I MET SENIOR CITIZENS AT OLD AGE HOME (DARUL SUKOON)
In the name of ALMIGHTY ALLAH who gave me this chance to write something about most innocent senior citizens, ALHAMDULILLAH.
ALLAH blessed me to go there to met senior citizen to realize how much pain in their hearts behind those beautiful smiles. we daily complain to Allah about thing we don’t have or things we want but these people, they don’t want anything, they just keep on smiling. Now let me explain about the time is spend with them and what exactly my research was.
Me and my friend Sarah Turab who is managing director of ST. IMPERIAL COLLECTION and her husband Dr. Turab her lovely kids with two other girls gave them a surprise visit for new year on 1st January 2017.
I reached Darul Sukoon (Senior Citizen) at 3pm they are located near M.A Jinnah Road back of Karachi X-Ray, Karachi. when we entered some of male mentally disorder senior citizen came and welcomed us very nicely with hi’s & Salaam, Anna, One of the lovely ladies who worked there welcomed us and explained us the activities for the given time. we had 3 hours to play games, sing, dance or want ever we wanted to do.
We saw that most of people there were 60% Christian, 30% Muslims and 10% Hindu but they live together. they respect each other equally. they celebrate every festival together. they do they don’t have any negative feeling about other religions. they have so much love in their hearts.
They have two campuses one for male one for female, at 3:30pm we reached their Hall which was in front of cafeteria which had long dining tables 1 side for male 1 side for females where they most have all the meals every day.
When we were busy in our arrangements, a very sweet SHAHRUKH KHAN (senior citizen) who is mentally disorder, can to meet us. He told us that he loves to wear watches. he was wearing 2, 3 watches he loves the most in one hand. Then we meet one sweet uncle who told us his story about being a widower, how his children registered him there just because he is a widower and how much happy is with is life and so much thankful to Allah. He gave us so much blessings. he was so talented. He asked us to play a game with him saying that if we won he will give us 500rs if we lose he will give us 100rs. first he taught us how to play the game. but of course we lost because this guy knew each and every trick to win. we played few more games with him but every time he won.
there was also a very talented lady who could play piano amazingly even though she was half blind. She sang ‘Meri Maa’, i had never heard such a sweet voice in my life. we appreciated her in the form of clapping and you could clearly see so much happiness in her eyes. we played so many games with them, we also arranged Henna application on their hands. one senior citizen came and ask me to apply henna on his hand I can’t imagine his happiness as i applied henna on his hand, he ask me to apply it on his other hand too.
We also got the chance to meet with an uncle who came from Australia 8 months ago. upon asking we found out that his body is half paralyzed. even though he has wife and children then sent him to Pakistan to his brother who then registered him here. Afterwards I met another senior citizen who used to be the captain in Pakistan Army, whose daughter wanted to go to Dubai so she registered him there because he couldn’t walk and was on wheelchair. then we met another lady who was a Gynecologist who was suffering from short term memory loss. another lady who was perfectly fine was there only because her daughter-in-law didn’t wanted to deal with her any more so her son left her there. Afterwards we cut the new year cake with 100 senior citizen. i can’t express about their happiness. After this ceremony we did another activity, played songs, we danced with them. they dance together. they love to do dance. after this activity we distribute gifts to them and their happiness level was on peak point I can’t explain. most of people are on upstairs who can’t walk they live on bed they eat on bed they change their costume on their beds. they were sick.
listening to all their stories put so many things into perspective, thing we take so much for granted. a mother who keeps her child in her womb for 9 months for this day? a father who give them education and whatever they ever want for this day? they repay them by sending them here and leaving them alone when they need them the most. children should be their strength at this age not their tears.
My intention for writing this article is to make these people understand that if you do wrong with your parents or siblings now it’s MAQAFATE AMAL and when it’s your time your childrens will do the same with you. just because they are old and going through so many sufferings doesn’t mean that you need to leave them alone. this is the time they need you the most. so just for the sake of your privacy or money or any other hidden agenda. don’t leave these amazing people because never forget that Allah is watching and one day you have to answer to HIM about all of your misdeeds. Remember that there is Jannet under your mother’s feet and your father who think’s of your like you are his right hand, don’t leave them alone in these old age homes. they need you now just like you needed them for years. all they need is some love and patience from their children. I pray to Allah to give Hidayat to these children and their families to do right by their parents, Ameen.
BY SOBIA ANWAR FATANI