when the nest is empty......................!!

The morning alarm was yet to go, but she was awake already; it was four thirty in the morning, she just couldn't sleep any longer. At sixty, she suffered from insomnia. She switched on the lamp as it was still dark and went out of the room. Rajiv was getting disturbed by all the commotion but was still lying down as he did not want to be up early.....the early morning chill was not good for his seventy year old weak lungs.

She went about all the household chores; there was a lot to be completed before Adi and his family reached home. At this age she needed more time to finish her chores than earlier as her joints would hurt. He was coming back after two years and that too just for four days as he wanted to spend the rest of his vacations exploring other parts of India. She had made his favorite ladoos and stored them in airtight containers yesterday. She knew that would be the first thing he would want when he arrived. Arav and Rhea, her grandchildren, would surely love the remote control car and the Barbie she had kept in their room to surprise them. Adi’s room had been dusted and cleaned and the guest room had been converted into the kids’ room. She had changed the cushion covers and placed the new dining mats. ‘Aarti couldn't complain this time that her mom-in-law was old fashioned.’ she thought.

It was eight in the morning when Rajiv was woken up by the sound of the cooker that came from the kitchen and was surprised to find the house in perfect order, and filled with delicious aroma of spices. ‘Where was Sudha?’ he thought. He found her just where he had expected – in the kitchen. She was making mango chutney to go with the Puris that she had planned for breakfast. She looked at Rajiv and smiled and poured out the tea from the flask and handed over to him. She seemed to have gained ten years overnight. Where did all her energy suddenly come from? She had not complained of her joint pains ever since Adi had called and informed of his visit. Her friends had been informed that she would not be coming for walks for the next few days since her son was coming and she had to be with him. There was a spring in her walk and a smile that refused to leave her face.

The old couple was ready and waiting for their son. Sudha tried to hide her excitement by pretending to read the paper. Soon they heard a car stop outside; there they were, the kids came and hugged her first as Adi and Aarti pulled out their bags from the cab. As they settled down for breakfast, Adi said, ‘Ma, why Puris, it’s so fattening, you know. And these ladoos are full of ghee; I can’t have these too, Ma. Please can you give me some fruits and milk? That should be fine.’ Sudha was hurt, and only Rajiv could sense the hurt in her eyes. She smiled and got a glass of milk and fruits. After breakfast, Adi and 'his' family told them they were going out to meet friends and would be back only in the evening. Sudha had tried to stop him as she wanted him to be home with them for some time, but they had other plans.

Adi was soon out, leaving them by themselves once again.

Sudha sat pondering. How life had changed over the years? She was thinking of the day when she had held her bundle of joy for the first time. Her hands had shivered in excitement. Soon her world revolved around little Adi; she clearly remembered every milestone of his..... his first smile, the first time he walked, his high school, graduation all of it........ Time flew past. She had started seeing the world through his eyes and all her decisions were made keeping Adi in mind. She would be happy when he did well and feel his pain when he was upset.  Every penny earned or saved was for him. Adi was soon a grown up young man. He was going for his first job. That was Sudha’s moment of pride. She was sure that Adi would be always by her side. But then came an International posting after a year. Adi had come home excited... ‘It’s a big opportunity Ma, and I have been chosen to represent my team for this project. You know Ma, I will get a huge hike and once I have settled down, I will take you with me. Life will become so much better.’

Sudha had been very sad that day. Her little boy had grown up and was ready to fly......fly away and make his own little nest in another part of the world, leaving behind his memories for her old age. Rajiv could sense her sadness and comforted her... ‘This is how the world goes Sudha, let him go. You should be proud of his achievements. He has said that he will call us there; it’s only a matter of few months.’ She had let him go.......and let him go it was; years went by, Adi was married and had children. Initially his visits were once a year, which later became once in eighteen months and then once in two years......and so on. Each time he’d visit them, he would say that the next time he would take them with him, this time it was not possible as ‘his’ family was going on a vacation or he had a lot of on work pressure and they would get bored. Soon he even stopped making those excuses.

The parents had slowly learnt to rebuild their home, this time a lonely one. They had learnt to support each other during illness and pain. They had aged now, and at times found it difficult to manage the daily chores; at times the neighbors would help them with shopping for groceries or for visits to the doctor. She continues to do the house work till date, with her joint pains and insomnia, making it difficult each passing day, to support herself and her husband. Her brood has flown away into another home; Diwali, Holi, New Year...these have become just another day in the calendar.

There were other couples in the neighborhood too, that shared their story and together they bonded supporting each other and sharing each other’s pains and sorrows.  Theirs was a generation that had been left behind in the race for materialistic accomplishments. Theirs was a world that still believed in family bonds and emotions, that was mocked by the new world as unpractical and passé.  The new world was out to chase its dreams...speed, growth, money, power, fame and they did not want to wait for anyone, not even, for the people who had made it possible for them.......

Adi would be back in the evening with some other plan for tomorrow and the day after. Another trip would end and they would be back for another year...or two years ....or three. The old eyes and wrinkled faces would again wait in hope for another phone call..... Another visit.....another excuse!!