The Role Reversal.

Both their eyes filled with tears. Hurriedly brushing off hers, she helped her father to sit. The once strong frame that had easily lifted both her and her sister on his shoulders, trembled slightly. She could see the pain in his eyes, his was physical, hers was emotional. Adjusting the pillows below his head, she set the tray before him. As he  made to lean forward, she took the spoon and started feeding him, coaxing each mouthful into his mouth. In between, he coughed. Hurriedly she bent and proffered the spitoon. A few flecks of the phlegm fell on her fingers, but she did not flinch, or react even. Dinner over, she wiped his mouth,tenderly, as if tending a child. Next came the sleep routine, when she brought his brush, helped him with his ablutions. Washing the toothpaste from his beard, she then dried him, lowered the hospital bed, adjusted his pillows and talked softly, reminiscising, telling him how his entire family was waiting to have him home again, until he drifted off to sleep. Curling up on the couch alongside his bed, she slept too, though fitfully, waking up each time he coughed and needed the spitoon.

They watched in wonderment, the couple in the adjoining bed. They watched her devotion to him, the love that shone from both their eyes as they talked. The aura of dignity around the old man, even at his most vulnerable, was almost tangible. They watched as she bent to make him wear his slippers, her slight frame bracing to hold him as she and the wardboy helped him to stand, to walk with the help of the walker. The adoration in her demeanour was plain to see, as she gently helped him to stand straight. What a handsome man he was! So tall, so friendly.. He smiled and nodded at them, greeting the man, the patient, with a "Hello, brother. How are you today? " as he slowly walked out of their shared room.

" You are an amazing daughter, " burst out the lady. "Don't you ever get angry, waking up at night ? Such devotion !" Then turning to him she said, " You are very lucky to have such a daughter, sir."

Turning to the couple, she looked at the lady and retorted, "No Ma'am. I was the lucky one. Think what an amazing father he must have been. He is. If i manage to repay his debt even by one percent, i will count myself lucky."

"Indeed," she thought to herself. " Those childhood days, were the best of my life, because of him. I was blessed that he was my dad. He tended me for twenty years, now it's my turn. Now it's my turn."