I was sitting in a park, reading, when I suddenly overheard a loud conversation between an elderly couple.
“Bache toh aaj kal hume hi aankh dikhate hain aur ladai karte hain.”
“Children nowadays show their anger and fight with me,” the Uncle said.
“Tum bhi toh kam nahi ho. Tumko bolne ki kya zarurat hai?”
“You’re no less; why do you even have to say these things?” the Auntie replied.
And then they started arguing about what should or shouldn’t have been said or done.
They seemed to be around the age of my parents, and I’m sure all our parents must have felt the same while living with us at some point.
Hearing this, I couldn’t help but wonder why they still have to go through this cycle of life. Why can’t it just be a relaxed and peaceful retired life?
But then, if I look at myself, could I really relax? Even a two-week vacation gives us jitters about not doing something, not being someone, or not feeling important to someone—whether it’s in the family, at work, or in the community.
And it’s not about money. Even if you assume you have enough to retire, there are so many other factors that won’t let you truly relax.
It’s the cycle of life that we all have to go through, and without it, we would feel empty and, frankly, terrified of living.