Life as it is today.

Today I came to know about the death of one the nicest human beings I ever knew or probably will ever know. He was my grandfather’s best buddy since their school days. Theirs was a special relationship. One I always hoped to emulate with my friends. They used to go out together almost daily, when uncle and his family were living above my house. It was a routine I was so used to. When I was ready to leave for college, the two of them would have been ready to leave elsewhere on their sojourns. On one friendship day uncle gave my grandpa a beautiful card and a wonderful picture frame which says friends forever. That day I will never forget. It was the day I realized the worth of a true friend. I mean who would have thought that at 80 something we would be buying our best friend a gift for friendship day just like as if the friendship was formed yesterday. I always admired his enthusiasm for life. He was always upto something, be it making wonderful looking envelopes,(so many of which I have in my cupboard right now) or these wonderful pieces of art from beads and glitter which he made for all those close to his heart, beautifully framed.( one of these hangs in my room in Bangalore). He was always impeccably dressed! A finely pressed full sleeve shirt and well matched pants with shoes. This was his daily attire and I often to used to pull his leg about how young he looks with his really nice shirts. It seems like just yesterday all of this happened. I can recall every single detail so vividly. Always polite in his speech and mannerisms, he was one of the people I truly respected for all his humility despite being a retired personal assistant to the commissioner of police in Bangalore. He helped me get a seat in bishop cottons and was an integral part of our family. The way he handled my grandpa’s taunts and sarcasm was the one thing I was always appreciative of. He never let it get to him. I guess after over 50 years of knowing someone you just tend to oversee all these things. Yesterday when he had to leave, his best friend was not at his side. Unfortunately grandpa is held up in Singapore and he is as distraught as one can imagine. Uncle has asked for my grandpa during his last days saying his friend would have saved him if he were here. The worst part comes here. Uncle had a problem which would require a significant sum of money. So his family decided not to opt for it saying he was old anyway and that for a few more years of his life, they cannot afford to spend that money and so he was literally left to die. Now comes the big question. How much is your life really worth? Money is something which comes and goes as per the economy, but a life? And that too one of your parent’s?? Imagine all the troubles he would have taken to ensure his children had a bright future. And just when he had done his part and deserved a royal treatment he got none of it. Not even a basic human right to life. So I wonder who has the say in whether you get another chance at life or not? Who gets to decide? Old age is daunting. When you have no money to care for yourself and are at others mercy, I guess you have no say as to whether you live or not. It’s in their hands! They pay for your needs now and unfortunately they think it’s high time you pass on. Is this what has become of the society today? Have the very people who gave us life now become dispensable? If it is a yes then it’s a shame on our society and a big downfall to mankind. We might just be on the way to destruction with this kind of attitude.
May his soul rest in peace.