Silver in oblivion

Yesterday I encountered an old lady when I was waiting for my train at Howrah Station. She was sobbing quietly, she had graying silver hair and wore unclean white saree. I asked her what the matter was, and why she was crying in solitude. She told me that her son had abandoned her at the station. He stripped her of any money or food supply. I offered her the cake I bought for myself and asked her to calm down. She stood up and approached me in a ponderous manner, it appeared to me that she had not eaten for days. After she had calmed down, I asked her what her name was, she said her name was Shanta Devi. I asked her about her family. She told me that her husband had passed away due to heavy drinking. She had four children, and she said that it was her eldest child who left her at the station. She told me that she wanted to go to her village, but did not have any money to buy the ticket for the local train. I told her “Amma, that can be arranged easily. But what about her own son abandoning her” looking visibly angry. She told me with tears in her eyes “He is my blood, my child, I can’t disown him even if I wanted to.” I was surprised! I hid my emotions though and asked her if she knew anyone who belonged to her common place. She shook her head. I said “Very well.” I bought her the ticket and accompanied her to the next local train, got her settled in the train, carried her luggage and arranged her seat. She caressed my chin and kissed her fingers, and blessed me “I wish I had a daughter like you. Your parents are very lucky!” Looking more optimistic than ever, she whispered under her breath “May God bless all parents a child like her.”  After this, I wondered about the magnanimous, ever forgiving nature of parents, no matter how worse the child does. Wry with emotions, I called my parents and told them how much I loved them and about the whole incident. Your conviviality proves that we have raised you right, my mom said in her soothing voice very proud. I hung up the phone and another thought occurred to me, it is not an anomalistic situation that a working man abandons his parents. What is our youth coming to? How can it be so heartless?! We should give substantial importance on the matter of taking care of our parents when they grow old. After all, we won’t be what we are, if they didn’t raise us so lovingly.