On Board

It was a cloudy rainy evening, on a weekend, we stepped out for dinner, when we reached the main road, our car came to a halt seeing a red signal, R and N were having a causal talk and I was listening to my favourite number watching sky, suddenly a car just passed by, and my eyes couldn't resist to see the sticker which was sticked on back side of the car. As the trafficator turned green, we started driving, and that car was in front of ours, as I observed the car was going slowly without any hurry and I could see there were 3-4 aged adults in that car. And the car was chauffeured by a young boy in his mid 20's who was happily talking to them. Since the road was not that crowded by traffic, our car just shoots ahead by their car. And I was keen to know who were stationed inside the car upon seeing the sticker behind there rare seat. There were 3 aged people smiling and talking with jubilant smile who were enjoying the ride. Probably that young boy might be their grandson or some relative. I have seen stickers like - "Baby on Board “or " Prince or Princess on board" But this was so different, it was a different sticker - " Adults on board". And till now I have never come across such stickers. And it just hit me that hardest part of growing up is realizing your parents are growing old, which we never wanted to believe, but this is the harsh reality. I was very happy to see, that good people still exist, who are taking care of their old ones so affectionately. Hardly we get to see this type of relation these days. 

In the mid of my thoughts, I got a nudge from R, Mumma get down we reached restaurant. Since it was Guru Purnima, we decided to have a Satvik dinner. This restaurant serves the most delicious Satvik vegetarian food on their menu - say from North Indian to Italian to Chinese, Sizzlers and starters which are cooked in a Satvik way, without using garlic and onion. Entire restaurant gives you a holistic atmosphere, where one can see the verses from Bhagavad Gita on walls beautifully written with amazing paintings. And yes, we being a pure vegetarian, we relish their yummy food. After having a hearty meal, we returned back home. But this thought is not leaving me since a day that, how much time I am able to spend with my parents. Caring for aged old seniors and parents are the significant responsibility that requires love, patience and compassion. How I see at times my mom suddenly tells me to increase the volume of television while watching her favourite TV show, or my dad ask me same things repeatedly, that immediately hits me that yes, it is a natural thing. It is a process which bring us back from where we started. A 3 to 4-year baby repeatedly asking for things which he/she don’t understand, or when a one-year-old baby who just started walking who falls again and again. The same happens with our aged parents. They find difficulty while walking, they need a balance or a supporting hand. It is a privilege to repay their love and sacrifices. Those who walked before us have given so much and made possible the life we all enjoy.

Now adays there are new service providers who are providing human assistance for aged parents of those, whose children’s stay in different cities or staying abroad. They are trained educated caretaker who assist aged people in giving them emotional and moral support. And to help them in assistance, for instances taking them to hospital, temple or spend some happy quality time. The most obvious similarity between old people and babies or kids is that they need the care and intervention of others. Old age has been viewed as a time when older people returned to child-like behaviour. To some scholars, this return was viewed as completing the cycle of life, as older people become to regress to an earlier state of mind and being and they became dependent on others for care, similar to child. Staying in a city where my parents live is a blessing in disguise. We may never be able to thank our parents enough for all they have done. Our indebtedness to our parents is so immense that it is not possible to repay it fully in any lifetime. The least we can do is to treat them with respect, love and gratitude, so that there may not come a time, where they need to choose an old age home or can be handled by any service providers. 

"A parent's love is whole no matter how many times divided”. To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors. Remain patient and give all your respect to our beloved parents and seniors, as they have earned their dignity through their lifetime.....