In the dusk of our lives
Don’t we have a right to a happy life
So what if our hair have turned gray
Or our knees have given way
Our hearts are still young
And though weak
Our eyes are still gleam
With dreams sugary spun
Of cherishing some treasured moments
And making some more lively memories
Along with our granddaughters and sons
Today’s occasion was special and this occasion called for a special celebration. Celebrations and enjoyment that had taken a back seat in Kumud Ji’s life many years ago along with her smile being lost somewhere in her past as she kept on entangling in the daily humdrum of life.
About 40 years ago……….
Theirs was an arranged marriage. Satish Ji was the eldest son of his family and had two sisters and one brother, who were dependent on him at the time of his marriage as he had lost his father at a very young age.
With meager income resources and a big family to take care of, Kumud ji had to embrace responsibilities even before her honeymoon period ended, which she did happily.
There wasn’t a day in their life when she’d be heard saying that she was tired of meeting everyone’s expectations.
As time elapsed, Satish and Kumud Ji became parents first to a beautiful girl and then to a naughty boy. With the arrival of new family members, increased their expenses.
It is then that Kumud Ji thought of helping her husband by using her experience in stitching and knitting as a mode of earning.
She started knitting hand woven sweaters, jackets and shawls which to her luck became an instant hit amongst her neighbours.
Her day would usually start before sunrise. After finishing her household chores, she would sit down to knit.
Within a span of a few years, she became quite famous for her designs and the money that she earned was used to fund her brother in law’s studies and sister in law’s wedding along with her mother in law’s medical expenses.
On the other hand, Satish Ji too started working overtime and then used to take tuitions after office to earn extra money for their children’s schooling and would teach them himself after returning home late at night so as to avoid their tuition expenses.
Satish Ji’s brother settled in another city after his marriage and one of his sister’s settled abroad, while one stayed in the same city as his.
After their mother passed away, a property dispute turned their relations sour.
By now even Satish Ji’s kids were in middle school and their expenditures were increasing day by day. And was increasing the amount of hard work both husband and wife had to put in to assist their children realize their dreams.
In the course they forgot to live their life and years flew by. Their son went on to becoming an engineer and settled abroad and their daughter went on to becoming a surgeon and got married to an IAS officer.
A few years later…….
Their son Ritesh called them up. “Beta, everything okay. Calling up this late at night. Something important”, Satish Ji asked worriedly.
“Dad, I’m getting married. Just called to inform you and ask you to come and bless us”, he said. “What, what do you mean. You mean you’ve taken such a big decision of your life even without consulting us. Didn’t you even feel like talking to us before. After all we are your parents. We’ve done so much for you. Do you feel that we were incompetent in taking this decision. In any case
we would have supported you”, Satish Ji said with a broken heart.
“Oh, come Dad, now don’t over react”. This one statement broke their heart.
Satish Ji and Kumud Ji visited him to bless them. For a few days they stayed with them. Every moment making them realize that their son had changed. They could clearly see that he didn’t even care about the sacrifices they had done to help him reach where he was today. It broke Kumud Ji to the core and she lost her remaining smile too.
They returned to India. Satish Ji tried to do everything he could to cheer his wife. Now they didn’t have any responsibilities and much to do. That meant a lot of time to spend they wanted but the moments were gone.
A proud mother who used to lovingly boast about her children saying that they value their sacrifices had lost everything. She started remaining depressed.
Satish Ji took voluntary retirement to be with her and look after her.
He started her taking to morning walks. He would sit with her for hours in the garden. Take her out for trips. But the world was in no mood to spare them.
“Boodhi Ghodi Laal lagaam, some said” and “Oh, look at that shameless couple. No wonder why his married a foreigner”, some remarked.
To top it up, his brother would call him up saying, “jawaani ,me dil nahi bhara, jo budhape me ishq ladaakar khaandaan ki naak katwa rahe ho”(didn’t you have enough time to enjoy during youth that you are shamelessly showing of your love in this age).
To nail the coffin his daughter remarked, “Papa kuch to socho, apni nahi to meri izzat ka khyal karo. Maanti hoon Maa udaas hai magar duniya ke saamne ye tamasha karne se kya hog. Meri sasuraal me kya izzat reh jaayegi” (Dad,what do you intend to show by doing all this, if not about yours at least care about my respect. What will my In-laws think)
“Waah beta, we spent our entire life struggling and working hard to fulfill your desires. Your mother could have got a much better match then me, but she never complained about it and kept on sacrificing her wishes first for my family and then for you two and today when she needs us, all of you are bent upon teaching us morals. Your brother married a girl of another nationality even without informing us. We got you married to the man of your choice. We spent each and every penny we earned to help you fulfill your desires. Where was the world that time, when instead of enjoying our golden moments, we had soaked ourselves neck deep in hard work. That time nobody cared to say that you too have just one life Satish Bhaiya. Nobody cared to say, Bhabhi take rest for somedays and we’ll take of everything. That time I was the best Brother and father and she an unmatched homely daughter-in-law and mother. And today we are shameless just because we want to enjoy our share of happiness.”
