Siti looked at the old lady admiringly. She is amazed to see the old lady everyday walking into cafe alone, gracefully making her presence known, gives order with perfect English with her sweet captivating voice. Siti could not stop looking at her well kept curly black and white hair falling around her shoulders. Her manicured and painted baby pink nails, almost lost their boundaries n faded into her pale skin. Her light pink lips have a hint of lipstick. Her scent is amazingly Asian and familiar but Siti couldn't recognise. Her laugh lines and few more wrinkles around eyes are not at all ugly but looked like cute brush strokes of a talented artist. Her black eyes turn a shade of brown by sunlight and looked sparkling. The old lady, in her younger days must have been a striking beauty.
As Siti prepared the old lady's order, she heard a familiar voice, "Good morning Siti". Cafe's owner Veena walked in and went straight to Table 20.
Next 30 mnts Veena and the old lady immersed in deep conversation. Siti many times wondered why Veena ignores other customers and sits with the old lady. She heard them talking about weather, dogs, toast, by-gone actors, old songs, old lady's daughter and much more. Never the same or routine.
At 9.30 am, the old lady stood up and went to the door. As she left, Veena held the door and The old lady shook her hand and said, "it was nice meeting you" and left. After a minute, Veena too walked out of the cafe. Siti was seeing this "action replay" for the past eight months. The old lady never pays the bill and Veena never insists. Today, Siti couldn't hold back anymore of curiosity and rushed out to see what's going on. A few steps behind the old lady, Veena was following her. Very slowly the old lady crossed the road. As she passed by a gate to an apartment building, Veena rushed and gently guided her back through the gate. As if she knows where the old lady lives. As Siti watched, both, Veena and the old lady disappeared into the apartment building. Siti returned to her duties at the cafe.
Veena gently guided the old lady towards the lift. At the lift, she asked the old lady where she lives. The old lady looked confused. "Look at your watch" Veena gently coaxed her. When she lifted her hand, the old lady was able to read "2nd floor, flat 203" . The specially designed watch engraved with the address guided them on their next action. Inside the lift, Veena asked if the old lady would like to press the button to Second floor. The old lady, like a child, got excited and immediately obeyed. On second floor, as they both got out of the lift, Veena patiently waited for the old woman to lead the way to 'Flat 203'. At the door, the old lady stood confused n looked at Veena. "Pethaps you have the key to the door in your purse" Veena hinted with a smile. The old lady opened her purse, took out the key and opened the door. Once inside, the old lady invited Veena to sit on sofa n went into the bedroom.
After a couple of minutes Veena followed the old lady into the room. In the room, beside the bed the old lady was standing facing the wall looking at a huge portrait. Hearing footsteps behind her, the old lady turned, looked at Veena and softly said, "Kanna!".
At the cafe, Siti got busy in routine duties. Usually the cafe is crowded. Today, with just a few customers, Siti's workload was minimum. After one hour, as Veena walked in, Siti prepared her usual Matcha Latte and handed it to her. Veena picked up the mug and went to Table 20. She sipped slowly looking at children playground just outside the window. Siti walked to her side and cleared her throat. "Màm, I am curious to know who the old lady is. Everyday I see the same routine happening. If you don't mind, who is she?" Without turning her head, or looking at Siti, Veena said, "she is my mother. Gowri. Real owner of this cafe". Siti could detect a hint of trembling in Veena's voice.
"She is suffering with dementia. She doesn't recognises me. She doesn't remember her own cafe. It's very sad that there are no memories for her." As an elderly couple enterd cafe, Veena walked over to them to greet. Siti wanted to know more. How to deal with such situation? She remembered her grandmother at home. She decided to understand more about such scary stage of life, dementia.
Later that evening after closing cafe, when Veena was looking at the day's register, Siti approached her, and asked, "I was thinking about Mrs Gowri. How do you deal with such situation? It must be very difficult that your own mother cannot recognise you. How did it happen?"
"Doctor says she is going through 3rd stage. She remembers incidents from past. Sometimes details are lost. She still recognises herself in the mirror. She recognises me, her daughter, as a kid. Her favourite and happy memories with me as a child. Not everything is lost yet. However, doctor says eventually she won't recognise herself in the mirror. She gets hungry. But sometimes forgets to eat. When she was diagnosed with her condition, she was better. Insisted that she wanted to stay near her cafe. Her dream. It's been eight years. There were bad days and good days too. She doesn't remember my children. As of now, we are managing by making her relax. Sometimes she remembers and cries a lot. At that time, we tell her not to stress. Stress, that's the first thing that caused this situation. When she was young, she was cool and confident. Absolute joy to be with. Unnecessary stress created by others in life over the years gave her brain stroke. She will never be the same again." Veena took a deep breath controlling her tears. She walked out of the cafe, walking towards her car, she looked up at the apartment balcony where her mother was standing. Gowri was looking towards "Kanna's cafe" n waved at her. Today is a good day! Veena waved back n drove off to pick her kids from school. She is determined to make most of their time together happy, pleasant n memorable.
Gowri walked into her bedroom and looked at the portrait beside the bed. It's her daughter Kanna and herself.
Wat prompted this story? About two years ago most of the story was my dream. I woke up crying as, in the dream i couldn't recollect my daughter's name. couple of months later I had brain stroke. It took me about three or four days before I could remember my daughter's name and call her from my phone.
Life is beautiful. Live it with joy and passion. Don't stress or give others stress. You will never know what can happen. When it does everything before seems silly and stupid.
