And life goes on..

“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself… You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow…”- Khalil Gibran

It's a random thing. A child is born - to the parents no less than a princess. Or a prince.  Birthday Parties, School, Play, the warmth of a small child’s embrace.  A moment of love, joy, and incredible fulfillment. The dream of every parent. A loving and protective home - The right of every child. 

Graduations, Convocation, Dreams. Everyone grows up..as they must. The years roll by.  

Fast forward to a hospital ICU in Washington DC. A 27-year-old girl is seriously injured after a fall during a trek. The game of life is on a hit & miss mode now.  Her parents are sitting outside in the waiting room, paralyzed with fear, the clock mercilessly ticking away. It's been a strained equation between the parents and the daughter for some time now. Conflicts ranging on Career Choices and choices of relationships. Issues that are trivial compared to the nightmare unfolding now.

No matter how our relationship with our children is, they are a part of us…And their pain will always be part of us.

In another part of the world in Mumbai, a man holds vigil for his 75-year-old father who is in a coma. The end is due anytime now. A million thoughts go through his head as he grieves for his father, himself, and the gulf that existed between them. His father suddenly opens his eyes in the middle of the night and both father and son just look at each other for a long moment for the last time.  There are no words exchanged. The end comes 2 days later.

No matter how our relationship with our parents is, we are a part of them...and hence their pain will always become part of us, scarring our souls in ways we can never fathom.

Parents and Children - An equation that starts with the celebration of the birth of a new life. A bond made beautiful by love, tenderness, and family. And ironically with time, a bond invariably weighed down by the weight of expectations and a love that ultimately becomes conditional. Sadly, the worth of a child is often determined by the dreams of the parents’ definition of success. A lifetime of grappling with who is right and who is wrong.

But then, one day, a wake-up call comes from life who intervenes and takes away everything and leaves behind nothing but regrets and unanswered questions.

Maybe this could be your story, or mine..or maybe not whatever.

And life goes on.