Only son lives in Europe, mother cries at old-age home

“I fasted month-long. As it is Eid day (Friday), I woke up at 3 o’clock. I prayed Tahajjud and cried to Allah. After Fajr, I made the room clean and tidy and took semai. But suddenly the heart got twisted. I’m now all alone, even though I have a son. That’s when I felt the most helpless in the world!”

A 65-year-old woman Safia Begum, who lived at ‘Prabeen Nibas’ in the capital’s Agargaon, told the story of her life on Friday (May 14).

Disagreed to mention the identities of her son and relatives, Safia said that her husband was a government official who died 10 years ago. The only son lives with his family in Europe. He sends money every month. But she does not see him year after year.

She sighed and said, how much my son used to demand before Eid. If he did not like the shirt, shoes and undervest bought for him, he would cry. We used to go shopping and change it again and again. Her father was a little angry. So I did everything in secret. My husband is no more today while the son is far away as if I have nothing. Now my son has a lot of money. He sends money every month. But that money he just sends as I gave him to birth! 

At the moment, Safia Begum was trying to cover her face with a cloth.

She denied mention her son’s identity, saying that if it is published in media, my son will be hatred to the society. His happiness is my happiness. What is Eid? I shed tears for my son every day. I still pray for him.”

Such story life is not only of Safia Begum, but of many others. When Talked to Moyna Khatun, 70, at the old-age home, she said, “Her husband died six years ago. Six months later, the children did not allow her in the house. Being tortured, 6 months after her husband’s death in January 2015, Moyna Khatun left home without saying anything. 

She said, “One day I fell ill while walking on the street. Then I got shelter here. Then days, months and years have been passed. Even on the day of Eid, no children contact to hear me.”

A former professor of a college in the capital who lives in the old-age home said, “I have been living here for 3 years due to the negligence of my son’s wife after the death of his wife.”

He said, “My two daughters want to take me to their homes, but I said ‘no’. The daughters come her to see me and pay the expense. But the son does not come. He never came here. This morning the daughters called and said they will bring lunch. Feeling better as I can take lunch with the daughters.”

61-year-old Selina Akhter said her husband died 17 years ago. She used to live with the youngest of the two sons. The youngest son died two years ago. She has been here for a year. The eldest son lives in the United States. He sends money but does not come to see her. 

This woman said with sorrows, “Mother and son lead their lives abroad as they wish. I had to follow them at the last age of life. I have to die with this grief.”

With a sigh of relief, she said, “No complaints for the child, I’m fine. I had a child in my womb. Wherever I am, I pray to Allah for him.”

Abdur Rahman Sumon, GM (General Manager) of Prabeen Nibas, said, “Those who are here are our parents. We serve them with this in mind. We try to make everyone who lives here happy. Many elders cry silently alone, but do not curse for children. May they always be well.”