Page 31 - Seniorstoday August-2023 Issue
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her marriage, Ritika lost her husband in
a freak train accident. Strong minded that
she was, Ritika accepted her lot and soon
quit her low paying municipal job and tied
up with a med-care outsourcing platform
to get regular nursing assignments at high
daily rates. This enabled her to take care of
her spastic child to good extent.
A few years later, Rebecca, given her
failing health, had reached out to Ritika
and convinced her to come over to her place these past few years. It was a redux of what
regularly to tend to her needs. Ritika could Ritika’s parents had done for her own
not say no to her, given their long standing parents during their last phase of life. Here
relationship, but was hesitant to talk about was Ritika, a person of meagre means, but a
the charges for the nursing care. After all, heart so generous and a will so redoubtable.
she was dependent on a decent source of Rebecca’s brother, though living in
income to take care of her own dependent the US for decades, was very aware of
daughter. Rebecca sensed this and assured Ritika’s parents and her own service and
Ritika that she will be well compensated contribution to the D’Sa family, his parents
and need not worry. and Rebecca, over the years and the strong
bond and mutual respect that developed as
a result.
As another day passed, at 8 pm, as was
customary, Ritika bade goodbye to Rebecca
for the night and left the bungalow along
with her daughter. Rebecca called her
brother in Washington, as she would
often and had an unusually longish and
sentimental chat with him, talking about
everything connecting them, past and
A failing health, the constant dependency present. Her brother’s annual visit to
and curtailment of activities soon took its Mumbai was just about a few months
toll on Rebecca’s fortitude and courage later to coincide with her 80th birthday
to face life on her terms. Every day was on Christmas. Yes, she always felt good
a challenge for Rebecca and she was that she had birthed on the same day as
increasingly finding it difficult to cope the Lord. She then spoke to her chartered
with the constant pain and discomfort accountant and lawyer to discuss her estate
of her ailment. It was this situation that and holdings and her will. Rebecca had
Rebecca was ruing as she sat sipping always been methodical in these aspects.
her morning tea. The warm sunrise rays Since she has been ailing for long and lived
buoyed her spirits and she was ever alone, Rebecca had put in place an auto-
thankful that Ritika has been so lovingly recording system as well as a CCTV so that
and compassionately taking care of her all her conversations and movements can
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #50 | AUGUST 2023 29
