PARENTS ARE PRECIOUS!!
This was narrated by an IAF pilot at
a Seminar recently on Human Relations :
Venkatesh Balasubramaniam (who works for IIT)
describes how his gesture of booking an air ticket
for his father, his maiden flight, brought forth a
rush of emotions and made him (Venkatesh) realize
that how much we all take for granted when it comes
to our parents.
My parents left for our native place on Thursday
and we went to the airport to see them off. In
fact, my father had never traveled by air before,
so I just took this opportunity to make him
experience the same. In spite of being asked to
book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Jet
Airways. The moment I handed over the tickets to
him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them
by air. The excitement was very apparent on his
face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a
school boy, he was preparing himself on that day
and we all went to the airport, right from using
the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in
and asking for a window seat and waiting restlessly
for the security check-in to happen. He was
thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was
overcome with joy watching him experience all these
things.
As they were about to go in for the security
check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes
and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was
not as if I had done something great but the fact
that this meant a great deal to him. When he said
thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me.
But later, thinking about the entire incident, I
looked back at my life. As a child, how many dreams
our parents have made come true. Without
understanding the financial situation, we ask for
cricket bats, dresses, toys, outings, etc.
Irrespective of their affordability, they have
catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about
the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many
of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that
they have done for us? Same way, today when it
comes to our children, we always think that we
should put them in a good school. Regardless of the
amount of donation, we will ensure that we will
have t give the child the best, theme parks, toys,
etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have
sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so
it is our responsibility to ensure that their
dreams are realized and what they failed to see
when they were young. It is our responsibility to
ensure that they experience all those and their
life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some
questions, I have actually answered back without
patience. When my daughter asks me something, I
have been very polite in answering. Now I realize
how they would have felt at those moments. Let us
realize that old age is a second childhood and just
as we take care of our children, the same attention
and same care needs to be given to our parents and
elders. Rather than my dad saying thank you to me,
I woul want to say sorry for making him wait so
long for this small dream. I do realize how much he
has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to
give the best possible attention to all their
wishes.
Just because they are old does not mean that they
will have to give up everything and keep
sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have
wishes, too.
Take care of your parents. THEY ARE PRECIOUS.
