about roots

ABOUT ROOTS

Back home, I am not able to sleep. Pin drop silence scares me. I am guided to think more about India, my parents, old age and I am really feeling lost. These were the words of Priya, a cousin of mine who came for a short visit to India. Her main purpose was to visit her old parents and in-laws. Ten days of her stay gave her so much to think that she is not able to sleep back home!!

She spent her first two days in adjusting to time zone, climate, visiting malls, eating home food and all that. Her parents had planned a nice outing for her for the next three days. Fully air-conditioned taxi could not make her feel wow about the whole trip. On the way, she appreciated some developments and at some points she took a deep breath to gulp in status of some places that remained the same even after 20 years. She spent two more days watching her parents getting busy with daily rotinue.  She sees them as two fairly heathy old couple doing their part of the jobs at fixed timings.  There were visited by their friends and relatives, some with prior intimation and some without it. She saw that her parents had time for themselves, immediate neighbors and even for those who visited on a very short notice. There was a constant activity round the clock. She observed that there was less of formality and more of how you can help others also to be independent.

Her last destination was a two day visit to her in law’s place before she took off her to her home –USA. She was given a warm welcome by the maids who looked after the oldies. These oldies, over the years had come to terms that they cannot depend on their children for petty things. They were very comfortable with maids. In fact, they had more to share with them rather than the daughter-in-law who was a mere guest for a short time.

With all these mixed feelings, memories and a void in stomach, Priya boards the flight.  She has ample time to analyze her trip to India. She looks inwards for an answer. Lot of changes have taken place. Journey seems unending. She sees something like a motion picture. Life style of senior citizens keeps flashing in front of her screen.  She gets to see many more oldies whose children are abroad. It was like pages of book flipping on its own.

Senior citizens have adapted to changes. They have come to terms with ongoing system of working around them. Almost all of them have  stopped cribbing, they do not complain, do not have any demands and so on. With open arms they embraced many more things for survival. Their main focus is to remain happy and healthy for today. They want to be of some use to someone. Big smiles flash when someone gives them their time. All pains, loneliness and fear for future are forgotten.  All they require is the time and the precious time of their children. In return, they shower blessing and wish good for the entire human breed.  Thinking of roots is just natural for anybody. At a particular point of life, roots flash in a big way.  I feel that giving time to roots today is the bonus earned for tomorrow.

Mrs. S. L. swamy