Lost Among People

What an innings it was!

He was speaking to his friend on his retirement day, His friends in the Bank had organized a farewell for Sudheer after a long 35 years of service in the bank. He held different positions in the bank and also traveled extensively throughout the country either for some work or positing.

He continued…

Coming from a small town of Andhra, studying in a government school, struggling to get admission into engineering, despite getting a good rank in the entrance, doing odd jobs before landing on this job.

Oh! I remember those days in our childhood when we had no electricity in our house, studying with my sister under the lamp, dad working as a teacher in the government-school had a modest salary wherein it was difficult to meet ends.

Today both my sons have studied in the US and have got a job there and most likely not to return and I stay in one of the metropolitan cities, it has been quite a journey… Happy and Satisfied…

One of his colleagues asked, “so what are your plans from now? Are you planning to join somewhere as a consultant or planning to teach?”

Sudheer said, No way!! I have finished all my responsibility, I am going to just chill my life, maybe go and tour with my wife and laugh out loud.

The party went out till late at night, when he came out, he forgot that his official car will not there, so he was looking for his driver, his wife reminded him about the same, He looked at her and smiled and said, “let’s take a cab back home…” As he was looking for the app in his mobile, His friend who lives nearby said, “hey do you want me to give you a lift, give me the privilege to be your driver today.”

Once home, He sat on the couch and told his wife, now you don’t have to get up early to prepare lunch for me, and you will never have a complaint that I am not spending time with you… Maybe you will tell “you old man, why don’t you go out some time so that I will have my space.”…

That night he couldn’t sleep, he was tossing over, it was like a movie reel moving in front of his eyes, Whole night it was the same, somewhere early morning he could get some sleep and slept like a log. Uma also never bothered to wake him up… He got up around 10 in the morning…

Uma asked, so old retired man, had a nice sleep…. And extended his morning coffee to him, sipping his hot coffee, he said, NOOO, I couldn’t, all my old memories just passed by last night. Looking at the newspaper he asked what’s for Breakfast?  She said I have not prepared I also feel retired, I just didn’t feel like making anything…

Sudheer said, That’s Nice, let’s go out and have Brunch, let me finish with seeing the Headline from the newspaper, by the time you get ready…

At around 12 Sudheer and Uma walked into a nice restaurant  in the neighbourhood, Sudheer was feeling odd, it has been so many days I had my Lunch so early, I generally have it 3 PM, and he asked, When is the last time we both came alone, It was always with Kids or Friends,

After a long pause, Uma said maybe it is more than 20 Years… and both laughed, with all-time in their hand, they enjoyed the buffest and took some selfies as memories and to forward to their kids at the US.

When they were about to leave, Sudheer saw a poster of a nice movie, he suggests, why can’t we go for a movie, she said, shall we do everything in a day, let’s keep something for tomorrow as well, but Sudheer insisted, They had an hour before the movie, so they just went around the mall…

After the movie when they were driving back, Sudheer picked a parcel for their dinner… on the way back Uma got a video call from her son and family and she was so excited to tell him about their day. Son asked him to update in the Facebook and Instagram account, He also asked them to share the pics on the family group on WhatsApp.

It was a long day for both of them…

The next day around 5 AM as usual Uma got up and asked Sudheer if they can go to a temple, He was all for it… She wanted to go to Chilkur Balaji Temple which was around 40 odd kilometers away from their house.  They seem to enjoy the drive and newfound freedom from all daily chores of life,

There were a lot of people but they were in no Hurry, after doing their Darshan and Parikrama, spent some time sitting in the Temple premises…

They took some nice pictures of the temple and even of themselves and of few devotees…. Late afternoon when they came back Sudheer asked for a strong cup of coffee, Uma was more than gland to make it for him. While she was making him coffee, he said, let me post the pictures of yesterday and today for the kids.

