A tendency is now growing in our educated young boys and girls, who after a few months of their marriage, feel that the old parents have now lost their utility. They are a hurdle in their living. If any old parent happens to be dependent on the sons, they are considered as a burden. They are kept in a small room due to their infirmities of old age. Breakfast and food are served in their room. They are rarely invited to participate in family affairs. They are not invited or told who has called in or gone out. Gradually the son and his wife shorten their casual visits on the pretext that of late they have become busier than before. The small children seeing the changing attitude of their parents also start playing truant with the grandparents and become deaf to the grand-parents' calls. If the old parent point out of inattention of the grand children, the dutiful son or his wife seldom rubs the ears of the errant grand children.
Times for serving breakfast or lunch also become a matter of convenience of the son's wife. If protested by the old parents, the haughty daughter-in-law stops talking to the old parents of her husband and the work goes on by proxy. If any old parent falls ill he gets scant attention and nursing for his / her early recovery. But the errant daughters-in-law seldom become apologetic. If the son ever plans to go for outing with his family, he left his parents behind on one pretext or the other. In a way the old parents live like the watch-dogs to watch son's house or they are treated as the show-pieces only. In some families on minor differences the relations between the old parents and the son remain sour and distraught. So the old parent's last stop is the Edhi Center or a philanthropist's poor house.
It is, therefore, highly important that before the marriage every girl should be explained that from now on her Susral is her real home. Every parent is required to brief them that in their new phase of life they are required to live submissively, obediently, soft spoken instead of being harsh and dominating. If they defy it in certain cases they lose the popularity and love in the new environment. Old customs and traditions are still persisting in some old-fashioned families. The unbending attitudes of the young wives are often the cause of family feuds.
Every girl after all has to go one day to her 'susral'. If she can acquit herself according to the expectations of her husband and his relations including the old parents, she can lead a blissful life without and friction. It may also be not forgotten if an old parent is getting pension, yet he needs the son's succour to lead a happy and healthy life. The old parents at the best are the birds in flight.
They deserve good look after by their sons for their happy and healthy living. Even every religion and social norms lay emphasis on dealing with the old parents not in louder tones. Such courtesies if are extended to the old parents there will be no family quarrels, differences and displeasures. Let us not forget that the old age is the ultimate fate of every person.