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OF HUMAN BONDAGE

LALGUDI NATESAN SIVALINGAM was relaxing in his easy-chair cut out of a jack fruit tree that was grown in his grand father's garden. That one was inherited from his father about half century back and easily captures any body's attention for its dexterity and sturdy construction. Actually he was engrossed in teaching the fundamentals of calculus to his grand son living not far off from his residence. From his facial expression and body gestures it was evident that he was enjoying over his role as a part time tutor and hence the expression of relaxing was confidently used. After some time he would teach the openings of the game of CHESS in which he was an expert in his younger days. But during the course of teaching the finesse of ALEKHINE'S defense this septuagenarian started involuntarily drowsing and the worthy grand son got the signal for him to move. He shouted "PAATI! (Grand ma) I am leaving! Please close the door!" the old man's slumber was disturbed and called 'RUKKU!' for enquiring about SRIRAM -their grand son. Mrs.RUKMANI SIVALINGAM affectionately chided her husband for more than 50 years for not taking the well deserved nap and suggested him to sleep peacefully for sometime. The old man was reluctant to tell the truth that her perpetual coughing and struggling from ASTHMA is actually preventing him from quiet sleep. However he pretended that the 8 hours of sleep was more than sufficient for him and actually she should have slept peacefully to compensate for the lost sleep on the previous day. They were the most understanding couple of the modern time and mutually prepared to go to the extreme limit for the comfort of the other. No strangers should mistake their occasional outburst that were only the sign of old age and concern for each other and very quickly normalcy will be restored.

Mr. SIVA is a retired class-2 officer of central government drawing pension to honorably support both of them. Also he could earn respectably on re-employment in a private company that helped him to increase his monthly earnings through investments and also to acquire a small house of his own. There should not be any problem for them to tide over the rest of their unpredictable old age, but for hiccup in disguise of his ailing wife who is a chronic ASTHMA patient. Mr. SIVA'S problem was only to control his sugar and B.P. In majority of cases of senior citizens their chunk of resources are consumed for medication, hospitals and treatments. Fortunately in the case of SIVA couple they are substantially getting relief from CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HEALTH SCHEME for which they had paid some initial payments.

While they get medicines, injections etc for regular treatment, in the case of more serious cases for hospitalization they could avail on emergency. Though the procedure looks very simple as described above they are becoming more and more complicated and in very many cases the purpose of going to CGHS is very much defeated. Due to corruption at the stage of acquiring medicines and the hospitals playing nexus with patients and CGHS staff the procedure has become very stringent causing lot of delay to get hold of the medicine making the patients to rush to local doctors for immediate cure. Also the quality of drugs and medicines prescribed are sub standard that they don't give the desired results. Mr. SIVA was lucky to get treatment for the stroke suffered by his wife and also the removal of stone from the gall bladder again for his wife entirely free of cost. But it is a past story as certain procedures have been newly introduced detrimental to the interest of pensioners forcing them to get the treatment by paying in advance and getting the reimbursement after considerably long time and also after deducting considerable portions on flimsy grounds. Mr. Siva had to visit the CGHS dispensary for 2 or 3 times by spending on transport to get the medicines causing not only delay but also making it worthless for the cost involved in transport.

Though their sons and daughters are well established Mr. & Mrs. SIVA prefer to live separately much to the anguish of their children. But they are very fortunate to have caring and affectionate children that they want their parents to live the life of their choice with dignity and respect and trying to help them indirectly even with out their knowledge. They used to guess the immediate needs of their aged parents and stealthily pass WASHING MACHINE, IRON BOX, CELL PHONE, WATER HEATER,GRINDER and so on as birth day presents / wedding anniversary / promotions for them and so on. There used to be plenty of grace and affection on both sides making it difficult to refuse. The couple were visiting their children in the city and also faraway from them. They used carry heavy loads that used comprise presents for daughters, sons, son-in-laws, daughter-in-laws and also grand children. While they were only happy to take these loads one of their personal loads was very heavy, but unavoidable. Mrs.

SIVA being an Asthma patient has to compulsorily carry a medical instrument by name NEBULISOR to puff the medicine as when the bout of Asthma attacks. Also it requires electricity and makes it no usable at the time of traveling and stranded places. But while traveling in a bus they found a gentleman with similar problems was using a very small and handy instrument as the nebulisor that could be charged at the house before using. They got all the particulars about its German make with provision for recharge and use. But the cost was prohibitive and at least for that time they couldn't aspire for that. But Mr. SIVA encouraged his wife that the report of 6th pay commission is already out and as a pensioner a good amount was expected as arrears. Mr. SIVA carefully noted down the particulars of that instrument from that passenger and reached home hoping for a brighter day. Their son who was living near came to his parents to get their blessing before going for official trip to EUROPE. Mrs. SIVA was so happy that she secretly asked her husband to suggest their son to procure that instrument from GERMANY. But the man of prestige vehemently refused and preferred to keep quiet.

As a faithful wife Mrs. RUKMINI followed the principles of her ever loving husband. After 10 days of extensive travel to UK, FRANCE& GERMANY their son was back and to the parents. He was displaying all presents to his parents that comprised of shirt, sari, chocolates which his mother was fond of, a portable chess set and at last he opened a box and just at that time his mother was fixing the NEBULISOR. That box was actually the GERMAN make of the miniature instrument for ASTHMA patients which he found the appropriate time to make it as a present to his dear mother. Before leaving them after getting the blessings on the eve of his foreign trip he casually saw the noting of his father about that instrument on the table and knowing the nature of his father stealthily noted down the particulars before leaving. But Mr. SIVA was the last man to show his feelings for his son even in that highly charged scenario though his wife hugged his son fondly out of extreme affection. Mr. SIVA on the pretext of going to bathroom emptied his emotion with tears and returned beaming with pride as if nothing happened. Son also didn't elaborate much on this issue as he saw his daddy with red eyes and turning to the other side to cover it up. After his son's leaving Mr. SIVA carefully studied the rechargeable NEBULISOR with admiration and checked the assembling procedure and studied the written manual. Mrs. RUKMANI SIVALINGAM is all aware that once the apparatus has come her dear husband would do the needful for its maintenance and operation. Next time when they visit CGHS the old couple will certainly carry this apparatus to proudly display to the less fortunate as the gift of their son.

BY J.PANCHAPAGESAN FLAT-11,130 GILL NAGAR EXTN STREET CHOOLAIMEDU CHENNAI PH-044 23744963 EMAIL id- jpanchapagesan@yahoo.co.in