Thursday, January 7, 2010

Another morning in Lokhandwala

"Aye, aye.....wake up!', nudging and more nudging that eventually materialise to raspy cold fingers on my feet. Where am I? Who are you? Aiyeeee!

'Ki holo' ?

Oh it's you! Get back to bed, this isn't the time to be waking me up!

"But I don't want to go to bed, I want to go out. And you are the one who takes me out. Wake up!"

Firm hand on her shoulders, her tiny frame under my unstable morning swagger, I lead her out of the room, resisting temptation to shut my door on her trembling innocent face.

"It isn't time to go out there yet and I need to sleep sweetheart. Let's talk when I wake up fully!"

"But you do this whenever I come to you. I don't want to get back into my bed!"

"Tough luck! Here you are". I tuck her in beneath the sheets that loom large over her . Her watery large eyes look back at me with disappointment and confusion.

Confusion. That's what prevails over her mind more than disappointment.

She's lost in a time warp, imagining herself to be in a house and amidst people who do not exist.

I am not even a member of her real family and yet my heart reaches out to her.

She's 79. She has Alzheimers.