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| Painting by Texas Artist Laurie Justus Pace |
Shanti – Meaning: Silence! But what does this word mean to each one of us?
To me…? Well, it
changed my life! This is an old story for which I had to delve deep into my archives ....
Shanti was a non-descript lady … Old, bent
over with age, with a head full of white hair and a face so heavily lined with
the sun over the years, they seemed to tell a story of their own …. And yet, to
me she had a beautiful face that always smiled and never once showed the pain
that was a part of her life, her being … like the very air that she breathed.
Shanti lived in the same neighborhood as me.
For years we would meet while taking our walks and we’d stop for a moment to
say a quick hello, share a laugh … and then be on our way. This was a routine for as long as I can
remember and for some reason if I wouldn’t see her or she me, we would ask
around and make sure all was well.
There wasn’t a whole lot I knew about her,
except for the fact that she loved flowers, the ones in red were her favorite. And she loved sweets, jalebis to be a bit specific.
Shanti was a domestic help with the Sharmas who
reside in my neighborhood. She was brought in to take care of the little ones
in the family. This was over 20 years ago. With time, the ‘little ones’
had flown the nest and here she was feeling like the very essence of her life
was over.
This once ... time seemed to have eluded me and
it was weeks before I realized that Shanti was not around. When I asked for
her, I was told that she was she was in an old-age home. Shocked, I made a
mental note to pay her a visit.
It was two weeks later that I could actually go
pay her a visit, armed with a bunch of red roses and some jalebis. I entered
‘Eventide’, a bit apprehensively, not sure what to expect. I was conscious of
the curious stares I got from many and after asking my way around, I found myself in a
little room. There she was … on a rocking chair, looking forlorn. My heart went
out to her and for a second all I could do was stand and watch, she seemed so
old and vulnerable. On hearing my voice she whipped around, joy radiating from
her face and laughter twinkling in her eyes. She hugged the flowers I gave her
and squirreled the sweets away for later. And then we talked like there was no
tomorrow… She needed someone to listen to her. And I did just that! Before I knew it two hours had flown by. It
was the best two hours of my life. Sadly I had to say good-bye, with a promise
that I would visit again. I did. It was not at ‘Eventide’ but at the hospital.
She was covered in tubes, with machines beeping around her. Despite it all, she
looked at me and smiled. She whispered a ‘Thank-You’. Two magical words! For a
second I was confused. Then like a light bulb going off in my head I knew what
I had to do.
I have a grandmother at home, whom I’d barely
spoken five words to in a long time. When I visited I listened, once again! I thought of all
the years she looked after me, lovingly wiping my tears, washing my
wounds when I would fall and being my counselor, through all of life’s highs and
lows, never letting go or giving up … All those memories came rushing back. I hugged her and
told her I loved her.
Shanti was gone soon after. And I sent up a
silent prayer.
There is someone in our life we need to reach
out to. Touch a life today; make a difference … as “time and tide waits for no
man”.
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