She is not in a very good shape this time.

I am here in India for work. I came a day earlier to check in on my mother-in-law. Sharmila arrived a few days ago, and you can see why; my mother-in-law is not going through a great phase. She appears to be but a shadow of her old self.

Sitting with her, watching her pained movements, and listening to the few words that drained her energy, too many memories of my father from six years ago came rushing back. It feels as if the second part of the movie is starting to unfold.

It is very difficult to watch the pain that age can put the elderly through. But such is the passage of life. The good moments were earned to help make these moments bearable.

Landed in Mumbai with barely any time to complete all the formalities and then get to the domestic terminal to catch the flight to Durgapur. Made it in time with a few minutes at hand.

Could not think of putting it to a better cause than try out the famous “cutting chai” of Mumbai!