Their mouths shut, they hid back in their cocoons but loneliness was engulfing Kumud Ji more and more day by day. The vacuum in her eyes couldn’t hide her emotions.
Once again years passed, this time at a turtle’s pace but no one cared.
Their only solace was Satish Ji’s sister and her son who were settled abroad. They made it point to visit the couple at regular intervals.
A few days back………
“Bhaiya this Diwali I’ll not be able to come. I’m really sorry”, said his sister that evening on phone.
“What happened Suman, you know how lonely your Bhabhi feels on Diwali night. I’ll not be able to handle. Please ………”, Satish Ji pleaded in a choked voice.
“Sorry Bhaiya, something really important, please understand”, answered she.
“Sure Suman, when we have adjusted with this life, we will surely adjust with this too. May God bless you dear. Hope to meet you soon”, Satish Ji kept the phone down.
“What happened. Is everything okay. What did Suman say, when will she reach India”, asked Kumud Ji.
She understood his silence, perhaps.
The next day………….
The doorbell rang. Satish Ji opened the door. A young man, may be about thirty years of age, a foreigner was standing there.
“You are Satish Ji, if I’m not wrong and she is Kumud Madam”, the man said. “Yes, but how do you know us”, Satish Ji inquisitively enquired.
“Well, I’ve seen your photographs. Suman Ji, your sister, her grandson, Neel is my student. He is pursuing a Ph.d in Relationships and value systems and their importance in life. Well, I must say he is a very bright student. He showed me your photographs”, the man explained.
For the first time in the past so many years Kumud eyes gleamed on hearing these words from a stranger.
After the initial introduction, the man came to the point.
“Well Satish Ji, there’s a conference that is to be held in London and the topic of discussion is relationships and their importance in life and Neel has been invited to speak on this topic. And he has been granted the permission to call two relatives to conference. Coincidently I was visiting India so he asked me to surprise you by giving you these tickets. And Diwali is round the corner and you surely won’t be able to return till then, that is the reason Suman Ji isn’t visiting India this Diwali”.
“Now it would be an honour to escort a couple like you who has sacrificed their youth not only for their children but for the entire family Sir”, he added.
As the words kept flowing out of his mouth, the smile on Kumud Ji’s lips started widening.
They reached London a day before the conference. As the topic was announced, discussions started with enthusiasm. Then that name was announced.
“Neel, may we have you on stage please”.
Neel took charge of the mic and started to pour in his views. From generalized to family centered and revolving around Satish Ji and Kumud Ji.
With those words, flowed down Kumud Ji’s emotions from her eyes. The moments she had been waiting for all her life. The happiness attached with acknowledgment of her sacrifices and her love, which had been snatched from her by her own blood was today acknowledged by Neel.
But a bigger surprise was still awaiting them. The conference ended with awarding the best talent. Neel was awarded for his thesis.
Neel in his thesis had focused on Satish Ji’s and Kumud Ji’s love and selfless sacrifices towards their family and to acknowledge them and their efforts a special recognition was announced by the panel for Satish Ji and Kumud Ji.
There they were, standing on stage, being cheered by such a big audience. Their eyes overflowed with tears of happiness as Neel was asked to present them a beautiful bouquet and memento as an acknowledgement to their sacrifice.
And to celebrate the moment, Satish Ji took out a chrysanthemum out of the bouquet and lovingly presented to his wife, who was smilingly wholeheartedly, after years perhaps as they were being congratulated and clicked by photographers.
Note from the author:::
Dear friends, isn’t this the story of every second family. The parents end up struggling all their life for the betterment of their kids and when kids grow up, instead of standing besides them and assisting them enjoy the dusk of their lives before they finally retire, they end up marking boundaries for them. They feel ashamed if their parents want to enjoy, they feel ashamed if they want to start their second innings and they feel ashamed for reasons umpteen. And sometimes they just don’t care………..
Though it’s the cycle of life and every parent does this selfless sacrifice but how far it is correct not to even acknowledge their efforts. Isn’t it the responsibility of children to help their parents fulfill their long-desired dreams to a happy life or for that matter just let them be them at least.
What say ????
The Momma Clan 
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