COIMBATORE: While priests may talk about returning to dust and philosophers may be eloquent about all human lives ending at the grave, one would not expect that fate when still alive. This 90-year-old woman from Kalinganaikenpalayam certainly did not see it coming, especially at the hands of her daughter. She had been abandoned at a graveyard in the village, located near Thaliyur, a week ago.
The unassuming N Karupaiye believed her daughter Ramathal, when she told her she would return after getting tea for the woman.
Her daughter had remembered to take along with her Karupaiye’s walking stick, without which the woman had not been able to walk since her hip surgery. Unable to move, Karupaiye sat waiting at the same spot for a week. Her enquiries about her daughter with passers-by fell on deaf ears.
Old age and perhaps the trauma from being abandoned for a week had an effect on the woman. Though she was able to recall names of her son and daughter-in-law to be Kanakaraj and Nagathal, she could not remember where they lived.
After the death of her husband Nagaraj several years ago, Karupaiye had provided for her kids by working as help in households. Her limited wages, however, did not allow her to educate her children. Around two decades ago, she successfully got both her children married.According to Rukmani, a villager residing near the graveyard, Kanakaraj had been taking care of his mother in the house he shared with his wife. However, after the two of them separated, she left Karupaiye with his sister, who was believed to be residing in Thondamuthur.
Seeing Karupaiye sitting alone in the graveyard, Rukmani had providedher food. Sometimes, Kanakaraj visited to give her food, informed Rukmani.Even as the villagers were trying to determine her fate, Karupaiye had eyes only for the street, still expecting her children to turn up and take her home.