"They are coming to stay with us", my husband declared one day. His aged dad and mom.
Dad was suddenly diagnosed with a rare illness,causing him severe difficulty in swallowing. Mom,arthritic, was in bad shape too.
Fiercely independent, not wanting to trouble us, they resisted vehemently. But lost eventually.
So they arrived a couple of days ago, light baggage in hand. Mom was apprehensive how I would cope. I reassured them not to worry.
Settling down in the spare bedroom, they soon got immersed in their daily routine. Morning prayers, dad's medicine and he would soon be snoring away.
Mom got into the kitchen shortly after, preparing his oats, then mashing it along with the big, ripe, kerala banana she just microwaved.
She carefully laid out the pureed stuff on the table mat, alongside a glass of warm milk. He would then arrive. And proceed to eat. A voracious eater earlier, it was tragic watching him take a whole hour trying to just water the stuff down his throat.
Done. Back to doze again.
My morning chores ended, I rushed to Writerbabu. After resting briefly, she'd be back in the kitchen, preparing ingredients for my afternoon cooking. It helped me greatly, for I could proceed with ease and finish off my day's work well in time for lunch.
4:30pm -sharp-was pureed banana and an apple with tea and biscuits for dad.
Then after an early dinner, they both retired for the night.
Woman of few words, she's given to prayer. I see her,head covered, any instant of the day. Or busy reading God's word as much as she can.No T.V for her. There is this old fashioned purity about them which we so miss in our generation today.
Days passed. Dad was getting better. His tiredness vanished. He could eat with more ease now.
"Stop,it", cried mom, when he reached for the masala chicken and started spooning a few teaspoons into his bland fare.
Their conversation at the table was comical. Mom said God had punished him for eating too much the past few years.
Mom had to literally shout in his ears as he forgot to bring his hearing aid along. When someone commented that he couldn't hear mom as well as before, he smiled gleefully and replied, "Well,I just hear what I want, discarding the rest."
Two weeks passed. We knew he was getting back to his normal self again. His speech was less slurred now.
Last evening,they had their Chai at the table before leaving.
Hubby teased dad about how he walked in the hospital the day before,on a visit to the doctor. He mimicked dad's long strides, hands swaying vigorously at his sides. Not to be out done, dad got up to show he could do better, in the process spilling his tea all over the newspaper and spreading to the tablecloth around it.
"It's your fault", he admonished hubby, "you started it".
We roared with laughter.
The car soon arrived. Dad mentioned I had worked hard. "It's a pleasure", I replied.
I truly meant it.
I would miss their peaceful company, the simplicity of their ways, topped with concern about each one of us.
Also Dad's toothless grin and quick, wry humor.
I thank the almighty that he gave me the privilege of being in this beautiful family.
And their priceless gift of their oldest son to me.
