sense of having been let down?