SOW AND REAP

SOW & REAP
He was a well mannered nice gentleman sitting in front of me talking about his father about 79
years old with care and affection. His mother about 69 years, bend over, very frail and looking older
was sitting next to him. He was Mr  Albert  working as an inspector in the forest department. His father had features of Parkinsonism and off late behavioral problems almost amounting to mild psychosis. His MRI showed subtle changes with a mild atrophy of the brain.
“I think he will be fine as he has a good son like you , who will take care of him well”. The old man
smiled but I could see the sadness creeping in his mother. Mr Albertu calmly spoke ,consoling his mother and led them out. He returned back a bit anxious and I could see he was disturbed. I wanted to get into whatever that was bothering him. He remained silent unable to verbalise it . “You can come or call me tomorrow “ I ventured, to allow him to buy sometime and to get over his inner stressful feelings. He nodded reluctantly and left. The next day he phoned up to say that he wanted to discuss with me about his parents problems .He arrived on time with his bank officer son. “ I want to care of my parents but my wife negates it “ he began . I looked at his son for confirmation. “Sir, my mothor feels that my father has done everything for his siblings and now wants him to take care of his family”. Mr Albert retorted “ Haven’t I done everything for all of you“.“You have , but my mother expects more” he replied. Finally they decided, as suggested by me,, to appeal to his wife's goodness once again to take care of the old parents, who also happened to be her close relative. Mr Albert and his son broached the subject with his wife who categorically told him that she would go to an old age home if he brings his parents for staying in their house . Finally his parents decided to stay in their small ancestral home with financial help from their elder son Mr Albert without the knowledge of his wife.
  After the demise of his father due to old age 5 years later , Albert wanted to take care of his mother which his wife refused on the ground that she can’t go out anywhere to her children’s house a little far off. When he volunteered to take care of his mother during her absence she scoffed him, taunting that she expected him to accompany her on such trips. Albert’ s appeal to allow his mother to stay with him as she was alone at nights also fell on deaf ears .His children’s request was also negated . He regretfully told me just a month back while discussing “if I am unable to take care of my parents in their old age God would forbid me from taking care of my wife”.I interposed to allay his guilt.“ Her children will take care of her “ .He smiled. “They will not do it as they have seen her delibrate arrogance of not taking care of their grandparents who had brought them up, as I used to go on frequent transfers with my wife accompanying me” .
 After a week when I was wishing hopefully that the problem would have been settled amicably, I
had a phone call from Albert’s brother that my friend had died in his sleep. It was a massive cardiac
arrest. He had the risk factors of both hypertension and diabetes Mellitus and intense stress. I was
shocked as he had  a prophesy earlier that he would not be able to take care of his wife.  He was like a elder brother to me and we shared our family problems together. I offered my condolences to the bereaved family especially his old mother.It was a great loss for her.
Almost a month later after the death rituals were over, his wife phoned me and lamented that her
children had ditched her . She requested me to talk to her elder son. I knew something was amiss. I
called him for my friend’s sake to address the problem, if any . “ I want to take care of my grandmother as per my father’s wish. My mother is refusing to come with me threatening to go to a old age home. My wife also insisted she can’t take care of both mother and grandmother as my  mother would fight often” I was in a dilemma when my mother sensing our delay left to the age old home . My grandmother is with me now. My mother will understand our relationships better once she feels neglected in the old age home. She did sow it ,let her reap and experience the difficulties of living alone . I would bring her back and take care of her after my old grand mother “ he finished . He was firm and decisive. “She could stay with her daughter” I suggested “ She is more adamant than me in this matter as she loves her grandparents and father “.                                                        I kept my council as his approach to the whole issue was logical and reasonable and wished that his mother would understand and keep quiet and stay amicably with him in future. She would insightful recognize that her blackmailing ruse will not work with her son and daughter. She could have done the same when my friend Albert  was alive and perhaps he would have lived longer with his family ,happily. Mr Albert should have insisted on it like his son. But he could not as he was depended on her for his daily needs and for the sake of his children and societal reasons.