Pushpa could do only that.
Buying a house was only the big spending Kuppuswamy indulged in.
When Kumar was studying Engineering, he conveyed his wish to study abroad, to his father.
"I consented to fulfill your wish to study Engineering, since you were good at studies. Your Engineering education has been costing me a lot of money, already. You will get a good job in the campus interview that will be held in your college. Why do you want to go abroad and study further, spending a lot of money?" asked Kuppuswamy.
"Studying at an international university in the United States has a lot of value. After completing my studies, I will get a job there, with very good salary. I will get an education loan from a bank, for my overseas studies. I will repay this loan from my salary. But we need to spend money initially" said Kumar.
Kuppuswamy gave his consent, half-heartedly.
Kumar went to the United States for higher studies. After completing his education, he got a job there. He told his parents that he had no intention of coming back to India. One year after getting a job in the United States, he married an Indian girl who was working there.
Kuppuswamy had no regret about Kumar's decision. But Pushpa was upset. With her husband living a life, focusing only on earning and accumulating money, and her son choosing a life for him and settling down in a foreign country, she felt lonely. Her unhappiness and frustration affected her health, leading to certain ailments. She was becoming physically weaker, day by day.
Due to changes in the trade environment and market conditions, Kuppuswamy's commission business began to take a downslide. After struggling for a couple of years, Kuppuswamy decided to close down his business.
After Kuppuswamy began to stay home, after winding up his business, he began to experience health problems, associated with his growing old.
Pushpa's health also began to deteriorate.
Both of them underwent a number of medical tests, as advised by their physician.
After studying the test reports, the physician told the couple, "Both of you are suffering from a host of health problems. You will have to stay home and be on constant medication. It will be difficult for the two of you to live without the help of another person. You may also need medical attention, now and then. Hence, it is essential that there is someone at home, to look after you and take care of you, throughout the day."
Pushpa spoke to Kumar over the phone, conveying to him what the doctor had said.
"Mom! You should follow the doctor's advice. You and dad can't manage on your own. Apart from engaging people to cook and to do household chores, you should also engage the services of two nurses, a male nurse for dad and a female nurse for you. Or, both of you should join a luxurious old age home, where there will be people to take care of you. You will also have immediate medical attention there. Both the alternatives involve considerable expenditure every month. Since daddy has earned a lot of money and saved it without spending, you shouldn't have any problem about money!" said Kumar.
Pushpa felt sad that Kumar did not offer to contribute even a small amount of money, for their expenditure.
She looked at Kupuswamy, who was sitting beside her on the sofa, listening to Kumar over the speaker.
For the first time, Pushpa noticed an expression of regret on her husband's face. Was it on account of the feeling that they had been virtually abandoned by their only son, or on account of the realization that the money saved by him over the years, without enjoying any comforts, was going to be squandered on paying salaries for people, who were going to take care of them?
She was not sure.
Condemnation of Faults
uyaRpAladhu anRik kedum.
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