He opened his Laptop and posted all the pictures on Facebook, Instagram and also posted in few groups… He was in many groups as he has studied in different schools. College and worked in many locations, while positing the picture of Temple, he also wrote in details the culture and historical importance of the temple.

In a few seconds, he started getting messages from his friends and family… and he got into a chat with all of them, he also invited Uma to read what people are writing on the photos posted….

Next day when he opens his Instagram there were a lot of people liking the temple photo and few asking him more details of Temple, as he had a good knowledge of that, he started explaining that more in detail. He was enjoying all the attention he was getting.

After a week of going out to temples, friends, cousins and eating out, Sudheer had developed severe gas issues, they decided, they should have a more a disciplined lifestyle, both of them thought of a schedule that early morning they would like to go out for a walk and visit the colony temple spend some time there and come and have breakfast, Read Newspaper and followed by practicing vocal Music which he had left in between in his busy schedule.

After Lunch, He wanted to take a nap before going to the club in his colony to play with his friends and be the library, the evening he wanted to listen to the News have his Dinner and hit the bed.

After a few days, he had an invitation from one of the close friends, his daughter was getting married in Hampi. They had not visited that place and it was hardly 300 Kms from their place they though they will attend the marriage and further spend a couple of days visiting different temples and old architectural monuments at Hampi.

Sudheer and Uma had a nice time at their friend Marriage, they could meet up a lot of old friends with whom they had lost touch with. The next day they both went on to different places, Sudheer had got his DSLR camera and was trying his hands-on photography after a long time, he could take some very beautiful pictures of the monuments, Uma and some pictures of the passer-by. The two-day Holiday extended to a week.

After doing some editing on the picture on his system, which he had learned while undergoing his photography course, He uploaded them on his Social Media accounts, He had everyone liking his photographs, They all like the picture of Uma with sunrise in the background looked like a black and white photo with a colorful sky behind, A lot of people suggested him to start a travel blog…and in a short time he had a lot of followers.

He and Uma liked going through each comment and used to reply to each one, He was also getting a lot of forwards from his friends and family group which he enjoyed watching and commenting on. He was not able to find the time, most of the time was consumed by going through his social media account and commenting on them.

The photos and updates on social media allowed him to keep up-to-date with the lives of his family members, friend, and social group. As well, had easy access to other entertainment and news right from the feed. Not sure when Sudheer who was casually following the comments was now waiting for comments and was looking for the number of likes for his post….

He was spending a lot of time on his Twitter account to follow the news and other updates, now he was not waiting for NEWS on the TV, He would comment on each twit and lot of people liked his views, for every comment he would tag the concern authorities.

As days went by, Uma started feeling lonely, Sudheer being at home also was never with her, he would be on his mobile or Laptop going through his social media accounts or look for Youtube for videos if there was any discussion happening, he would do a detailed study on that and then make a detail note before posting on the net…. 

Whenever he was in the club with his friends and if there was a notification, he would be excited to pick up his mobile to check it, slowly he stopped going out and was most of the time on his mobile, He would be on the mobile till late, most of the days he would sleep only by 3 AM; if he was not on Social Media accounts he would play Games and would be in competing with unknown people on the net.

His discussion with his sons on the phone also would be the current issues happening around. Uma was so lonely that she would be spending most of the time watching television, she would be changing from one channel to another, there was hardly any interaction between both of them.

Uma would be in her room watching TV and Sudheer in his study with Mobile or Laptop. Slowly Uma stopped cooking and they started ordering food from nearby eatery which was serving food for the elderly people at a nominal cost.

It was some months that they had not gone out, other than the doctor’s appointment they have not stepped out of the house. Both of them hardly had any human interaction…

Uma had started being part of the TV shows, she would be talking to the characters in her mind and would binge eat, when in front of the Screen.

For Both the screen had become more interesting than real life, Uma had never forgotten to wish her granddaughter all these years but this year she missed, her son felt something a mis, When he would call her as well, she would talk on different characters of shows rather than talking about the family and Sudheer would speak on Politics and would be angry if someone won’t agree with his views.

