There were about two weeks for Christmas. Nimal, his wife, Kamani and their youngest child, Mithun were getting ready for Christmas. They all were cleaning the entire house. Everyone was busy like bees, arranging the rooms, sweeping the yard, removing the cobwebs.
“Did son call? When is he coming?” Nimal raised his voice and asked whether Malith telephoned.
“Yes. He will come home on 24th”. Kamani replied.
Malith, the eldest son of Nimal and Kamani had gone abroad couple of years ago to pursue his higher studies. Everybody was waiting for him to come to celebrate Christmas together. Meanwhile, the mother of Nimal was lying on the bed. She was too old. So, everyone in the family had to pay special attention on her. Kamani had to wash her mother-in-law’s clothes. As Nimal’s mother had poor eyesight, others happened to sought out the right medicine for her and she had to be fed.
The days passed soon. Nimal and Kamani didn’t like to look after the old lady anymore. They thought of sending her to the elders’ home.
“We cannot do her work anymore. We also have work. I have to cook for the family. Nimal has to do his job to earn money for the family. How can we attend to her despite our busy schedules? Enough! Enough! What is this suffering?” Kamani shouted.
Nimal kept silent as he was always a calm and quiet person. He did not want to create disputes within the family. So, whatever his wife said he always listened patiently. He did not go against her decisions at any time.
“Grandma should be with us. She is too old. We must take care of her. How can she be kept in the elders’ home? They do not treat elders properly. They mistreat grandmas and grandpas. Won’t we come to her age one day? We all will grow old someday.” Mithun spoke on behalf of his grandmother.
“Who is going to spend money on her medicine? We do not have enough money to spend on her. We spend much money on your education too. The cost of living is very high nowadays. We have to manage money. She is a burden.” Kamani replied.
The days passed. All the members decided to take her to the elders’ home before Christmas approached as Kamani and Nimal wanted to celebrate Christmas happily without spending time on the old lady. But Mithun did not like this decision.
As the days passed quickly, the day of Malith’s arrival came very soon. It was 24th of December. Malith dismounted from the cab which he hired from the airport. As soon as he got down he looked around. Everywhere was greenish. Having been abroad for couple of years, he was glad to be back for Christmas. He liked the pleasing and calm environment which was totally different from the environment of western countries. His parents and younger brother accompanied him happily to the house. He could see how the house was decorated. The Christmas tree was blinking, with Christmas carols being played softly in the background. Everything was perfect.
“Ahh. It was good to be home”
“Home, home, sweet, sweet, home. There is no place like home”
He hummed and whistled while moving around the house. Suddenly, he stopped humming.
“Grandma. Where is grandma? She is not here to welcome me. Is she sick? Is she sleeping? Then don’t disturb her. But, I will just take a look at her room” Malith went to his Grandma’s room quickly. He was astonished. The room had been completely transformed. It looked like a guestroom but without grandma. He was speechless.
“Mum. What has happened? His heart started to beat. Had she? Had she passed away during my absence?”
“No son. We sent her to the elders’ home. That place is much better for her. She will have company with others around her age there. If you want, you can go to see her tomorrow.”
“But mum. Tomorrow is Christmas. Isn’t she coming home for Christmas? Since when has she been away?”
Malith could not bear this. He loved his grandmother genuinely. He was very disappointed. Gone was the tone that he was humming and whistling. His face was upset. His parents brought up arguments in support of their decision. They did not want to spoil his vacation.
“Come on son. We have planned a delicious feast for you. Everything that suits your taste is here: pancakes, coffee cake muffins, plain hoppers. All your favourite dishes. Take a wash and come over. There is much to say, do and eat.”
“Yes .Don’t worry about grandma. She is living quite comfortable there”. We can visit her tomorrow evening.” said his father.
Malith proceeded to his room upstairs without uttering a single word. He did not notice the beautifully decorated banisters. Everything was lost on him now. He was angry. He felt restless. He couldn’t imagine what to do.
After a short while, they heard a whirring of a car taking off. All ran to the verandah. They saw the car turning out at the gate. It had to be Malith. Kamani and Nimal looked at one another bewildered, flopping on several chairs randomly. They were wondering what to say or do. They had not expected such a turn of events.
After sometime, they heard the familiar whirr of the car close to their house. It was Malith cheerily helping grandmother to get off and steering her towards the house. Grandma’s wrinkled cheeks were wet with tears. Malith’s parents look quickly abashed. Rallying themselves, they quickly invited all to dinner.
Malith spoke at the dinner table. “Dad, Mum, I want to ask you for one great Christmas present. Don’t ever send grandma to the elders’ home. Her place is with us. I have experienced loneliness away from home. You can’t realize how much she had been sobbing today. Those care givers told me and I saw for myself. Please! Please! Let grandma stay with us. We all will be going for midnight service. Won’t we? Grandma too.”
Malith smiled giving her a big hug. Finally grandma touched Malith’s head and said, “Nowadays young children have good moral ethics than their parents. You have a bright future my son.” Grandmother hugged and kissed Malith’s forehead.
The music was played in the background. Everybody enjoyed the dinner while talking about everything that happened during Malith’s absence.
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