Old Age!!!

In the last two weeks, I spent time with my maternal grandmother
(Naani). I accompanied her to my sister's place. My sister shares a
very good bond with my Nanijee, unlike me. I am closer to my parents
and not much into mingling with relatives. It was always my sisters who
used to stay at my nanijee's place, whereas I would spend a day at most. I
still remember, I started crying in midnight once when I stayed at my
nanijee's place and they had to take me back home in the middle of the night.

Lean, short, wrinkle face and mostly clad in white saree is a
portrait of my nanijee. A woman who has seen great days and still
lives in it .A family of six children, along with in laws had always
kept my nani busy throughout her life. Even after everyone was married,
my nanijee had nana, around whom her life revolved. The house that was
quite huge with a big lawn was my nani's world. But after nanajee's
death, things started changing she kept herself still busy in the
house. Things went on smooth till she had energy but now with time her
health is declining …but the old beliefs are still there. She does not have
the energy to maintain the house on her own now. Her sons my maternal
uncles are so busy with their families that they hardly get time to
come and see the old woman. Sometimes they come for the festivals but
most of the time they don't. A weekly phone call is what they care
about their mother. At times I feel that they are just waiting for her
to die and sell the property. A truth, that even nani knows some where
deep in her heart. Keeping with her old belief she hesitates to stay
with her daughters but now she has to. Not many choices and places left to
spend her time so she agreed to go with me to my sister's place. I did
enjoy my time with her but there were things that irritated me at
times like her three hours long morning and evening puja, food
restrictions etc. Above all this I realized a fact and a part of me was somewhere scared with this realization. Is this what is going to happen with me after 30-40 years? All that nanijee is going through is actually our future cause we all are going to get old one day.

In our youth when we are full of energy working towards our future we
plan about our car, house, things we want to do, everything .The only
thing we forget to plan is the real future "old age" which actually no
one can plan. Did my Nani in her younger days, with so many people around
ever think that in her last days she will have to keep on
moving from one child's house to other? How can we plan about the
diabetes that we may have, hearing problem, the medicine kit and
above all the loneliness. How does it feel when you don't
have anything to look forward to and you are like just waiting to embrace death. How are we supposed to plan what our kids are going to do with us in future? Will we be able to cope up with the coming generations? Will our savings suffice till we die? Many such harsh realities that one could not think about when you are young.

Yes, but definitely we can always give a try to be more considerate
not only towards our parents and grandparents but many such old people
who are adjusting to survival