Another couple of months
passed quietly and swiftly with Srini living with his son Rohan’s family. Srini
went to meet Dr. Fa and returned from the last visit with a clean bill of
health.
“I will be most happy to
have been mistaken or wrong, Srini. Make the most of what you have,” Dr. Fa had
said with a smile. He knew that it might just be a matter of a few more months
before the signs started to appear and that Srini might get worse, but he could
not entirely rule of the possibility of a much longer period of good health for
Srini. He was very happy at the prospect of having his friend around for a
while longer. Srini left his office saying goodbye with a hug.
Srini stopped by to chat
with Ben on his way back home. Ben enquired about Srini’s state and Srini told
him. With a thoughtful expression, Ben attended to him. As Srini would have
expected, he was the most direct, straightforward and did not hesitate to ask
the most awkward or relevant question. He was somehow different from the rest,
who often pussyfooted around sensitive issues.
“So Srini, what do you plan
to do if you don’t die soon as you expected? Are you well prepared to live much
longer?” asked Ben, in a matter-of-fact manner.
“I don’t exactly have a
plan for this situation. I had planned to go early. I suppose I should give it
serious thought. I suppose I should look for a job,” replied Srini,
thoughtfully.
“OK, what is it that you
want to do? Go back to your old job? Or do something new?” asked Ben.
“Well, I suppose I cannot
be too choosy, I will need the money. I want to be near the children, around
here if possible. It would be something that I can drop at short notice or
without notice if the situation should change,” replied Srini thoughtfully.
“Ah, I see. That makes
sense,” said Ben.
Srini noted that Ben seemed
to accept his situation and plan without question, much as he seemed to accept
his own. He was not the one to raise issues about how much Srini had saved,
whether his family would help him or not, or suggest anything as to what Srini
could or should expect from his own children or family to take care of him in
old age or this situation. Srini started
to think about what his children, family or others would say. He decided to
find out. He thanked Ben, paid him and
left.
That evening he had a good
long chat with his family and siblings back in India. He asked them to hold off
their visit to be with him, until later when his health would start to fail. Even
before he could finish describing his situation, once they heard his health was
not leading him to imminent death, they all expressed great joy and quickly
started to question him intensely. There were suggestions (mostly disguised
commands) asking Srini to permanently stay with Rohan until the end.
“It is our tradition, right
and privilege to spend the final years in our own son/child’s house and die
there. Few can make it so, these days, Srini! Thank God for your fate!”
“Don’t worry, I know you
have given away all your money expecting to die soon, but you can ask your
children back for some of it, even if you want to live somewhere by yourself.
They owe it to you!”
“I know your children, they
will do the right thingand take care of you. Just enjoy, it is your bonus time.
A new bonus upon the old bonus time you had until now.”
Srini was quiet and
reflective for the next few days.
Unbeknownst to him, there
were already muted and discreet discussions between Rohan, Molly and Anita, out
of Srini’s earshot. They were sensitive and careful about inadvertently hurting
his feelings. They were all happy that he seemed to be remaining healthy and if
anything, getting stronger physically. They were wondering and planning how to
go about planning Srini’s future and their roles in it.
The game of waiting for
Srini’s death had begun.
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2015
All rights reserved
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2015
All rights reserved
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