I was upset seeing her troubled state, though I did not know her at all. She looked so frail, so weak, so rickety and poor in health. She was trembling. She was standing outside my door, in front of me with a help of a long stick when I opened the door after hearing the knocking.Her innocent smile with all folded skin and wrinkled face drew my attention. Seeing her, the first impression that came to my mind was that she might have lost her way! Bu I was wrong!
She started speaking in a particular local dialect that I didn’t understand. She started smiling. I smiled! She kept smiling! Aesthetically she looked beautiful and attractive! For a moment, for me, she was the finest example of a beautiful aged woman.
I was without any idea and didn’t know what to say to her. Her smile which looked so beautiful just few moments before looked annoying and bit painful. Ultimately, she fished out something from her dirty tattered rag. She showed to me a ten-rupee note. I got the hint! I did not hesitate to give her money. When I went near to her she hugged me. She almost gripped me. Honestly and truthfully, her body odour was so repelling. At once I tried to untie her hand from the grip. But I failed! There was something arresting in her hug. Was that my hypocrite act to make her feel good or was it the power of her pure love? Whatever, I could not resist myself reciprocating her filthy physical but true and natural hug! I almost became emotional.
Once again she said that I did not understand. She put her right hand above my head touching my hair softly. It felt so comforting and relaxing!
It also made me speculate if her relatives or children are aware about her ruined condition. When she needed them the most, she was moving from door to door pleading for help! All alone and begging!
I helped her coming down stairs from my quarter. I saw a local basket full of local green leafy vegetable. She hinted me to buy few bundles. I didn’t buy any as I had enough at my room. I helped lifting the basket. She touched me again and said something and walked away!
For a few moments I stood there silently. Didn’t she deserve her children’s or relatives’ care? Ironically and unfortunately, she is ignored and left at the mercy of her own fate.
She will visit someone’s house next time and beg! The saga might go on and on! Even the god will surely not come to lend his helping hand to her.
The situation also reminded me of a poem called “Somebody’s Mother’ I had read when I was a school child:
The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the winter’s day.
