Today when I was walking towards my bus...I realised that my usual seat was taken...I am nt a great fan of surprises...I do not know the right expression...and usually end up confusing the person who decided to do the honors...love throwin surprises to others...but that is another day another thought..anyway coming back to my seat...and the surprise...or rather a break...
Seeing an old couple on my seat.. brought my uneasiness down...i decided to not go back but sit right in front of them...the aunty...in a cotton white starched with a red border...2 bangles...1 ring on each hand...a very serene face...some white hair...mostly black...a thin gold chain...red bindi...uncle on the other hand...blue pants...check shirt...again a very peaceful deameanor...on a frightfully hot morning...
do not know why this memory got stored in my head...this old couple like a lot of old couples take out bus...to get down at RML hospital...for monthly check ups...for new tests...etc...each time a couple sittin all alone..with a cloth bag in hand...some money...some fruits may be...a bottle of water...no mobile phones...no sons and daughters...no family...nothin at all...just the 2 of them...hand in hand...holding each other...sleeping on each other's shoulders...helping each other to get down...and disappear...in the crowds...nameless faces...but still such a strong recall...~
Today is the Queen's birthday...in a different country...a different culture...the similiarity...only the age...an old lady..celebrates her birthday...with the country...her family rejoicing with her...and we...who have nothing to do with her...smile...and feel delighted! ofcourse for some of us a holiday cud be the reason..!
How many of us remember the last time we sat down and chatted with our moms...dads..grandpa...grandmom? Why is that no longer on our list of 'to-do"? How come the generation gap suddenly become the reason for everything...or is less time your reason? How as children do we allow our parents to age out so much before they want to? Looking at these old couples in buses/autos...i am surprised..or shud i say i shudder...to think of times when i have to do this...to my parents...or my mother in law for that matter...wud it be that tough to take out time for my people...to travel with them when they need to see a doc...or when they want to visit a dying relative...or may be when they just want to sit out in the lawns and see the sunset...wud it be that diffcult?
How do we just drift away? And not realise that old age needs the same love and care that was bestowed when a kid is born..how do we just part ways n blame others...for our loved ones? How do we not include them in our lives when we ourselves lived coz of them...
The next time I see an old couple...I will shed these tears again... n pray that god gives me the strength..!
