retired
last evening whilst loitering around bandstand i noticed this old-ish structure, one of the few on the street, with all the doors and windows open (nothing to hide or secure), with frail figures ambling around… the bandra bandstand old age home… a few of the residents were sitting on the promenade, huddled together, i tried to make eye contact with them, only to find a vacuum in their eyes: staring blankly at the sea, as if waiting for the ship of deliverance to come in.
starting from my grandmom in cal to other old people in the family, the aged have constantly been a source of curiosity to me: not so much the solitude but the fact of having been in the thick of the action, how the same heroes and heroines got relegated to extras. without the pressure to do things to fill time, the pressure to do something constructive, the pressure to have a purpose in life, and so on, their very existence is almost… spaced out… the race over, sitting in the sidelines, seeing the next crop do their thing, commit mistakes and celebrate victories, some giving all they have for that bit role, some waiting in quite resignation for the next life stage, most just waiting…
posted by goldfluke @ 5:59 PM
17 Comments:
An old man makes a phone call enquiring about his loved ones. There is nothing unusual about it, except for the fact that the telephone cord is cut off- film has been created by Manish Bhatt and Raghu Bhat (both creative directors at McCann Erickson)
It took them 2 years to let the film go on air.
My mom's granny lived till she was 96... she used to stay with one of mom's aunt...But the 14 yrs that I had seen her she was totally bed ridden...she could barely see... she would only recognise people after much prompting... only time she would get out of her room was family reunions... now those were huge... she had 9 daughters and each of them had at least 3 children and they had some more... so there she would sit in a old chair which was so huge that she would almost be lost inside...
And every member of the family would come and say hi (actually the touching your feet ritual) to her... and every time she would have to go through the entire process of trying to remember who it was... I used to notice her... at first she used to really try hard to make the connection...you know, amuker bhagner chheler bou types... after a while she will give up... i could see it in her blank eyes... she used to smile and nod her head and mumble her blessings just to get over with it... cant really blame her... there were usually more than hundred people there... we ourselves didn’t know half of them...
I used to wonder what she was thinking... all those people... half of them exist because of her... doing their stuff... and all she could do was just stare at them... then she used to get lost in that world in her head... I would get lost in mine...
Sorry my story seems to be longer than the original post :p
Somebody said that the future has already happened. If that is true, then ultimately there are just two possibilities.Scary.
The question is whether i accept the eventuality. My sense is not. For someone who blocks the many who surround him in his travels to work; this sure is a sign of escapism.
Maybe i will be old and helpless one day but sure enough i do not want to be reminded of the finality everyday.
yes...it hurts.
and the thought that one day, not that we want it, live to see a day when we are extras too...is scary...
but such is life. the law of marginal utility applies here too :-)
and the lawmakers, that is the wrold around us, are merciless.
thought provoking buddy...
understand wat u are saying... nothing frightens me more than the idea of loneliness... not being able to connect to the people around.. not even being able to remember them.. too scary to imagine...
hey...would like to link your page to my blogsite if it's ok with you...
why do you have to write about sad things. look around there is much hope and happiness. you know you could write about them.
harjee : feel free to link, we are always open for more visitors
Dear Cutting,
Just because Harjee offered to link your page you reply to him! Other people also deserve your attention you know :P
oooohhh...nowheregirl sees the green...?
jealous mat ho yaar...humara charm hi kuchh aisa hai...ke jawab aawashak milta hai...
lol..
but seriously cutting, reply to your comments. for no other reason but its fun. i as usual will keep butting in...
thanks cutting. 'we' are happy to add your link...
Beautiful post and very interesting topic. I wish I could write of something real like that :)
I feel scared thinking of that phase (coming soon in my case ;))
I think the strangest feeling must be that you 'cant' do so much. Coming to terms with your reduced capabilities, roles and potential. Feeling helpless bcz there's so little you can do. And worst of all, I feel its so ironic that all these people are alive and well and unwanted, when so many who were wanted, desperately, couldnt stop
Do reply to comments its fun.
Good blog will blog roll ya.
As for me at that age, I am just going to let go. No vacuous life for me.
I have aged parents too in India, while I live far away. It's not easy thats all.
hello! long time no hear - whats uo?
will you update sharafat se or i'll have to subject you to some excuses for poetry as well?
Thanks :) All of it was 'real' but maybe some of it was added on a bit unneccessarily (sp?) ... we scorps need our smoke-screens ;)
Prerona
It's Your life...and you decide what to do with it.It's your decision whether you want to continue or KILL Yourself.Our life is totally dependent on our decisions.The day you find that You are Useless (in your mind ) and for the people you care...It is better to ...Don't give a damn what the legal angle is or what the "world will say"...your LIFE and YOUR Decision...KILL Yourself in such a Situation....and Let Peace Prevail !!!!
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