Visiting Parents

Hi Mom, please come over here for sometime no? This was Shekar calling up his parents to come over to London to stay with them. Shekar is working in London for about 2 years now and is settled there with his wife, Radha. Both of them are working and have a kid Aditya of 1 year who goes to the day care.

Kala and Sampath are Shekar’s parents who are Madras vaasis for 30 years. Shekar has an elder sister Sudha who is also settled in Chennai. So, mom Kala takes care of her grand-daughter Shreya who goes to school since her daughter is also working. Kala could not say no when Radha too invited over phone and the little one was trying to say “pati” along with his parents.

It was difficult to convince Sampath. He is a retired Bank official who enjoys life in Chennai. He has lot of friends, goes for a walk both in the mornings and evenings, chat with them and enjoys life. His daily routine would be to wake up at 6 and go for a walk and come back home by 7.30 with vegetables. Then have a glimpse on Hindu and Times of India, has a leisurely bath, finishes pooja and brunch. Has a nap for an hour, settles down with the news papers and shares any interesting news with his wife. She watches a couple of serials and has a nap too. By 3, Shreya comes home and the grand parents spend sometime with her. Again by 5, he has evening snack and goes out with friends for an evening walk, chat in a near by park, have some tidbits and comes home to drop Shreya at her place and joins wife for a couple of TV serials.

Life was very peaceful for the elders until Shekar extended the invite. Sampath was having a double mind to leave singara Chennai as this is the first time he would be leaving the country. Kala and Sudha had to convince him to go to the UK. Shekar had sent all the papers, called them every alternate day till they had the visa interview, giving them some tips. The visas were given and the travel date was confirmed!

Kala was much excited to see his son and his family. She started making delicacies at home, his son’s favorite podis, muruku, etc.. Shekar and Radha had called up to give them heads up about the climate there and the dresses had to be taken accordingly. Finally, they had reached the airport, successfully checked in and have the boarding cards in hand. Kala was clinging to Sampath more like a child. They heaved a sigh of relief after they were seated in the aircraft. Since Shekar too knew that this is the first trip, he had booked tickets on BA, so that there would be no transits in between.

Kala was now regaining her enthusiasm and was exploring the various channels on the television in front of her. Though they could not enjoy the food served in the flight, Kala enjoyed everything else. After 9 hrs, they had reached Heathrow airport on a Saturday afternoon where Shekar and family were waiting for them.

Immigration was the next step at the airport. Sampath and Kala were in praise of the organized way the people worked and everything was very professional. After wishing them a pleasant stay, the lady at the counter handed over their passports and other papers. They now had to collect their bags and go. They came down to collect the bags and Sampath was finding it difficult to push the trolley along with Kala. Soon Shekar spotted them and they were relieved to see them.

The one hour travel from airport to home was calm just with few exchanges and Aditya’s squeals. Since Shekar and Radha knew how tiring it would be on the first day, they did not disturb them much. Kala was thoroughly amused by the beauty of the land. Greenery everywhere and it was very pleasant to the eyes. They came home and spoke to Sudha and informed everything went on well. Radha had made coffee and after sipping that down, the elders came to their normalcy. It was very pleasant to know their travel was safe and they had a good time.

Kala could not sit quiet and wanted to help Radha in the kitchen, but there was no scope as the day’s items were already ready. Also, Radha did not want her to trouble herself on day1. The weekend went on peacefully with a visit to near by temple and a super store. Radha too had explained how to use the electric stove which Kala was much afraid to use.

Aditya got attached to granny easily. The first working week went as usual, Shekar and Radha leaving home at 8 in the mornings and Aditya was left in day care and came back by 7. After 8, the house was calm and Kala and Sampath would carefully lock the house and go for a stroll in the neighborhood. The foot paths were all clean and tidy and they did not face much difficulty. Only thing missing was familiar faces around. They would come back at 9, take baths and Sampath would browse the internet.

It was very difficult to kill time for Kala. Radha finishes off cooking in the mornings and since Kala was afraid of the electric stove, she had to confine to the microwave in the afternoons for making coffee/tea for both of them. Since the home made delicacies were there, Sampath was not given any scope of dissatisfaction. Though he missed the streets of West Mambalam, his friends, news papers, the gossips, he could not complain. At the end of the first week, he had become little depressed. Even though Kala felt the same, she did not express it.

The much awaited weekend came. It was a big relief to the elders. Now, Kala had become confident of using the stove, thanks to the evening training sessions by Radha. It was decided that Aditya would stay with grand-parents for a month as insisted by Kala. Shekar had taken his dad to the nearby library and had given his library card so that dad can take whatever books he wants to read. Sampath liked this very much and brought home 10 books to read. They again went to some places and had taken lot of snaps. Everything was shared with Sudha and Kala lovingly enquired about Shreya and felt bad to know that Shreya missed her!

Shekar had given a couple of websites to watch programs and movies online too and even when he told them not to worry about Aditya, Kala insisted that the kid be left at home for a week. If things are fine, they can continue, else he can be sent back to the day care. Radha had to explain about the food, the diapers, pram, etc.. but was very confident that mom-in-law would take very good care of her son.

The next working week came and this time, Kala became very busy! She could not accompany Sampath in his walks and without her company, he felt bored. Aditya occupied most of her time. Even though, grandpa was busy with books and internet, Aditya would go and disturb him. Slowly, Sampath started liking this and had happy time with the grandson. The references by Kala that Aditya resembles grandpa had made grandpa feel special!

Since the kid too adjusted well, there was no problem at home. The 4 weeks flew off and it was now time to get back to Chennai. Sampath was very happy to come back home, though he had a special place for his grandson. Arrangements started and they all had been to the airport to send them off. Aditya started to cry when he saw grandma disappearing through the departure gate! Both were seated in the flight but Kala was little worried. She did not have the mind to leave Aditya but looking at Sampath, she remembered that the kid next to her needs the most care!

Sampath was very excited when the announcement was heard that the flight would land in Chennai Airport in 10 minutes. His joy knew no bounds when he came out of the aircraft and stood in the customs queue. They took their baggage and were very happy to see Sudha, son-in-law and Shreya waving at them! Shreya ran to grandma and Sudha was very happy to see them. Kala had brought a big teddy bear to Shreya as a gift from her uncle and aunt and Shreya loved it.

They came back home and life was returning to normalcy. Though Sampath had enjoyed in London, his joy in coming back to Chennai could not be compared to anything. The twinkle in his eye came back only after they landed in Chennai. He was very happy to continue his walks, chats, gossips, temple visits, filter coffee, etc..

Shekar had called up to tell them that Aditya now asks for thatha and pati each day. The elders were sitting at home and sipping their coffee, chat about their stay with son’s family in London and how Aditya was playful. Life continues with online chats, thanks to webcam, Aditya now shouts Pati and thatha when he sees their faces on their computer!