Mother’s affection
In a flash this year’s holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr
passed by. An extended holiday at the end of it was utilised to be with my aged
mother in an orthopaedic hospital back home in India. She was undergoing a
series of surgeries.
Being with her during
the entire period was very satisfying and I felt like giving back little
affection to the ocean of love and care she showered on me till this age.
At the hospital, I
was really impressed by one lady staff’s commitment to her duty. Bharathi, a
lady security manning the post-operative ward of that busy hospital, turned out
to be an excellent example.
Starting her duty early in the morning, she kept an
excellent watch on those who really had to visit and controlled all those who
should not. With due instructions prior to entering, she made sure everyone
followed all the necessary health, safety and environment regulations to
protect the welfare of the patients. Of course, she was at a very junior level
of the hospital, but she did show a great example of how important each
person’s job was and how to attend to it when its intended result is achieved.
It was proved every day as soon as she left for home and her replacement took
charge and people did utilise their influence to get in at will, disrupting the
peaceful function of the post-operative ward.
While returning to the UAE on the plane, a little boy came
and sat next to me. Due to the huge passenger rush for Abu Dhabi, his mother
and sister were seated on different rows while the father was seated way
behind.
Well dressed and impressive at his age, I started a
conversation with him. He was found to be very intelligent and was aware of all
the modern gadgets and their uses.
He was closely watching me what I was doing as he was
changing the channels on the monitor in front. As the airline staff started
serving, he read out the menu and ordered his choice of meals, which was a
plate of kebabs and rice. I ordered a different item. When the staff served the
food, he was curious as to what I was getting and as he tasted his and wasn’t
impressed with it.
He asked me whether he could re-order his food. I said to
him, I will try. Calling the airhostess and explaining to her the little one’s
wish, I persuaded her to bring her a set of meals with fish, which was the next
choice by this little one. It took some time for her to bring the food and by
then I finished my dinner.
When he tasted the fish, he didn’t like that too. Slowly, he
turned towards me and said, “Uncle, can I ask her to bring what you had?!” I
explained to him, normally, they will carry only a limited number of packets
and they will not have extra, which was the case exactly as explained to me by
the airhostess.
In order to console him, I asked him to order ice cream and
when they brought it, it was rock solid. He tried to cut and eat the ice cream
but in vain.
The airhostess told him that it would melt soon. Waiting for
it to melt, we started talking to each other and in no time, he was asleep and
me too! I woke up hearing the announcement for the plane to land at Abu Dhabi
and looked for the boy. He was still asleep. The ice cream bowl was cleared by
the staff by then!
Ramesh Menon
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