The Oldman's Grouse (758 words)

 Meenakshi, I know you're coming to visit me soon. But before you do, I need to tell you something important. Despite what others might say, I am not sick. I’m in perfect health, even if I am getting on in years. Yes, I sometimes forget small details, but that’s normal, right? At my age, a bit of forgetfulness isn’t unusual. They might try to tell you I’m deranged, that I’ve lost my mind. But unless I explain everything, you might be inclined to believe them. So, please, hear me out.

It’s been nearly five years since they confined me to my room. Can you believe that? Five long years. I’m not allowed to leave the house unless Selvaraj, the driver, has time to take me out. And even then, he treats me like a prisoner on parole. All I want is to sit in the park and watch the children play on the swings and slides. But Selvaraj won’t let me get close. He holds my hand so tightly, as if I might run away. The kids, they make faces at me, and I think they want to play, too. But Selvaraj scares them off, saying God knows what to make them stay away. And I hate him for it. I really do.

Kausalya, our daughter-in-law, is the real mastermind behind all this. She has no love for me, Meenakshi, and I know she’s poisoned Mahesh’s mind against me. She makes up stories about me, and he believes every word. Remember the day I cut my finger trying to close the window? There was blood, and I couldn’t find any cotton or bandages. No one answered when I called for help—they say I cry wolf too often. So, I tore a piece from one of Mahesh’s shirts to wrap my finger. How was I supposed to know it was new? I have dozens of shirts, all the same colour. Kausalya made such a fuss over it, and Mahesh scolded me right in front of her. That humiliation, I can’t forget.

But there’s one thing I can never forgive her for. She took away the lock from the bathroom door. Do you know why? Because I sometimes doze off there. It’s not my fault! I don’t sleep at night—I’ve seen too many old people die in their sleep, and I won’t let that happen to me. That’s my secret, Meenakshi. That’s how I’ve managed to live this long. But Kausalya, she can’t stand it. She thinks I’m a danger to myself. She has no idea that I stay awake to keep death at bay.

There’s something else, too. This strange man keeps peeping through my bedroom window at night. When I look, he disappears. But I’ve seen him—dark figure, glistening white teeth, bushy moustache, and that ridiculous county cap, probably hiding his bald head. It’s not his appearance that bothers me, though. It’s the way he sneaks around. I caught him one night and threw ink at him. He screamed, and they all came running, but did anyone listen to me? No! They said he was the night security guard, keeping watch over me. As if I’m some dangerous criminal. They all looked at me as if I were the mad one.

I overheard them talking on the phone. I think they’re planning to send me away, to one of those places for ‘people like me.’ They took me there once before, and I was stuck there for so long. Please, Meenakshi, come soon. Mahesh keeps telling me you’re gone and that your picture on my wall is just a memory. But I know better. You come to see me, and we talk.  Kausalya thinks I’m just muttering to myself in my sleep. Let her think what she wants. Who cares? Come tonight, Meenakshi, and take me away with you. Take me somewhere far from here, before they send me to that horrible place.

The next morning, Mahesh entered his father’s room, Kausalya trailing behind. They found the old man seemingly fast asleep, clutching a photograph in his hands. Mahesh gently removed the blanket and saw his father holding the picture of his late mother, Meenakshi, close to his chest. He turned to the empty wall where the picture usually hung, a sudden chill running down his spine.

“Appa, wake up,” Mahesh called softly, nudging his father’s shoulder. “We have an appointment with the doctor today.”

But there was no response.

The old man had finally found peace. Meenakshi had kept her promise and taken him away.