" Unspoken Words" - genuine care

Like always, I sat besides my grand mom to say good bye, while returning from my week end visit back home.

Like always she fails to recognize me at the first go……

“ Nan arrane manasillayio, Muthune”( Do you recognize me, granms) I ask her.

She stares at me with an expression devoid of any emotion.

Alzheimer’s can be crippling… it eats away ones memory , the treasure that’s painstakingly collected over a life time. The one thing that makes life’s journey worthwhile.

It kills the soul but leaves the body.

I take her hand in mine.

She is lucky to have caring children. And a daughter and son in law as doctors. They do their best. Give her strong medicines that peps her mind. But which have rather debilitating effect on her body

” Its me, your grand son”

At first she smiles. Then as usual She cries and complains about her illnesses. As usual she tells me that my mother doesn’t care for her anymore. As usual she speaks of how she thinks that the servant aids are conspiring against. She speaks of the man who she always sees standing behind the curtain……

Then, unusually though, she stops crying and stares at me in silence. In her eyes I could see my ever so caring and ever so loving “Muthu” trying to reach out to me.
She takes my hand in hers and strokes it gently………

She tells me that she no longer has any control over her bladder. Sighs and then says that she has to take the help our Man Friday to take her to the loo, a revolting thought for the woman in her….. but she smiles, with a tear in her eye.………

“ Your mother takes good care of me, but what more can she do.” …… and smiles with a tear in her eye………

“ pakshe ni veshmikaruthe to, sookshichodikanne… poitt wa” ( But you don’t be saddened by all this…… you be happy…. And please drive the car carefully… now you go……”

There she was reaching out to me, from with in her delirious mind, fighting against the strongest of sedatives, just to show that she still cares………