On Monday evening, for my usual walk I was out. There I came across two interesting aspects of life and age. One instance of youth which is helpless an the other of the aged where in both are helpless at the hands of age.
While walking, amidst the chaos of the traffic, there was an old lady on the road, which a dirty white saree and hazed spectacles. At first glance, I thought she was a beggar whith a ragged bag and old plastic bottle and a box into it. She was blabbering something which I could barely understand. Then there stopped by a Rickshawala, a middle aged man, with some of his hair growing grey asked the lady" Maaji, su thayu che"( what happend old lady?) The lady replied "chakkar ave che."( I am fainting). The old man grabbed her a cup of tea from the road side tea stall. I was being a mere spectator, the old woman offered that rickshaw guy half of her tea, but the guy refused.The guy left and I was just observing the old woman.
At this point of time seeing her helpless the corners of my eyes were already wet, I gathered myself andiasked her, "tame khadu kai?"( did you eat anything?), she replied ,"ha, puri" ( I had some puri). I was relieved a bit. Then she started narrating her story to me, she told me she had come to see her elder daughter who lives near by who was unwell. she told me that her husband passed away long back and now she is living alone. I asked where did she live, she said at BUS DEPOT. She told me that she sits nearby the temple and whatever people put in her bowl makes a living for her.
I inquired who takes her care? She replied with a smiling face " uparwalo" ( GOD). She told me she had three sons, they all died before they were 10 years old, and later her husband too passed away, she some how managed to survive with two girls and got them married. Now she lives alone at the bus depot and when required visits her daughters.
Her approach towards life was very different, she had not aim, but just a wait till her breathe lasts, no legacy to leave behind and no wills to be made, though with the coming of age she was getting more weak which was evident.The bus arrived for which she was waiting, I kept something in her palm and helped her to board the bus.
On the same road side, there was this young chap of about twenty years who along with me was observing the old lady,he was having a pack of cigarette, since I noticed him he had already had 4 puffs gone and he was heading for this fifth one and lighting it up in style. I was so tempted to ask him to stop from smoking but I feared to be humilated, I avoided and I just kept watching.He eventually finished his fifth cigarette and then gave me "a dare not talk to me "look. I didnt even dared and I walked off the scene.
Out of this two incidents, I could figure out a common factor "AGE". The helplessness of the Age. The old woman was fragile and incompetent to live her life where as the young guy with all his senses in places was still leading a life of misery. I could somehow help the old woman by talking to her and helping her board the bus, but not the young man. His age was more helpless than that of the old woman. The starking difference of the age is not only a physical challenge but also pshycological. The old woman does signify the apathy of life where as the young guy shows nothing but ignorance.
While walking, amidst the chaos of the traffic, there was an old lady on the road, which a dirty white saree and hazed spectacles. At first glance, I thought she was a beggar whith a ragged bag and old plastic bottle and a box into it. She was blabbering something which I could barely understand. Then there stopped by a Rickshawala, a middle aged man, with some of his hair growing grey asked the lady" Maaji, su thayu che"( what happend old lady?) The lady replied "chakkar ave che."( I am fainting). The old man grabbed her a cup of tea from the road side tea stall. I was being a mere spectator, the old woman offered that rickshaw guy half of her tea, but the guy refused.The guy left and I was just observing the old woman.
At this point of time seeing her helpless the corners of my eyes were already wet, I gathered myself andiasked her, "tame khadu kai?"( did you eat anything?), she replied ,"ha, puri" ( I had some puri). I was relieved a bit. Then she started narrating her story to me, she told me she had come to see her elder daughter who lives near by who was unwell. she told me that her husband passed away long back and now she is living alone. I asked where did she live, she said at BUS DEPOT. She told me that she sits nearby the temple and whatever people put in her bowl makes a living for her.
I inquired who takes her care? She replied with a smiling face " uparwalo" ( GOD). She told me she had three sons, they all died before they were 10 years old, and later her husband too passed away, she some how managed to survive with two girls and got them married. Now she lives alone at the bus depot and when required visits her daughters.
Her approach towards life was very different, she had not aim, but just a wait till her breathe lasts, no legacy to leave behind and no wills to be made, though with the coming of age she was getting more weak which was evident.The bus arrived for which she was waiting, I kept something in her palm and helped her to board the bus.
On the same road side, there was this young chap of about twenty years who along with me was observing the old lady,he was having a pack of cigarette, since I noticed him he had already had 4 puffs gone and he was heading for this fifth one and lighting it up in style. I was so tempted to ask him to stop from smoking but I feared to be humilated, I avoided and I just kept watching.He eventually finished his fifth cigarette and then gave me "a dare not talk to me "look. I didnt even dared and I walked off the scene.
Out of this two incidents, I could figure out a common factor "AGE". The helplessness of the Age. The old woman was fragile and incompetent to live her life where as the young guy with all his senses in places was still leading a life of misery. I could somehow help the old woman by talking to her and helping her board the bus, but not the young man. His age was more helpless than that of the old woman. The starking difference of the age is not only a physical challenge but also pshycological. The old woman does signify the apathy of life where as the young guy shows nothing but ignorance.
No comments:
Post a Comment