It$ ElEctriC!!

Well it was a very nice day. Mom had warned me not to run much in my basketball practice because we had to go out. 4years back mom had joined this mandal (madhur milan). She goes to the house of the head of the mandal (in my article she wil be referred as ‘aunty’) every tuesday for bhajans. It makes her feel good. She is a writer so she is quite famous over there. They were taking us to an OLD AGE HOUSE. It is built by aunty’s  husband. They had bought the land and werent able to decide what excatly it can be used for. They decided to open an OLD AGE house over there. An excellent thought SHOULD SAY!
I came home from my practice. I was tired. Legs wanted rest,and eyes wanted to see dreams. But who was going to sleep?  I dint take rest. I sat on the PC and chatted. Well that was the worst thing I could do that time. Later it was time to leave. We reached where the buses were parked.I saw all the ladies standing and discussing something from a distance. I and mom were dressed in the most comfortable clothes. We were supposed to leave by 12 but we left at 12:45/50. I was enjoying their talks , Jokes and they started playing antakshari. LOL. AND THERE YOU GO… I had to hear those old songs for half an hour in an hour trip. That included Bhajans,oldies etc. Mom was standing for half the journey with a friend of hers as she was 1 of the volunteers.

The bus halted but not where we had to go. It was to the bungalow of aunty. She had told all the females that there was a surprise for all of them and it was this. It was a beautiful bungalow. No furniture made it looked bigger from inside. There were 3 floors and a terrace. The hall was huge. And everyone sat down for bhajans. It lasted for more than 20mins. It finally ended and we went to the buses again. There were 2 buses and 5cars.
We reached the place we had planed to go. ‘Bhanumati Mukundrai Mehta VishramDham’ was the name of that place. We settled in a huge hall on the chairs. There were some games kept. We were provided with a paper. The things written in it were in gujarati. It was tough to read and write the answers. And then we had to write different names of lord Krishna. THAT was tough too. I wrote the answers in ENglish and I knew all were wrong! The head of the mandal showed her love by giving a minitue extra. The games were done. One of my mom’s friends dressed like a devil, suddenly entered the hall. Damn that scared me for the 1st time and then she started laughing like a devil “HA HA HA HA HA” and others who could laugh like that were called. So many old people present over there took part. And they were given gifts. LAter after the games aunty started her bhajans. Everyone gathered around her. I was clicking pictures as mom had ordered.

I was hungry and we ate vada pav. And aunty announced that there is a car going to ghatkopar if anyone wants to go. I left. I was tired and couldnt stand. The car belonged to mom’s friend and I left with her. I reached home,changed and was directly on bed.  I woke up at 9pm when mom came back home.
She told us what they saw after I left. They visited every room of the ashram and talked to the people staying over there.
The rooms over there were beautiful. Most of them had terrace. The ashram being away from the city, the atmosphere over there was nice and peaceful.
The 1st room they visited was of a man who informed them that if we need extra milk or tea they had to pay Rs.5 extra. There was a female with mom in the same room. She gave that man Rs.50. He smiled and got up. He removed a box from his closet and opened it. And showed 2bundles of 100Rs notes. He asked “do u want anything?” He came back to his bed and sat. He explained,”We are not short of money, we are short of people to talk to. My 2 sons are in USA and married over there, my wife is no more. There is no one for me over here and thats the reason I stay here because I cant cook for myself alone and remind myself again and again that i am alone” MOM was shocked!
The other room was also a terrace flat type. The man staying in that room told them his story that his sons are in USA and his daughter is married in India. he had a hearing problem. He was asked by someone over there whether his sons helped or not. He said that both the sons send Rs. 25,000 EACH in my daughetr’s account and the money doesnt reach in my hands. My daughter is killing me. “My sons came to visit me once”.He said “they saw that I dint have a hearing machine done yet. They told me to come along with them and get one done then and there. But unfortunately my health took a bad shape and I was admited to the hospital. They gave my daughetr Rs. 10,000 and told her to get it done, but she took the 10,000 and left.
NOW THAT WAS SICK!
People over there dint have people to speak to and thats why they were here.
There was a 70year old man with his 90year old mom stayin in the next room. When asked they the son said,”When I lost my dad my sons told they cant take care of my mom any more. She is a trouble to them. Hearing that the son left the house on the spot and stays here with his mom from the very day. The sons are told not to come and meet them or show their faces. And it goes on….
One female said that her son and daughter are working in UK  . She came here as she dint have anyone now. She has mostly everything in her room a cell phone too. She calls the children when she feels like talking but she has refused her children to call her up!
Very few had financial problems and still were happy.

This is what happens. So many people said that their children dont live in India. I dont think our parents teach THIS. It hurts! I will surely go to study if i get a chance but will promise to return back.