Looking after elders
Every Sunday Anita and her grand father walked to the nursing home a few blocks away from their houses. They went to visit many of the old and sick people who lived there because they no longer could take care themselves.
``whoever visits the old and the sick gives them life’’, grandfather Gowrappa always said.
First they would visit Mrs. Sudha. Anita called her `` the cook’’ as she to talk about the time when she was a well –known cook in her town. People would come from far-off to taste her famous biriyani and vegetable soup.
Next they would visit Mr. Mohan ``the joke man’’, as Anita would say. He would crack funniest jokes and splits of laughter would break out.
Then there was Mr. Suresh and because he loved to sing, Anita called him `` the singer’’. Whenever he sang, his beautiful voice filled the air with vibration energy and everybody sang along with him.
They also visited Mrs. Bala whom Anita loved to call ``the grandmother’’. She proudly showed the pictures of her grandchildren to all. They were all over in her room, in frames, in albums and even to the walls.
Finally there was Mr. Saranath, ``the quiet man’’. He did not have much to say. He just listened when Anita and her Gowrappa talked to him. He just nodded and smiled but waited every week for their visit.
Every week even during the raining seasons, Anita and her Gowrappa visited the nursing home to meet their friends-the cook, the joke man, the tiger, the grandmother and the quite man.
One day Gowrappa got very sick and had to go to the hospital. The doctors they didn’t think he would ever get better. Anita was very sad.
Sunday came and it was time to visit the nursing home. Anita did not want to go without her Gowrappa. Then she remembered what grandfather once told, ``nothing should stand in the way of doing a good deed. ``she loved and respected her grandfather, so she went alone.
Surprised to see her alone and sad the elders gathered around er. On hearning of her Gowrappa’s illness, they tried their best to make her feel better. They cracked jokes, sang songs, showed pictures, told interesting and then prayed for her grandfather’s recovery.
A few days later, Gowrappa was still in the hospital. Anita was with him, sobbing quietly. Suddenly, the nurse came into the room and informed that they had some visitors. Together they looked up and saw the joke man, the grandmother, the singer, the cook and the quiet man come in. all of them were carrying flowers. Gowrappa’s eyes lit up.
The cook told him about al the great food that she would cook for him once he got well. She had even brought him a hot bowl of vegetable soup.
The joke man told some new jokes and everyone had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard. The grandmother gave Gowrappa a get –well card made by two of her granddaughters. The singer sang beautiful songs and all of them sang together. It was like re-living the old times together.
Everyone said a short prayer for Gowrappa and then said good –bye with a promise to come back soon.
That evening, Gowrappa ate well and even went out for a walk with the nurse. Each day, he felt better and better and grew stronger. Soon he was able to go home. The doctors were surprised at his speedy recovery. But Anita knew that his friend’s visit and their care had made him well.
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