Thursday, June 12, 2008
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE WOMANKIND--1
She has stuck in my mind, I will never be able to forget her! A personality so soft and gentle and yet so strong; such contradictory traits! I have met her just once and spent just an evening at her home!
Dilip and I were in Chennai for a wedding and took the opportunity of meeting up with a cousin, Shailu. In fact we were meeting her for the first time; had only telecons before. Shailu met us at the marriage hall and took us home; insisting that we spend the night at her house.
We rang the doorbell and she opened the door. She was Shailu's ma-in-law. Slightly hesitant at intruding her home with bag and baggage, we did not know what kind of reception was in store. But whatever fears we had were dispelled immediately.
She stood slim and fair, of average height; her dark bright eyes sparkling. An easy smile welcoming us with enthusiasm befitting long lost friends! "I'll make coffee while you take your bags up and have a wash" she announced. We did her bidding and chatted over hot filter coffee. Information was exchanged, relations established, some new relatives were introduced.
"Appa would like to meet them" she told Shailu and went inside. She emerged with her husband in a wheelchair. "He has muscular distrophy and has been ailing for the past few years" she told us and sat next to him. She introduced each one of us to him; he acknowledged with his eyes; lips trying to curve into a smile. We learnt more about him; he was Head of the Dept. of Zoology in a well known college. The disease struck him quite young and little by little he lost the use of his muscles. Doctors could do nothing as there is no cure. She saw him wither away before her eyes.
I could see his mind was alert and he was grasping everthing that was being said. He was even making an effort to talk, forming letters with his lips, making a whispering sound which she deciphered and spoke for him. He shook his head a millimeter in agreement. Her eyes flickering with tears she said something startling- "I don't mind his muscles failing, but God should not have taken away his speech. He was a teacher and talking was his life".
It was time for his dinner and she wheeled him back into his room. She fed him painstakingly and put him on his bed to rest. He wanted to hear some music and she switched on the radio.
She then served us dinner, eveything was prepared by her. "Oh I get up early, finish my bath, puja and am ready in time for him when he wakes up. Then after his bath and breakfast, I prepare the meals. Shailu takes care of the outdoor work."
"She does everything for him singlehandedly" said Shailu. We had hired a nurse, but she was not happy the way he handled appa; so she got rid of him."
Appa wanted to come back and join us; he wanted to talk to us about some of our relatives who were also known to him. She picked him up off the bed and sat him on the chair and brought him in. From where did she get the strength? Certainly not her muscles-she was so frail herself! It could only be her will power, her love! And then she said something that took my breath away; "I only pray to God to keep me in good health, so that I can take care of him". What a woman!
Dilip and I were in Chennai for a wedding and took the opportunity of meeting up with a cousin, Shailu. In fact we were meeting her for the first time; had only telecons before. Shailu met us at the marriage hall and took us home; insisting that we spend the night at her house.
We rang the doorbell and she opened the door. She was Shailu's ma-in-law. Slightly hesitant at intruding her home with bag and baggage, we did not know what kind of reception was in store. But whatever fears we had were dispelled immediately.
She stood slim and fair, of average height; her dark bright eyes sparkling. An easy smile welcoming us with enthusiasm befitting long lost friends! "I'll make coffee while you take your bags up and have a wash" she announced. We did her bidding and chatted over hot filter coffee. Information was exchanged, relations established, some new relatives were introduced.
"Appa would like to meet them" she told Shailu and went inside. She emerged with her husband in a wheelchair. "He has muscular distrophy and has been ailing for the past few years" she told us and sat next to him. She introduced each one of us to him; he acknowledged with his eyes; lips trying to curve into a smile. We learnt more about him; he was Head of the Dept. of Zoology in a well known college. The disease struck him quite young and little by little he lost the use of his muscles. Doctors could do nothing as there is no cure. She saw him wither away before her eyes.
I could see his mind was alert and he was grasping everthing that was being said. He was even making an effort to talk, forming letters with his lips, making a whispering sound which she deciphered and spoke for him. He shook his head a millimeter in agreement. Her eyes flickering with tears she said something startling- "I don't mind his muscles failing, but God should not have taken away his speech. He was a teacher and talking was his life".
It was time for his dinner and she wheeled him back into his room. She fed him painstakingly and put him on his bed to rest. He wanted to hear some music and she switched on the radio.
She then served us dinner, eveything was prepared by her. "Oh I get up early, finish my bath, puja and am ready in time for him when he wakes up. Then after his bath and breakfast, I prepare the meals. Shailu takes care of the outdoor work."
"She does everything for him singlehandedly" said Shailu. We had hired a nurse, but she was not happy the way he handled appa; so she got rid of him."
Appa wanted to come back and join us; he wanted to talk to us about some of our relatives who were also known to him. She picked him up off the bed and sat him on the chair and brought him in. From where did she get the strength? Certainly not her muscles-she was so frail herself! It could only be her will power, her love! And then she said something that took my breath away; "I only pray to God to keep me in good health, so that I can take care of him". What a woman!
# posted by rdbelite @ 3:48 AM 
