THE INCREASING NEED OF THE PRESENCE OF THE SPOUSE

Padmasri Vinod Dua is no longer with us, he could not recuperate from the health challenges that accompanied the Covid 19 infection he caught some months back. 67 years is not an age to depart for a person like Dua who had immensely contributed to media journalism for more than 4 decades. How we wish he lived and contributed more to the the profession that is today completely entangled in the ‘post-truth’ mess that the country is going through! My utmost respects to him!

It is read and heard that Vinod Dua and Padmavati (fondly called as ’Chinna’ by Vinodji) made a fantastic couple. The Radiologist Dr Padmavati Dua surrendered to the second wave of Covid, probably a reason for Vinod Dua to mentally give up the fight for life. They had wonderful friends and belonged to the elite group of the rajdhani, Delhi. 

May the departed Souls of the Dua’s rest in eternal peace!

That takes me to another thought, that of the wife departing from the world earlier than the husband. It simply is not the same as that of the husband dying earlier than the wife. Globally and specifically in the Indian context, the women have the wherewithal and the adjustability to live without the husband than the other way round. As age goes up, men are much more dependent on the wives than reverse. I had seen plenty of such cases within my relatives and friends that prove the point. Why, even I cannot imagine of living these senior years without my dear wife around. 

When one retires from profession or vocation, there must be something going for him post that, lest things will be very difficult to continue. Most of the purpose and obligation of life would have been fulfilled by then. Mind turns negative with age and one starts to pity himself of the present stage and then the diseases follow and soon, you become a picture on the wall. For creating a sense of purpose for the senior living and to be living happily, the invigorating presence of your spouse is an essential thing. ‘Chotta-motta’ fights apart (even there is happiness in it), the life becomes worth living only when your loved one, which is none other than your spouse, is with you.