One day when he had his views posted, which was not very supportive of the present government, He was trolled, they were angry, abusive and aggressive. Sudheer was not happy, He also become angry and as usual, trying to respond to them logically, but the troll was becoming bigger and bad… Anxiety and pressure took over him, His BP hit high and he fell unconscious on the floor, Uma was busy in her Shows, she didn’t even release what had happened.

There was a knock on the door and When Uma went to answer the door, It was electrical Department people who had come to disconnect the connection as the bill was not paid, Uma said, it is not possible as my husband pays online and that too on time and she calls for Sudheer, as he doesn’t answer, She walks into his room and finds him lying on the floor, she cries load, listing to that the Electrician runs inside to find Sudheer laying on the floor, He was unconscious, He picks him up and puts in his van and drives to the nearest hospital with Uma.

After sometime when he came to sense, He found his wife sitting next to him and sobbing, Doctor asked him what had happened, he explained what had happened….

The doctor understood what the problem was, he said you might have to stay here for a couple of days and then we will tell you how we will go about, Sudheer said that’s okay Doc, what difference it makes, whether we are here or at home, it is both of us only. And laugh out loud.

Doctor while coming back on rounds found that Uma is always glued to the TV and is lost most of the time, He casually asked her do you have memory problems, Irritability, sadness, Unexplained chronic pain, and change eating habits, before she could answer, Sudheer jumped to answer, Oh! Doctor, from past a year or so she is always seeing TV and while doing so she is eating and if I call her for anything, she is irritated she would have put on at least 10kgs in last year or so.

Listening to this Uma, took it offensive, it is not me, doctor… he sleeps at 3 AM in the morning and from the time he gets up, he is on his Mobile, doesn’t even remember anything, not even paid this month’s electricity bill….

Doctor Understood it is not Sudheer alone but Uma also both have been addicted to screens and he took the number of their sons and walked away, asking them to sort out who has more memory problems with a big smile.

The doctor called up their son and informed about the addition they have got into and suggested them to take them for treatment, He said, we can give some medication which may not be a good help, it would be better if you can treat them the more natural way, maybe getting in naturopathy or maybe meditation, and put them in some activity or maybe into some hobby classes… Son was in a shock, he was in total disbelief, he said, how can old people get into addiction, it is the teenagers, right?

After a detail conversation, he made his plans to come for a couple of weeks took his parents for a holiday to Andaman and the Nicobar Islands, There was hardly any signals there Sudheer hand would reach out to Phone every time and look if can check his messages, he was feeling irritated and was feeling anxious, While having dinner  Son spoke to them and explained to them that they have to undergo a treatment to detox from their addiction, both of them took it very offensive, Sudheer shot back on him, you have come after 4 years and finding problems with us, you just leave us back home and be happy in the US, we are happy in our house….

After a long silence, Son said, you have a right to be angry, Yes I could not come as often as I was supposed to come, but when I was young and did something which is not good, did you not correct me, so don’t you think now also, I did a mistake of not spending time with you, You can give a chance to correct me, but just think Dad you were the person who instead me to go there and settle, I did, now how are you expecting me to come so often, I also have a family to take care, so it is you, who has put me in this situation….and winked at his dad, both of them laughed.

Saying that doesn’t mean I have to run away from my responsibility from my parents, It is just a situation you have got into a small lifestyle change will help you get over it, and as you always say what difference it makes, where we are, till we are together… I want you and mom to be in naturopathy hospital for three weeks and then come and stay with us for six months.

Three weeks down after staying in nature care, Sudheer canceled their ticket to the US and when they reached home, disconnected the cable connection and took a mobile without internet, and started spending time together, cooking and traveling together to peruse the hobby of Photography…

Both used to go to Community library to access the internet and upload their Photographs….