We have been associated with this old age home for more than a year now and I think it must be some of the old ladies’ prayers that have got us where we are today. This day was a special lunch arranged for them by Anavi. Menu was kept simple but very well prepared. Keeping their favorite dishes in mind we arranged for rice, dal, echorer tarkari, aloo bhaja and chutney for them. Sunday lunch is of course incomplete without maach. A typical Bengali fare but very popular with the ladies here.

But more than the food it is meeting people and gossiping with them that they look forward to and we did not disappoint. With more than 20 members in attendance this was one of the best visits in recent times. Senior officers joined their better halves and an afternoon which was supposed to be “some chit chat” with the old ladies became a fun filled session with request of “aar ek baar” coming from the octogenarians of the home. In the process we discovered a singer – who is also a Chief Engineer. We also welcomed a new member – who entertained us with some wonderful Rabindra Sangeet and when lunch was announced at noon, one of the inmates said – “aajke ektu deri korle cholbe na” ( Can’t we delay it a little bit today) .

The first floor of the building has a “sick room” for the very senior members and those who would not be able to carry on their day to day lives without anyone’s help. Some of them can’t hear or see properly but they still convey their best wishes to us. Their smiles and pats on the back has made an ordinary Sunday afternoon truly well spent.

What do we take back from this visit – I think, inspiration – old age is difficult and even more so for these ladies but the way they carry on with their lives – hats off to them !

This was Anavi’s first visit in 2011 and hopefully the rest of the year will have many more such activities, where simple gestures on our part will make a world of difference to others.