The little things…

When I was a kid, she read bedtime stories to me at night and put me to sleep. My Mother, who will be 90 next Sunday, and who has Dementia, is now past the age and stage when she does any reading. But she will make a great show of sitting beside me in the morning and going through the daily newspapers while I have my first cup of tea. Asking me the same questions, telling me the same things, over and over again.

One of the fallouts of Dementia is that the disease has robbed her of the ability to fall asleep naturally at night. Her mental functioning is so severely affected that she has forgotten how to. Sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety medicines don’t work. She confuses daylight and nighttime. She does not know the day and date. Or the year, even. So when it’s time for her to go to bed, she’s wide awake. Excitable and talkative. And then puts the poor night attendant through the dance of her life.

Then I started sitting by her bed at night. She grabs my hand in one of her knobbly, rough, and twisted hands. Holding it tight and close to her chest. I gently kiss her forehead. Play with her thinning hair. Talking to her softly. Till she falls asleep like a little girl still clutching my hand. It has become a ritual post 9.30 pm every day. She finds childlike comfort and security in just holding my hand. I don’t mind. It’s the little things that matter.

About Mark Manuel

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.

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