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22-02-2017 TODAY'S MESSAGE FROM TRICHY PRASANNAN
The Subversion of India
Kindly note the year
Treating Your Old Parents: A Lifetime Lesson.
An old couple, staying in a small South Indian town, came to visit their son in Mumbai. Son, in early thirties, is a Successful Executive in a multinational, is living with his wife.
The old couple, having spent most of their life in that small town, do not understand a word of Hindi or English, forget Marathi. But young couple doesn't care. Son only remembers how much hardships his parents have undergone educating him. Inspite of all the hardships, they encouraged and helped him to reach where he was. He must give the best of time to his parents, showing them around Mumbai. Young couple is very excited about their rare visit. On working days, his wife takes them around to some pace but in the evening, both take them somewhere for enjoyment and entertainment. And yes, occasionally, son also enjoys taking his father to a bar in the evening hours since he knows his father likes to have an occasional drink.
Today son says 'Let's go to a star hotel bar tonight'. It was a beautiful evening. Talking and joking about everything under the sun and enjoying every beautiful moment, son's only concern was to give best of time to his father. After a few drinks, father becomes quite high pitched which is not very unusual in bars. Son likes nothing better than entertaining his father with drinks and special eats he knew his father would love to have.
When they got up to leave, old man slipped and stumbled down. Luckily, it was not serious and son very carefully lifted him up, makes him sit on the chair and with great concern asked his father, how was he feeling. Father was ok but feeling embarassed at the scene created by him under the influence of liquor but son was could'nt care less. Gently, with a smile, he helped his father get back on his feet. Instead of feeling irritated or angry, his only concern was safety of his father. Laughing, they both prepared to leave the bar in a very excited and relaxed mood.
As they reached near the door of the bar, someone called from behind, "Hey, you have left something behind". Little confused and perplexed, they saw a middle aged man who saw all that happened along with everyone else in the bar, said "You left a great lesson for sons of this world, how to treat their father in his old age".
Few days afterwards, at a friend's place, they both described this event and made everybody laugh. "Weren't you embarrassed?" someone asked the son. "Oh, come on now" replied the son, "He is my father. He talks in his native language, prefers to wear a dhoti even to a posh hotel, takes chana from the bar to eat later, does whatever he feels like.... So what? Why should I feel embarrassed with his nature and habits? Nobody has a right to stop him from doing whatever he feels comfortable with, as long as it is not harmful to others." The son doesn't care what the staff in the hotel or others thought about that incident. He says "they should be concerned only with their bills and tips. I am concerned about my father's happiness." The wife too agrees with the husband. She feels there are enough good qualities in her father- in- law for them to feel proud of. And they can never repay enough what he has done for his son as a student.
The above incident is not mentioned just to show the love and devotion of a son for his father. More than love, it is a matter of understanding and a healthy respect for the other person's lifestyle. He says "A seventy plus old man doesn't want to change his lifestyle now. He likes the way he eats or dresses or talks. In his eyes, there is nothing wrong with the old ways of living. Now at his age, why should he be forced to learn to eat with a fork and knife, if he doesn't want to? I will feel bad if he is doing something morally wrong or indulging in some harmful activities. But otherwise it is fine. I am not going to try to change him at this stage. He is my father. I love him, respect him", says his son.
Hey folks, can you think this way? So many times, we see people feeling embarrassed by the so called unsophisticated behaviour of their family members, specially old parents or siblings coming from villages or small towns. They keep on apologizing about their lack of class and manners or about their drawbacks to outsiders. 'My wife can't speak proper English; she doesn't know what's happening in the world, so I avoid taking her out or introducing her to my friends and business associates... My parents can't eat with a spoon, so I don't take them to restaurants. My brother is mentally challenged, so I don't feel like going out with him...'. There are umpteen things you hear these days like the above.
Most people always have this fear of other peoples' opinions and comments. BE YOURSELF & RESPECT YOUR PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS SINCE IT IS BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPPORT & SACRIFICES, YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE. Never let your life guided by 'What would others say?'. To hell with them.
Edited and Forwarded by Capt. Ravi Mahajan Retd.
