Therewas an old couple living in a small city. The husband was working with U P Government and had retired 25 years backand is now more than 85 years old. His wife is 75. The husband is sufferingfrom old age ailment and confined to bed. The wife has blood pressure, heartand cervical / spinal problems but very pro actively, very religiously servingher husband. She, with so much commitment and devotion, is very careful inlooking after her husband like a mother to her newly born baby. She cleans hisbed and the cloths many times a day as husband is sometime unable to go evenbathroom. But every thing is normal in spite of financial constraints as thehusbands is totally dependent on a monthly pension of Rs 6000/. Earlier thecouple had some rental income from their house as a part of ground floor andentire 1st floor was being let out. But with the marriage of younger son whoresides with them the ground floor was not being let out. The family of elderson also occupied the 1^st floor for his family. Thus there was norental income.

Thecouple has a large family tree of twosons and four daughters, all of them are married, and the description is givenbelow

The two sons:

1. The elder son is working on a good post in Govt department notorious for earning money by corrupt practices. His wife is a Government school teacher drawing a handsome salary. He is due for retirement some time in 2010. He is posted roughly 300 kms away from the parent city. He has a son and a daughter both is married. The daughter, as usually happens in India, resides with his husband elsewhere. His wife and son and daughter in law reside at 1^st floor in the house of old couple.
2. The younger son at his 45 is not well settled and is working in a private company as a Sales Executive and his job is basically a touring job. Often he is required to search new job when ever he failed to meet target fixed by the company for him or company is closed down or some time when he finds a little better job. His wife though highly qualified is working as a school teacher in a private school for a very low salary. He has son who is studying in metric. He is residing with the parents and supporting them with whatever he can do from his very limited resources. He is a psychological strength of the couple. He is the only one who is actually doing some thing for the parents.

The four daughters:

1. The eldest daughter, the widow at her 50 is working in a Govt. department. She got the job on a compassionate ground on her husband’s place. She has three sons and two daughters, all of them are either studying or doing nothing. Thus she is also not well settled. She is posted 200 kms away from her parental city (the city where old couple resides) and her family also reside in a nearby city for education of the children.
2. The second daughter in terms of seniority of age, is a Govt. school teacher. Her husband is also a Govt school teacher. Both are drawing handsome salaries. She has a son and a daughter. The son is married but the daughter is yet to be married. She resides along with his family in her own house near the parental house. She and her husband both is busy in their family though can extend a great help to the parent. Her husband has good means and enough time but enjoys his life in what ever way he can. He is very busy.
3. The third in number is a house wife. Her husband is a senior manager in a PSU and posted at very a distant location. She has two sons both are studying elsewhere in the country at distant places.
4. The last one in the hierarchy is also a house wife. Her husband is working in a private company and by and large they are happy with what they are. She is located at nearby city (to her parental city). She has a daughter and two sons. Daughter is married while both sons are studying.

The Dark Deepawali :

On the 17^th October2009, the day of DEEPAWALI, ek chiragbujh gaya.

Yes, youare right, one of them died. Who is this?

No,sorry. It is the wife who passed awayleaving the husband in such a critical juncture. The husband thinks “he (notthe she) should have died”. Any one whowill see this pity old person will agree. He is very old, can not move from thebed , can not recognize any one easily, can not remember any thing, can nottake a glass of water in his own, can not take medicine, can not get down tobathroom, can not even cry in case of need, he is a helpless creature. (Itis he who had a tall, strong and handsome body. He has served armed forces / paramilitary forces and police deptt. And was known for strong ness).

Now theturning point of the story is that after rituals of the mother, all the familymembers the sons, the daughters, the daughter in law (s) and son in law(s) areback to their usual business. The daughters and their husbands have returnedtheir respective places. The sons are also back on job. As a routine the big houseis deserted at 7.00 a.m. when all the family members are out of the house. Theschool going children and teachers (both daughter in laws, grand son and granddaughter in law) start returning from school after 2.00 pm. The old man remainsalone in old big house during this 7 hour period. He can not move..He can not sleep..Hecan not drink a drop of water. Nobodyhas time …time to take care of him,……. Time to serve him………. Time to seehim……..Time to talk to him and time to know whether he is alive?

How longwill he be alive? Every body makes guess……. his own children his own blood. Hespent all his life for all of them. He does not want to be alone and in fact heis afraid of being alone. He wants his children with him.. in front of hiseyes. He weeps silently with tears ..he cries silently with eyes on the gate.This 7 hour period is hundreds of births and deaths for him. …..but nobody has time ..time for him .

A large tree but no green leave.

This is a picture of our familysystem and growing nucleolus culture.

What is to be done? Let us think alone and share our views.

PLEASE SUGGEST AS TO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIVES OF THE OLD MAN TO SAVE HIS LIFE AND DIGNITY OF LIFE.