THEY NEED YOUR HELP

 

It was a rainy night. One our way back to the temple the lights of the car failed. It was pitch dark all round. Through the thick growth we saw a flicker of a light a little distance away. When Henry and I began to push the car our Dhamma Teacher joined us. We pushed the care uphill with all our might. By the time we managed to push the car near the place that we saw the light, we were panting heavily. Henry tooted the car horn. There was no answer. We walk into the compound. It was overgrown with weeds. We saw two more dim lights. There was no one to be seen, no sound to be heard. A window was open and I tried to peep through. My face got pasted with cobwebs and I began to sneeze loud.

“Who is it?” A coarse voice was heard. In the corner of the verandah there was an old man seated. “What do you want?”

“Light of our car failed and we want to repair it. Can we please have a torch? The Dhamma Teacher asked.

“ Sorry Venerable Sir, I can give you a candle,’” he said. Then he spoke again.” There is an old mechanic living here with us. He might be able to help you. Call him before he goes to bed. His name is Choo, Mr.Choo”

We peeped into the hall. It was large but dimly it. The place was unclean and there was pungent smell. The roof had leaked and there were little pools of water here and there. Mr. Choo was an old man with a sad look in his face. He helped us to mend the lights. When we switched in the lights it flashed on to the name board.  It read “HOME FOR LEADERS.” Mr.Choo told our Dhamma Teacher about the poor condition of this ‘Home’. “No repairs have been done for years. The whole place is dirty. The roof is leaking Even the taps are leaking.”

“ We should do something to help those poor old men. They need our help,” said the Dhamma Teacher on our way back.

Three weeks later the Dhamma Teacher was ready with all things necessary to do the repairs at the Home.

Early Sunday morning our Dhamma Teacher and thirty five of us set out in a bus to the ‘HOME FOR ELEDERS’. We did not get a good welcome. Yet we did not mid it. We started cleaning up the place. We cleaned the compound, repaired the bulbs that were burnt. Mr.Choo and a few others helped us. Little by little others also became more cooperative. Some prepared tea for us. Others helped to prepare lunch. Those who were too old to work remained talking to us.

By evening the whole building appeared new and beautiful. It was time for us to return. All the inmates assembled in the verandah. Five old men sang a song. It was about old age and loneliness and how happy the old people feel when they know that they are being cared for. Suddenly I remembered about my grandfather, and my eyes got wet. Mr. Choo made a short speech and thanked our Dhamma Teacher and all of us. He had to stop half- way as he got choked with emotion.

Finally we bade them good – bye and waved our hands. Only few of them did wave their hands. Most of them stood motionless, looking very sad and tears streaking down their bony cheeks.

VEN.K.WIMALAJOTI