The Ageing You

pic courtesy:cuded

Raise your sons in a way that they continue to love and respect you. Kids learn from their parents; the way you treat your elders today, your tiny tots will treat you in a similar way. Unfortunately, life gives you back all that you sow today. Below, I have just spoken my heart out after observing the world around me.

This is the reality...the actual picture of life around us. In India, when children grow up, it is almost assured that they will grab the property and assets of parents as legal heir, irrespective of the fact whether they look after the aged parents. Unfortunately, there is loss of respect, love, and care for parents. I will give you an example . There is a widow lady (70+) in my neighborhood. Her hubby died long ago and she overcame extreme hardships to raise her two kids. Now that she is old enough to look after herself, her daughter-in-law has thrown her out of her home. Her son is speechless before his wife but keeps eyes on her pension and withdraws her monthly pension. I must say, the son is quite wealthy. The poor old lady does not even utter a word for the fear of losing her son. I mean I fail to understand what's happening here. Kids want a share of all tangibles but cannot give that intangible love and care in return when the old parents need them the most. This is not the story of just one old aunt, but millions of others here. Sigh!! At least parents deserve that love and care ...it's not about expectations

This seems to be the story of every other elderly Indian,
You grow old and your "dearest" family sees you as a burden.

Your kids, especially your sons, want to shed this burden,
Unfortunately, for the love of your kids, you continue to submit and struggle under their fiefdom.

Life looks like a burden when you grow old,
Your family becomes an enemy,
and there are many stories to be told.

When you get married,
People expect you to have kids.
You give birth to a daughter,
and all eyes look down upon you.
The expectations for a son,
Are always high.
When you actually have a son,
You feel "blessed" with a Kohinoor.

You raise your son like a prince of your kingdom.
But as you grow old, the son becomes mature,
Mature enough to bring a "princess" home.
Unfortunately, the princely kingdom starts to disintegrate.

The love seems getting lost,
Every relation seems to break.

You start to realize you are growing old,
and of course, are no longer of too much use.
Yes, the journey of your life is coming to an end,
You are going back to your childhood and kids see you as a burden.

The same little kids you had raised sacrificing your own desires,
The same kids have grown up now to weigh your "necessities" as an unnecessary expenditure.
Perhaps you had sacrificed your entire life for your kids,
At the end of your life's journey, they have no place for you even in their wildest dreams.

They won't hesitate to throw you out,
Out of the homes you had built for the entire family as a unit.
Unfortunately, this is the story of every other elderly Indian,
The story that brings tears to my eyes every now and then.

The hapless, the desolate, the aged wrinkled faces,
Send out a message to the community not to forget these trillion traces.

Kids often forget that the golden years will beckon them one day,
Their kids will follow in their footsteps and history shall repeat itself some day!
Pic courtesy: Cuded