'Phukat' advice

All the visitors’ sympathies are directed only towards the elderly.

Right at the outset, let me tell I’m among those, who have immense respect for the elderly, particularly for parents/in-laws. Since, I do realise what we are today, our educational, financial, social status, etc, it’s all the result of their intense care, for which we should be eternally beholden. Nevertheless, taking care of the elderly (especially the bed-ridden), has its own pains. What’s amusing (read annoying) is the ordeal of listening to salvo of unsolicited suggestions from several visitors, calling on them.

Each visitor has his/her own set of suggestions to dish out. One says, ‘Just employ full-time female nurse, who can alleviate your physical strain.’ Well, hiring a nurse means, besides looking after the aged person, looking after her as well. Right from providing meals, snacks, tea, to supplying her with magazines, etc, she has to be fully entertained. Another visitor says, ‘The aged are like infants.

Keep your ears always cocked up, to rush to them on calls.’ In fact, you are so used to keeping your ears wide-off that you begin hallucinating you are hearing their calls, even when they aren’t calling! Yet another visitor says, ‘Look after the aged with lynx-eyed, as they may need anything, anytime. It’s after all their second childhood.’ How to tell the visitor you are actually looking after with dog-eyed loyalty, and that you are literally like a dog, ever chained to the house!

And another visitor suggests, ‘Include loads of veggies and fruits in their diet, as the aged do require fibre-rich food. (Which means helping these elderly to umpteen toilet trips, which may be even in night’s unearthly hours.) How you wish these so-called well-wishers, would stay over to look after these aged, at least for a day? But nay!
Interestingly, all the visitors’ sympathies are directed only towards the elderly. Even these aged lots, to elicit more sympathy keep uttering the trite phrase, ‘Why at all we are alive to suffer; to make others around suffer too!’ To this, pat come the visitor’s words, ‘Don’t ever say that.

You’ll live for hundred years!’ (Heaven help the care-givers and care-receivers!). Amazingly, even these aged at times don’t appreciate your effort, since they are busy whining and nit-picking. Maybe their physical ailment manifests itself as mental frustration in them.

Another visitor tells you, ‘The more you look after the aged well, the more rich dividends you enjoy in future. As history repeats itself, you’d be treated by your children, the way you treat your parents.’ Well, half of your prime youth is spent on raring children. The other half on tending the elderly. To enjoy your punya benefits, you wish to get your youth back!