Dignity

He looked peaceful at last. Although the tears continued to well at the corner of his eyes.

Pachchayappa Thevar, born into a dirt poor family in Ramanathapuram in South India, was a self made man. At the tender age of 15, having lost both his parents in a famine, he had set sail for Malaya, a strange place he knew next to nothing about. There he did all manner of jobs, and through sheer grit, determination, hard work and resourceful entrepreneurship made a good life for himself. All his life he relied on no one, but helped out innumerable relatives, friends and even strangers.

He was blessed with a good wife, who supported him, and stood behind him unquestioningly, always. He rarely consulted Vedanayaki directly. But they communicated in a very subtle manner. Somehow, without saying it, Vedanayaki could convey her disagreement or displeasure. Although Thevar outwardly seemed to do everything as he thought fit, he somehow never did anything that his wife would even remotely disapprove of. And even if he were to do so, Vedanayaki would stand solidly behind him, as though she agreed wholeheartedly. The synergy was amazing.

They had two sons. Ganesan and Murugan. The best children anyone could ask for. And when they eventually got married, their wives were the best daughters-in-law you could ever imagine. Latha, Ganesan’s wife loved and cared for her in-laws as even a daughter would not. And Meena, the other daughter-in-law was no different.

And then Pachchayappa Thevar had the stroke. He was partly paralysed, and had to depend on Vedanayaki to move around. Pachchayappa Thevar withdrew into himself, and whenever he had to ask his wife for help, his voice was almost inaudible.

As if she couldn’t bear to see her husband’s condition, Vedanayaki died peacefully, only days later. Tragedy was not content. Another stroke. Thevar was completely immobilised and bedridden. He had to wear diapers. His sons brought the bedpan for his nature calls, and wiped him off daily. His two sons and daughter-in-law were appalled that Thevar had suffered this fate, but they were so loving in their care and attention. They doted on him. But for all their loving care, Pachchayappa Thevar resented his condition. More so his predicament. Being dependant on his wife had been bad enough, but this was unbearable. He wished they would leave him alone. He did not want to be seen in this condition, much less be helped by his children and their wives.

That morning, he sunk to a new low. His sons were away, and Meena came to change his diapers. He cringed in embarrassment. As she cleaned him, talking to him softly, with the true love of a daughter, Thevar closed his eyes. The tear drop rolled down his cheek. His brain stopped functioning. And his heart stopped beating.