....a future to look at...

This post is simply to let my thoughts wander :)

Today while returning I went to this Store to buy stuff for myself. I saw an old lady talking in a loud voice with a young scottish gal asking her something that clearly wasnt making any sense. The scottish gal looking at me left the place which meant she is 'all yours now'..I smiled at the old lady confused and asked 'what is it' ? The old lady - an old Punjabi lady around 70-75 yrs of age spoke a strong dialect of Punjabi indicating the bread packet to me.I thought she must be asking the price when I said its around £1 -she said 'no no not the price' and she indicated the expiry date -it dawned on me finally and said the expiry date is after 5 days.The lady was happy with this and then said Thank you and I helped her with some more stuff that she was buying.I was holding only 2 things in my hand whereas she had this huge load of stuff to carry about.
I was going to this other till to get my stuff billed..the old lady cleared her place near the bill and called me 'Hello, here here '- I said ok and stood behind her ..the shop assistant mentioned it was £5 to the lady and looked at me..I informed this to the lady and she handed him the money required.

Not a big situation in life really, An old woman going around with chores in this cold country. what stuck to me was how can anyone send this lady who finds it so difficult to manage the language and things around here.What if something happened to her on the way?? This point in her life isnt she allowed to keep her legs above on the table and order around her sons, daughter in laws etc..Atleast thats the life I dream about at somepoint of time.
Back home atleast for keeping up their so called 'social images' they dont ask old parents to go out and get stuff,but I dont think this situation is new anywhere. When do we become so selfish? when do we fail to see our parents health failing, their language slurring as they no longer have teeth? It scares me somewhere that I may become someone like this- someone without any sensitivity- someone too practical in approach-and make statements like 'oh yeah I have kids...so someone else has to go to the market' ....I really pray and hope fervently for things to be different for some parents atleast.

This blog will be a simple reminder for myself I hope.

- Priya