Page 38 - Seniors Today - Jan25 Issues
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invasive spread, temporarily alleviated interactions and joyous moments of the past
with a localised surgery. The family had and private conversations on the cell phone
been informed and sensitised about the and WhatsApp.
inevitable terminal end around the corner. There are several other similar instances
The window for friends and well-wishers that one can write about – of relationships,
to see him at the hospital, post the surgery, lost love, missed education opportunities
had opened up for a couple of days only to in India and abroad, not accepting an
be closed again within a day since he had alternate job opportunity, missing out on
to be treated again to address the virulence overseas assignments when the option came
and provide some palliative care. The up, missed real estate investments, lost
hospital saw it fit and necessary to go in for opportunities in stock markets, indifference
an immediate discharge so that the final toward taking up pursuits of passion and
days could be spent in the comfort of the several other examples. There could be
home and the cocoon of the family without multiple reasons for not striking when
the disturbance of visitors. Most, including the moment presents itself to us – it could
me, could not catch the ‘now’ moment and be self-doubt, confusion, inability to take
visit him in the hospital on that particular risks, lack of prescience, procrastination,
day and have a brief conversation with preoccupation with the unimportant,
him, something that the friend would have wrong priorities, indifference, lack of
enjoyed and cherished in the end phase family support and so many myriad causes.
of life. Destiny’s will, one could say. The Invariably, we end up regretting and ruing
family has been extremely stoic, with the in retrospect by not acting at a given moment
wife and son regularly providing some that destiny had presented to us.
update, with only hope as the silver lining. The universe sends signals to all of us at an
God willing, one may yet get to see the appropriate time and it is for us to recognise
friend and spend some time, but till then it and act at that moment. Never miss out on
one can only reminisce about the various the Now.
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