A FREE BIRD

Living life to the fullest post-retirement.

- Ramcharan Harshana

That evening, while dining happily with all family members including two sons, daughters-in-law, a young daughter and half a dozen grandchildren aged just five to teenaged years, Kamal Mehra when announced suddenly that he was going to retire at the end of the month, all responded giving out a yell of pleasant surprise. His wife Damyanti just smiled at him as she had already known about it.

Shyam, the eldest son, who always used to wear a serious expression on his face, just responded in a careless manner, “Okay dad. You have done enough for us. Now relax.”

His wife Uma, too, joined him while passing on chapatti to her father-in-law. “It’s true, papa. You’ve worked so hard. Now, it’s time to rest.”

The younger son Dipak, though posed a serious question, “But dad, how would you pass your time since you have been so busy all these years?"

Dipa, his wife, quickly responded dismissing his unnecessary concern. "Papa can involve himself in other activities; say... say... he knows there's a lot to do in the house also. Aren't I saying right papa?"

She gleefully asked looking around at everybody's face first and then at the retiring father-in-law, who seemed to be not caring to listen to her words.

"No... not at all." intervened Rupa, the teenaged daughter favouring her father. "Papa will do nothing. He will be a free bird now."

Damyanti smiled at her husband and stated proudly. "He has always been a free bird. After retirement, too, I don't think we shall find any change in him." She uttered determinately.

"Dadiji, can't we ask dada to play with us?" Chintu, the eight-year-old grandson asked enthusiastically and all six grandchildren - two daughters and four sons loudly spoke unanimously; "Dadaji will play with us."