True color of life

The fleeting colors of the dusk began to fade away. The glowing sun slowly started dipping below the horizon. Sam and Dan sat in their usual spot to have their evening drink in the balcony. Sam, a charming young man with dark eyes and a broad face. And, Dan rough guy with brown eyes, long nose, and round face. They are friends working in the same company but in different sectors. 

One cannot miss that stunning view of the sunset from that spot. 

Mr.John, their neighbor was returning from his walk, he looks younger than his age with white beard, sparkling eyes, salt and pepper hair smiled at them. He is a retired professor spending his old age peacefully; both Sam and Dan have great respect for him. Even in some days, he would join in their chat or drink. 

The scene of the sunset reminded Sam of a baby on the verge of sleep.

Sam asked Dan, "Do you have any idea about babies?" 

Dan replied, "Not much, but it's the hardest phase of life to raise them and take care of them."

"Are you going to live alone enjoying your own company," Sam teased.

Meanwhile, Mr.John came back refreshed with a cup of tea and sat in his armchair in his balcony.

"There are many choices of ecstasy that I will engage in rather than spending time alone." winked Dan.

"But what about your next-generation," Sam agitated.

"I just want to enjoy myself than to meddle with hardest things," Dan smirked.

"What a self-centered man," miffed Sam.

"No, it's not like that Sam," exhaled Dan and began to share his story, which made him think in that way.

During my childhood, our family got a new neighbor a couple, one of the best lovers I have seen in my life, a few years after they had a baby. The baby was a pink newborn with glowing eyes and an angelic face. Jack and Jill are the baby's parents, and the baby's name was Bob. Jack worked hard day and night to meet the family's expenses. Even he sacrificed his passion and went to a regular for the welfare of his child. Jill suffered a lot with Bob, as he had low immunity; he is often prone to diseases and falls sick. They regularly went to the hospital for his treatment, which looked like a never-ending story. Due to this, his schooling was also disturbed. He could not shine well in his academics. But, Jack and Jill's love towards their son never faded away. They kept motivating him and supporting him in all possible ways. In Bob's late teens, they found out that he had great talent in writing. They spent all their money on his talent, which did not go in vain. He left his home as he got many opportunities and started to shine but forgot about his parents in his busy life, they rarely met, and life went on. After several years, parents grew old; they had no one to care for multiple diseases and loneliness. Jill first died of a heart attack, and then Jack also passed away. 

Sam sighed and felt sorry for the family. "But, you know what Dan, after a certain age, children also need the space they need to grow as an individual, sometimes parents stand as barriers in our decisions so, you cannot blame children." 

"For years parents struggle and sacrifice a lot to bring up their children but in the end, when they needed them their children fail to support them somehow, so I decided myself to live my life without any commitments," responded Dan.

"This is a ridiculous idea, Dan you will miss beautiful phase of life," said Sam.

"There is no use in wasting precious days of my life in pampering and babysitting, because in the end I will be left all alone in my last days so why waste my time, efforts, and money on those things, rather than I would enjoy all by myself." sighed Dan.

"Everything has a good and bad example, unfortunately, you took the bad example seriously." countered Sam.

Mr.John, who was paying attention to the conversation between friends, supported Dan's thoughts on children, but he had some message to add on to make the topic completely understandable. 

"But Sam, it's not only about children, but it's also about elderly parents that you should consider," said John and continued to share his views.

You both talk about the problems faced by children, but older people are also like children, and that's the beauty of life. There is a certain period where a baby grows into a teen, and in between a lot of things take place. Baby never understands anything older people have to repeat each and everything constantly to make them understand. They have tender body parts, smooth hair, and an innocent smile. Elders have to tune the memory of children. They have no worries as they are damn sure that their parents will protect and support them no matter what the situation is. Parents have to provide both physical and moral support to their children to make them as a successful individual.  

Similarly, parents undergo the same process as babies when they turn old. Their hair starts to fall, skin becomes soft, the voice becomes feeble, and they won't understand things so, they start to quarrel. They slowly turn into a baby again with all those changes. Even though we are adults, we expect physical and moral support from children. They can at least try to provide that in our lonely times. 

Sam and Dan with watery eyes, looked at each other when Mr.John completed his speech. 

"You are right Mr.John we thought that the problem was about raising the children, but in the end, it's also about taking care of elders in their old age," said Sam.

Mr.John nodded with a friendly smile.

Deadly silence prevailed; at that moment, even they heard the barking of faraway dogs. The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky. Birds returned to their nests.

 "This is one of the enlightening talks in my life," said Dan and Sam in unison with deep satisfaction.