This afternoon, soon after we'd finished lunch, Kumar had come along with his push cart, for pressing the clothes. On enquiry as to whether he'd had his food he'd replied in the negative as the eatery nearby, where he frequents, was shut down because of the procession and connected cultural bonanza of the Thaamarayoor devi temple's festivities. He'd visited our house last Saturday but seeing it locked, as we're away, he made it a point to come by as he was aware of the backlog! Damn sweet of him!!
He'd commenced his work after having the lunch provided by Lekha. As he was finishing his work, an elderly gentleman had pressed the doorbell. It was George, all of 78 years, who'd come to collect our subscriptions for the immensely popular fortnightly newspaper called the 'Guruvayur Vaartha'. Actually my friend, Narayanan has already hooked us on to its readership net by paying the initial subscription! What struck me most about George were the following:-
(a) He's a simple man who has no greed about making money.
(b) Otherwise how does a man get reduced to such state of 'wealthlessness' after having been
a councilor of a municipality?
(c) He has three daughters who're all married away at the right time but he has disowned them
because they've been of no help to him and his wife, in their state of poverty. He added that
it would have been better had they not had any children emphasising the fact that he and his
wife had gone through some bitter experiences, thanks to them. He was, however, sad that his
youngest daughter wasn't doing that well and had incurred debts.
(d) Taking his pitiable state into consideration, the NGO has given him work with a meagre pay.
With this income, coupled with a pension, which he expects to get shortly, he hopes that they
could live their lives without much difficulty.
(e) He seems to have accepted his present state with grace, though at times he's subjected to
taunts by people. In fact, when I'd called him in to the house, he was a bit hesitant and
wondered as to whether he'd heard my invite right!
His ruminations were over a cup of tea and that, too, on my prodding.
My take.
Why do children forget their parents and their contribution towards their growth? Can they ever hope to lead a normal life when, deep within, the guilt of abandoning their parents would be gnawing away? Yes, elderly people might have their infirmities, require assistance in carrying out their normal chores but it's the children's duty to take care of all that and instill a feeling of security in them......and it's not a hard thing at all!
Tailpiece.
1. The frailty of human life is something that one can never predict!
2. Lekha had gone to the Mammiyoor Sivakshetram this morning for the 'Mrityunjaya homam' that was conducted for me.
He'd commenced his work after having the lunch provided by Lekha. As he was finishing his work, an elderly gentleman had pressed the doorbell. It was George, all of 78 years, who'd come to collect our subscriptions for the immensely popular fortnightly newspaper called the 'Guruvayur Vaartha'. Actually my friend, Narayanan has already hooked us on to its readership net by paying the initial subscription! What struck me most about George were the following:-
(a) He's a simple man who has no greed about making money.
(b) Otherwise how does a man get reduced to such state of 'wealthlessness' after having been
a councilor of a municipality?
(c) He has three daughters who're all married away at the right time but he has disowned them
because they've been of no help to him and his wife, in their state of poverty. He added that
it would have been better had they not had any children emphasising the fact that he and his
wife had gone through some bitter experiences, thanks to them. He was, however, sad that his
youngest daughter wasn't doing that well and had incurred debts.
(d) Taking his pitiable state into consideration, the NGO has given him work with a meagre pay.
With this income, coupled with a pension, which he expects to get shortly, he hopes that they
could live their lives without much difficulty.
(e) He seems to have accepted his present state with grace, though at times he's subjected to
taunts by people. In fact, when I'd called him in to the house, he was a bit hesitant and
wondered as to whether he'd heard my invite right!
His ruminations were over a cup of tea and that, too, on my prodding.
My take.
Why do children forget their parents and their contribution towards their growth? Can they ever hope to lead a normal life when, deep within, the guilt of abandoning their parents would be gnawing away? Yes, elderly people might have their infirmities, require assistance in carrying out their normal chores but it's the children's duty to take care of all that and instill a feeling of security in them......and it's not a hard thing at all!
Tailpiece.
1. The frailty of human life is something that one can never predict!
2. Lekha had gone to the Mammiyoor Sivakshetram this morning for the 'Mrityunjaya homam' that was conducted for me.
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