Abstract

N S Rao lauds his grandma’s decision to join a walk on World Arthritis Day, despite physical infirmities, as a tribute to his grandpa’s memory.

Call Out

Till the newspaper boy came the next day she was on tenterhooks whether her photo will appear or not. It did appear and grandma’s day became memorable!

She’s in her eighties. Grandpa died four years back and hence nobody to talk and while away time with her. Added to this, she has been suffering from Arthritis for a couple of years. Most of the day she is homebound except for an occasional visit to a mandir on days like Dassehra, Diwali etc with one of us.

Grandpa had enrolled in an NGO working with Senior Citizens when he was alive and used to spend some leisure hours with his peers. The NGO recently sent invitations to all its members to attend a ‘Walkathon’ held on the World Arthritis Day. When grandma heard about it, she was overjoyed and decided to attend come what may. Any amount of convincing that she wouldn’t be able to walk much, didn’t work. She was determined to try it out. Luckily the programme was on a Sunday and I told her that we would go by a taxi and she could take part. The time fixed was 7 am. We were to leave by 6.30 am. She was unable to sleep that night and was ready much before time to leave for the venue.

On reaching the venue, we noticed that there were hundreds like her and she would have nice company. One ageing film star inaugurated the function, which made the occasion festive with reporters and photographers milling around. Somehow I persuaded a young reporter to click grandma with the star. She was more than willing and agreed to publish the photo in the next day’s paper. Granny could walk about half a kilometre -- about half the distance -- and that was it. Light refreshments followed by gifts from the sponsors added icing to the cake.

Finally, the programme was over around 9 am and we could be back home early. Till the newspaper boy came the next day, she was on tenterhooks whether her photo will appear or not. It did appear and grandma’s day became memorable!