Old Lady

Old Lady

In a quiet corner of the park, I took a moment to reflect on my future. This peaceful setting was the perfect backdrop for introspection, especially given my busy work life and the stress of navigating joint family issues. The park, positioned approximately 2 kilometers from the metro and conveniently located between my home and the station, served as an ideal retreat.

A wine shop was conveniently located near the Metro station. It became a part of my routine to buy a beer and then stroll to the park. I would spend approximately 20 minutes there in quiet reflection, allowing myself to recharge. This time was dedicated to bringing peace to my fatigued mind, which frequently felt like it was pulled in multiple directions.

Most evenings, I found myself arriving at a similar time, between 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM, and I noticed that another person was also quite punctual. For the past few days, I had been observing an elderly woman, who appeared to be around 70 years old. She had a pronounced hunch and always wore the same worn-out saree. It was difficult for her to walk, as she depended on a cane while looking for empty bottles at night. 

In the expansive park, I opted for a more secure corner. While she remained unaware of my presence, I watched her daily. My thoughts restrained me from picturing her clearly, as my purpose for being there was to relieve my own stress, not to add to it.

I didn’t know, but the next day after finishing my beer, I passed by her and gave her 10 Rs. She was heartily pleased with me for this help and started to bend more in front of me. I wished her well and quickly moved on. Her act of bowing before me evokes a sense of guilt, as she was too old.

I began assisting her each day with a contribution of 10 Rs, under the strict condition that she would not bow before me. Furthermore, I indicated to her the location where she could easily obtain a bottle each day. While I felt a sense of satisfaction in providing this daily support, I couldn't help but wonder about her background and the reasons behind her current circumstances.

On the subsequent day, I was late due to the metro, and I noticed the elderly woman in my designated area collecting the bottle. She said to me, “Beta, take your time; I will wait here,” and remained seated in that spot.

We remained silent for a moment, lost in our own thoughts. Then, the elderly woman spoke up, saying, “Beta, why do you drink every day? It’s not good for your health.” I responded playfully, “Amma, if everyone stopped drinking, how would you gather the bottles?” This prompted laughter from both of us.

I was reluctant to approach her, but my growing curiosity over the past few days compelled me to ask. "Amma, why are you living this way? You spend your nights searching for bottles, and your health seems to be deteriorating." She replied, "Beta, I had one child, and life was once stable. However, after his marriage, things took a turn for the worse. He chose a love marriage, but his wife refuses to accept us. My husband is older and has been paralyzed for six years, unable to move."

I asked, “Where is your son?”

“My husband is unable to continue working due to his illness, which has left us completely dependent on our son. Unfortunately, his wife has chosen not to support us, and they have relocated. As a result, we are the only two remaining family members striving to make ends meet. To avoid resorting to begging, I am managing household chores in three different homes during the day and collecting bottles at night to earn some money.”

I finished my beer bottle and handover the empty bottle to old lady with 10 Rs. As I made my way home, a phrase kept echoing in my mind: “Apna Gham Kitna Kam Hai.”

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