Aging Gracefully

Gopal heaved a huge sigh of relief. His wife Lakhi was also relaxed and felt satisfied. Their only son Ayan had cracked the campus interview and the company would be paying him a seven-figure yearly salary and perquisites with other numerous benefits. The total list of benefits went on and on.

It was a time to feel relieved and satisfied for both Lakhi and Gopal. After all, Ayan was their only child and both the couple had worked tirelessly year on year to give their son a huge prop from where he could springboard higher in his life. So Ayan had not let them down. Both Gopal and Lakhi had invested their hard labour to earn whatever pittance they earned to invest all their life savings in the investment called Ayan. Even they had borrowed money from the market at a back-breaking interest rate to help Ayan continue with his higher studies. Now it was payback time for Ayan and Gopal had no doubt that Ayan would help clear all their dues in the market.

But Ayan was not interested in taking the lucrative paying job. He wanted to do his doctoral studies at a foreign university. As this would be paying a stipend so there would be no cost on Ayan or his father Gopal.

So Ayan secured admission to an ivy league college and began preparing for his outward journey. Again it was the job of Gopal to make arrangements for the finances of the journey.

After Ayan left for the foreign shores, Gopal was left behind with a measly paying job and a humongous debt. Ayan had before leaving given assurance to his parents that in a few months after attaining stability, he would help his father to pay off all his debt.

But now more than two years have passed and Ayan has failed to keep his promise. Before leaving his native place, Ayan would frequently promise that he would always ensure that his parents didn't have to work anymore. He would tell his parents that he would see to it that his parents got the chance to age gracefully and not have to run after money.

But it all seemed a huge illusion. The offspring had flown out of the nest for greener pastures leaving behind a useless set of ageing parents.

Ageing gracefully was just a piped dream. Even if life became smooth and turbulent free it was doubtful that Gopal and their family would accept it. Because they had become so used to struggle and getting a raw deal from life at every stage that they could not think of anything better.

Then one day, Ayan returned home. Gopal and Lakhi were overjoyed thinking their troubles were now over. But who knew that what was in store for the ever miserable parents. Ayan had returned home due to him suffering from a terminal disease. He had just a few days to live. Due to his medical condition, Ayan had committed himself to a large debt. He had been dismissed from his job as there was no future for him.

Ayan passed away resting his head on his mother's lap. Then began the tormentuous life of Gopal and Lakhi which gave 'ageing gracefully' a kick in the butt.

Their only home built with so much pain and sweat was sold off to pay the debtors. Unable to afford a rented home, they came down with their meagre belongings onto the pavement as their new shelter.

Gopal had never known what 'ageing gracefully' truly meant.