The story of Mrs. Lakshman Singh will be the story of every old couple living alone in India with children working and living in distant places or abroad.

Lakshman Singh is in hospital now for almost a month. He suffered an acute heart attack on a Saturday night. Mrs. Singh took help of the neighbours and the acquaintances of Hindustan Motors and on their advice, got him admitted in Arogya Niketan, an Uttarpara Nursing home. But after some days, when his condition stabilized and the doctors recommended an angiography, Mrs. Singh took him to BM Birla Heart Hospital. His condition was bad enough and was kept in ICU. The resourceful acquaintances of Hind Motors such as Madhu Lahoti helped her. I felt happy that he was in a safe place and in right medical care.

Rajat also came in from USA. Lakshman Singh got stabilized. As per angiography there was no blockade in arteries. But his heart has gone weak to extent of 40%. After few days, he was moved to normal room.

After Rajat left, it was really difficult for Mrs. Singh to manage with BM Birla heart Institute so far away from the place where she lives. Mrs. Singh wanted to bring Lakshman Singh. After the doctor permitted, she brought him home. They reached home by evening but then Lakshman Singh condition deteriorated. She called the local doctors. And finally she got him again admitted in a local nursing home that night itself. The place is about at 20 minutes by riksha from the residence of Mrs. Singh. In case of Mrs. Singh, the problem gets accentuated because of their handicapped son, Bimi.

And with the treatment so costly and almost hardly any medical care insurance coverage for the old, how worrisome it is for an ordinary middleclass couple?

Can one imagine the agony of Mrs. Singh? She is bravely fighting it out with almost no relatives to help.

And this story is becoming universal with family becoming more and more nuclear with urbanization and globalization.

And the problem is not only for the old couples. It is almost same for the younger ones too. It’s becoming more and more difficult to live without tensions for them too with growing kids. It’s almost miserable to face any eventuality of any mishaps with younger couples too with no one to help. Can the high salary and perks buy the peace and happiness that a joint family living together provided?

Can we forget this negative aspect of globalization?