As the old man walked by, I noticed the wrinkles on his face and the milky colour of his eyes straining to look at the pathway ahead. He gave me a tired smile which could have been to reaffirm the acquaintance or to confirm that he could see me properly. The steps were getting unsteady sometimes like the trot of a toddler who is learning to walk but somehow the body was balancing itself.  

I had known Unniuncle from the time I started remembering people and specially Unniuncle I knew very well as he was  a man who would always help others out of the way be it getting a new water connection or a new gas connection. He had all the contacts and resources as he used to work in the Public Works Department and knew all people who mattered.

When we used to have water logging in the colony we stay, he took great initiative to ensure that the drainages were done and the problem was sorted out. A man of great resources and presentation skills we used to look up at him with awe and respect.

Never would he say “No” to anyone, it seemed as if this word was not there in his lexicon and he used to be always positive “Everything will be fine” and “You leave it to me, I will sort it out”.

Unniuncle! I called out as he turned around slowly his tired smile as broad as it always used to be from ear to ear. He asked me about my work, family, children and all that one normally talks about. I decided to walk down with him upto his house and made him comfortable in his reclining chair took up a chair and sat next to him.

As I recounted the good old days when we as kids used to see Unniuncle do all the great things for our colony and for others who used to queue at his place morning and evening. There were no queues today, no people asking for favours. The old man was all alone sitting in the reclining chair almost half asleep as I heard the nurse coming out and screaming at him to come and take bath and have his breakfast.The elderly nurse was Unniuncle’s lone companion from morning to evening taking care of the old man’s needs of food, medicines and cleanliness while his children were busy making money elsewhere.

 Feelings are like waves which keep wetting the sands on the banks of the sea as much as the tears which moist the eyes when emotions surge and that is what I saw in the eyes of this old helpless man. His speechless stare seemed to be telling me volumes which many a speeches would not reveal.

I had seen for myself how he would put his kids on the scooter and leave them in school in the morning and be back early in the evening to ensure that they do their homework. Even when Nandan (the eldest son) was doing his engineering Unniuncle would take pains to ensure that he takes all that he needs for his college work. Incidentally Aunty would not bother too much as she being a teacher knew that children would gear up to their tasks when they are left alone to handle their problems but Unniuncle would not listen.

With Aunty’s demise Unniuncle found himself all alone and with his children scattered all over the globe there was no alternative but to find a person who could take care of his basic needs and that is what the children did.

I stayed with him for an hour remembering the good old days and recounting the good moments which we shared together as nieghbours and then it was time to take leave.

He gave me his blessings and wished me well for a bright future. I only wished I could do so in return. I told him with a stutter “Uncle please do take care of your health” and I meant it as that would at least ensure least dependence on anyone.

As I left the house I wondered what would be our state after another fifteen to twenty years – Well “GOK” is the answer “God Only Knows”