Amardeep, aged 75, was having a cup of tea with his wife while talking about the nostalgia of their marriage, as today was their wedding anniversary. They were reminiscing about the 1960s when they had a simple high tea after their wedding rituals at Gurudwara Sahib. During those days, people mostly served high tea consisting of pakoras, chole bathure, gulab jamun (Indian snacks), and coffee. They were both discussing and looking at a black and white photo album. As soon as they finished the album, they saw another set of albums documenting their sons' first birthdays.
After going through both albums, they decided to order lunch from outside to celebrate the occasion. They placed an order and started discussing the changes that had occurred in their lives over the past 40 to 50 years. They remembered how happy they were when their first son was born and, four years later, when their second son arrived by God's grace. They talked about the joy their family members and relatives felt, as they believed their lives were as secure as Amardeep's government bank job.
In the last four to five decades, they both struggled a lot, going from a rented house to owning 3-4 properties. They worked hard to educate their children, support them through college, and arrange their marriages. Throughout these decades, they never imagined they would have to struggle alone at this age, as both their sons were now well-settled and living their own lives. The elder son worked in IT, while the younger one was an accountant. Although they fulfilled their duty by calling and wishing them a happy anniversary, Amardeep asked his wife, "Don't you think we have struggled so much to reach a point where we are just a phone number to our sons? Both daughter-in-laws don't want us to live with them in a home we invested so many years in. What returns are we getting? Amardeep expressed himself using typical banker language."
Paramjeet, his wife, replied, "What else can we do? We want to see them happy. If they are happy with this arrangement, let it be." Her response reflected a typical mother's love. Amardeep agreed but questioned, "Don't you think if they cannot have us live with them, they could at least ask if we need any household help? Or they could visit us once in a fortnight or a month. Personally, I feel like I have wasted my life raising two kids only to give them away to someone else so they can do the same."
Paramjeet, with a smile on her face, said, "Let it be." Amardeep replied, "Yes, all the responsibilities are for parents. Children don't have any responsibilities or moral duties." At that moment, the doorbell rang. Paramjeet said, "Go, the food delivery guy must be there." Amardeep went to open the door, and to his surprise, both his sons and daughter-in-laws were standing there with flower bouquets and a cake.
They all came inside, and upon seeing them, Paramjeet started crying. They celebrated together, had lunch, and then gifted new dresses to the parents. The children revealed that they had planned a surprise party at a 5-star hotel for them the next morning. They all left for their respective homes.
As the story ends, we all feel happy. I purposely gave it a happy ending to make everyone feel good. However, the true story could have ended just before the doorbell rang. If you are one of those who are taking care of your parents, a big salute to you. But if you are among those who cannot, perhaps due to your job, your ambition, or a toxic partner, regardless of gender, do call your parents daily, if possible twice or thrice. If you can manage to provide a good school for your kids, at least hire a good maid for them. Set an example for your kids that taking care of parents in old age is as important as anything else in life.
