The festival-joy of the ‘old age home’ is spent in the prisoner's cage
The festival-joy of the ‘old age home’ is spent in the prisoner's cage
The two daughters were very young when my husband died. I used to get out. If I went anywhere, she would hold on. I admitted them to the University. One in Dhaka University, another in BUET. After getting married, the two went abroad. Didn't come back. I have been alone for 20 years. They may come at the news of my death. Grandchildren may cry around me. I won't be there then.
Former Deputy Director of Social Services Department sixty plus aged Swali Akhter was saying the words in a sad heart. After the death of her husband, she educated her two daughters with the last earnings of her job.
Younger daughter passed civil engineering from BUET and moved to Italy with her husband. The elder daughter also completed her graduation from Dhaka University and went to Italy. Now she is alone, Swali Akhtar has to demolish the house that was her husband's gift. Swali Akhter is now a resident of Agargaon old people's home who has lost the burden of age and everything.
Nurul Islam, a former bank officer, has a similar life story to Swali Akter. He educated two sons with everything in life. One son has completed engineering and migrated to America. After completing his education, the younger son is working in BRAC University as a professor. Although two sons are established, Nurul Islam has settled in the old age home. Now the job pension money is Nurul Islam's last asset. The 60-year-old man does not even know where he will be buried after death.
Not only Swali Akhtar and Nurul Islam, 35 elderly parents are living with such a tragic history of life in this old age home of Agargaon. Some of them are cheated by their own sons and daughters. Some are exiled by loved ones' neglect and bitterness.
On Sunday (March 30), I went to the Agargaon old age home and talked to several elderly people. How is Eid spent, their request; When asked to know, he said, just like the animals of the zoo in the captive cage, we also enjoy the festival.
They said with regret that they have nothing to ask for in this life of exile. Their lives are like zoo animals. A single life is a curse for some. Death is their salvation. Festivals, Eids and joys are like poisoned arrows to the residents of this old abode, which floats in the sea of sorrow by increasing desire. But they have no complaints.
Another resident of Agargaon Senior Home is Nadira Begum. In the eighties, parents forced their parents to leave their loved ones and sit on the marriage ladder. But Nadira could not last long in that house that was chosen by her father. She had to divorce due to husband's torture and oppression. Later she believed and held the hand of another. Even she could not keep Nadira Begum alive for long with the call of death. Nadira is exiled today after being cheated by her brother without getting a share of her father's property. As she did not find happiness in her youth, she was in the same crisis in her last age.
Nadira Begum told Barta24.com that there is nothing to ask for from the society. I have come to the end of life from being insulted, humiliated and insulted by society. Now I spend my time writing, watching TV. Maybe my life wouldn't have been like this if my brother hadn't cheated. Children also do not look for the stepmother. But no regrets. Request everyone to be kind to my sister. Take care of your parents.
Meanwhile, Swali Akter is still waiting for the children to return. Swali Akhter said that she spends the best time in the old age home in her lonely life and said, I call the girls on the day of Eid. They say we are busy mothers. I will talk later. There are no words to describe how difficult it is to raise children. Love, compassion has decreased in the world. The sense of responsibility towards parents has also decreased.
The same is true of former banker Nurul Islam. He said, there is no bond in the world. All illusions are lost. My two sons are established. Get paid a lot of money. Couldn't they take my responsibility? Could the era have changed. The culture of our country is becoming like the modern countries of the world. The sense of responsibility towards parents is decreasing, which is scary for the future.
Residents of old age homes have been waiting for a long time due to this crisis of life. So they want to stay hidden from everyone's eyes. Most of the people of this residence are now waiting for death, broken by the brutality. However, the view of the nursing home never gives up? Or will the regrets and complaints of Nachiketa's songs be the norm in the course of time; Or will the irresponsible society of the innocent be established?
