OLD AND ORPHANED
The sudden onset of rains brings
elation even to the most dejected of souls. The smell of the recent moist wet
sand, the birds chirping in the trees, the skies display an aura of colors
ahead of twilight. There is a sudden slowing down of traffic, exasperation to
many, but few cherish the sprinkles of the shower on their car windscreen and
helmet visors, children love getting drenched in the rains an excuse to quit
the next days’ school schedule. You can hear her whistle whilst the trees’
gentle sway to the wind’s soothing music. You can smell the aromas of hot vadas
and samosas while all the kids are playing indoors. Nobody except for a few
wandering dogs are on the street searching for shelter, trying to flee the
rains. Suddenly in the middle of the road, you see something that makes your
heart feel heavy, your eyes will tear up no matter what vehicle you drive, or,
status you hold. It was a woman, scantily clad and is a victim of a mental
disability.
Old
age in itself is soon becoming a malady not to oneself but to others it seems.
Why do people have a preference to bend for wealth rather than civilized values
or societal causes? Why is there a steady number in increasing orphaned elderly
women principally in the south? , and I am speaking of a particular place in
Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli to begin with, visualize reckoning the census of
Tamil Nadu as a whole. As we are aware of the risks of turning mature, older people
have a plethora to deal with memory loss-Dementia, partially or wholly, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Coronary
related problems, Osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Kidney problems,
Prostate cancers, Stroke, Obesity,
Tuberculosis, Eye Problems , Fall related injury due to old age, Skin
infections to name a few.
The place that I reside in comprise
of five intersectional streets. The roads are well laid, and vehicles like
school buses, school vans, tempos, jeeps and bikes pass all the way through the
streets sweeping away any leaves that might fall upon the roads as if it never
existed. The destitute woman sits all day whether scorching sun or thundering
showers, she sits unalarmed, unaffected, with no sense or feeling. People who
pass by sometimes, throw her leftovers owing to her pity. She has no want or
desire for food, she neither begs nor responds to anyone. She just eats what is
lying next to her.
One
Friday evening during the heavy monsoon rains, I heard that the woman had been
sitting for hours in the lashing rain. The electricity had gone out and I
decided to do what I thought was the right thing. I took my umbrella and went
looking for her in the usual place she sits so that I could offer her shelter
in my house. To my dismay, she went missing. I came back disheartened hoping
she found shelter elsewhere.
After a week or
so she again appeared in her usual place doing her usual thing. So this time I wanted
to help her the right way so I decided
to write this article appealing to the masses, the self help group,
non-governmental organizations, charities and destitute women care centers to
help this poor soul who has been orphaned , abandoned, and let to die in the
streets.
