Life has its share of unpleasant surprises.....

“Honey, I’d be just a call away if you need me”. He said.  “Are we friends”? the lady asked. He could feel the moist of his tears running down his cheeks while he answered “Yes”.

She says with a smile. “I’m in love”.

“That’s great to hear and who is the lucky one”?

“That man who is sitting in the corner”.

All that Richards could do was give a smile. He has been visiting the care center ever since he admitted his wife years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. At first he was reluctant to let her go to a care center. But her condition deteriorated so much that she almost killed him once mistaking Richards for an intruder. Adele was her name. Richards had to constantly remind her that he was her husband and the attempts bore no fruit. Adele had no memories left from her past thanks to her degenerating medical condition. The man sitting in the corner slowly walked up to her and both of them started talking to each other oblivious of Richard’s presence. Richards left with a heavy heart. The next day Richards arrives at the care center with a bouquet of Adele’s favorite flowers hoping that it might help his wife recollect him. He knocks her door and there is no response. Richards gently pushes the door open to see his wife making out with the man whom he saw talking to Adele the previous day. Adele shouts in shock asking Richards how can he enter a stranger’s room without their permission and interrupt their privacy. Richards is too shocked at the sight and confronts the Head of the center how could they allow an outsider to take advantage of his wife’s medical condition. He threatens to sue them. The Chief replies, “Sir, the man whom you have seen is not an outsider but is a patient by name Allen like your wife. He is in more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s than your wife”. Richards has no words left to answer. He leaves the place. He recollects his happier days with his wife and the times he has broken his vows. He wanted to hold her hand through her last days and now it seems to be difficult as Adele considers Allen as her husband and plans to marry him as both of them are oblivious of their medical condition and its prognosis.

I was thinking what could have been running in Richards’s mind.  His wife, his partner for decades now has forgotten him. It must have been very painful for him to bear what he has seen. That’s the truth he has to live the rest of his life with.  For me, I would be dead by then.

Life is such that it throws unpleasant surprises at you. You must have dreamt of something all your life but just at the moment you think everything is perfect and you are right there, life throws some unpleasant circumstance at you shaking the ground beneath your feet. It’s up to you whether you want to be carried away by the storm or set your feet right on your dream and breathe hope in it.