Her Oldage her curse

 Ma, wake up! Its time to wake up ma!” was the kind attempt of the son. She opened her eyes to see her devoted son standing next to her bed and politely insisting to freshen up. “Ma, come on! let me help you. Take my hand and let me help you stand.” She got up but with an outcry of pain.

After being assisted she sat on the chair where she has been sitting for ages. Every morning and after breakfast she likes sitting on that particular seat facing the entrance, in front of the television which she hardly sees, and right next to the phone. Everything is at arms length from her. She has raised her son like an angel, full of family values and he has provided her with everything she has wanted.

After her son has gone to work, she while sitting on her seat can’t help but think continuously about her past/future. “Oh God, time has flown literally like a bullet. The last time I remember I was sitting with my husband, hand in hand, going to listen to a gramophone. It was really astonishing and fascinating to be one of the lucky people to be entertained with the gramophone. We used to get so amazed to hear music on it. On the contrary, the devices being invented these days are just beyond me. I think if I leave the television on for a long time it will get spoilt or maybe blow up or something. What is this computer and mobile phone. Its beyond my logic how they work. I have two wonderful kids and with the grace of God, they are happily married and have children of their own.” She has always had a soft corner and felt closer to her daughter and grandchildren. “I think I’d call her up and ask how they are doing, especially the youngest young. Oh my, how am I going to use the phone? My body really hurts. I have become really old. I have only a few days left in this world. I know I am causing everyone trouble; I shouldn’t be doing such things. My husband; he was an angel. I miss him a lot. I think my room door is open. Jane (the youngest grandchild from her daughter) has her paper on the Friday. I am sure she has to study hard for it. She truly is my favourite. I wonder what is my daughter-in-law doing this very minute? She is going to send so much to eat and I won’t be able to finish it. I still have so much kept in the fridge. I think the food my daughter-in-law sends me, I’ll save it for Jane. When will my son come home? He is always late!”

Its 6pm and her son comes home tired from work. He wants to relax and watch some comedy shows but instead has to do house chores first. After some time she says to her son, “I am hungry and take me to the kitchen to eat.” She has been whining about her body ache the whole day. She mentions that she can do everything herself, and still neither does she prefer any help from anyone nor likes to accept help from others, and she can’t walk on her own. Her son keeps his cool and remembers the time when he was crying in his cradle, it was his ma who attended to him. But in return she starts shouting at him telling him how incompetent he is and leaving him frustrated and helpless since he knows her mother has only a few more months to live, and everyone has left her but him.