The orphaned parents...

Rangan had a sleepless night and woke up early that morning. Not wanting to disturb his wife, he made his own cup of coffee, dressed up for a morning walk, tiptoed slowly towards the door and locked the door behind him.
He was now all set for the early morning walk along the Marina beach in Chennai. His other old friends would join him soon. They were a group of five old men in their early seventies.
The beautiful pavement, filled with walkers, and the green meadows around, refreshed him and gave him vigour and health for the day. However the best part of this walking routine was the meeting of these men in the beautiful meadow. An early morning gossip and light talks made him relax and ease out his personal stress.
That day, it was a discussion about his son and daughter-in-law.
Rangan was 35 when he got married to Geetha. Now his son Gautham who was of the same age was married to Ramya. They had a cute, little daughter. Ramya was an executive in a private company.
Now, back to Rangan.
His other friends were looking at him pitifully.
“Rangan, what has happened to you today? You don’t look as bright and cheerful as you used to be? Had a fight at home?” One of his friends asked, winking at him.
Rangan nodded his head.
“No...”
“Then what happened?”
“My son...”
“What happened to your son?”
“Nothing…. My daughter-in-law Is getting transferred to Kanpur. Gautham says he can’t take us along with him. He wants us to go to an Old Age Home...But I told him I can manage on my own. I have my deposits and savings. That will do for us both...”
“Yes. That was right. Then why should he leave you at a Home?”
“Well, they want to sell this house and buy a flat in Kanpur. They want to stabilize their assets. My daughter-in-law’s parents reside there. My daughter-in-law isn’t in favour of a housing loan...Their need for money is more than their need for us, old parents. Since her job requires transfer now and then they don’t want us with them. Should they have a valid reason once they decide to leave us in a Home?”
“What? How dare he ask you to move to a Home? Your daughter-in-law is arrogant. They must have planned together!” said a friend.
“The younger gen has become irresponsible. They are selfish. Don’t leave it, Rangan. Tell your daughter-in-law to resign and look after you both!”
“I asked her to resign but my son says she has worked a lot for her promotion and if she stays at home, she will become mad!”
‘Atrocious!”
The heated discussion went on for sometime and the old men finally concluded that Rangan’s state was pitiable. They rubbed their hands and wiped off the sand, and walked towards their cars and two-wheelers, happy and satisfied that they have discussed something very relevant that morning.
Rangan walked slowly towards his house. His thoughts raced back to the incident which happened ten days before.
It was a call from his brother’s wife Sukanya. She was a widower now. It was more than a year since Rangan’s brother died. Rangan’s mother, a 95 year old lady, was with Rangan’s brother and sister-in-law.
He wondered why Sukanya had to call so early that morning.
“I am going on a pilgrimage tour with my neighbours next week. Can I leave amma with you for a few days? “ Sukanya asked him.
“Look, Sukanya, you know Geetha is not well and can’t take care of amma. Let’s leave her at a Home for sometime. You can come and pick her up as soon as you return from the tour!”
With this stern reply, he had cut the call that day.
There was no contact or call from Sukanya for some days.
But one fine day, he was surprised to see his nephew at the door of his house carrying his 95 year old mother.
‘Look, uncle, it wasn’t so nice of you to say that we should leave her at a Home. When her son is alive, healthy and wealthy, why should she go elsewhere?”
Without expecting a reply, he dumped the old woman in Rangan’s house and went away.
Rangan’s mind was set in not having his mother at home, because it would spell trouble for him. Geetha would never ever dream of having her mother-in-law with her. So the 95 year old woman was immediately transferred to a Home nearby.
He had forgotten this incident by now. The jolt of the car near him, and the curse of the driver brought him back to this world again.
He decided to bring back his mother home.