The late 1990s

Prasad was a young, energetic engineer. He saw an MS-DOS computer for the first time. As the green characters shimmered on the gray screen, his eyes lit up with joy. With his fingers dancing on the keyboard, the machine felt like magic to him.

A few years later, a simple Nokia mobile phone that fit in his palm entered his life. Hearing the voice of a distant friend at the press of a button felt like a miracle. Technology made his profession easier. Writing reports, making estimations, and sharing information with colleagues, everything happened faster. From the slow computers of the past to the flowing internet connections of today, technology became an invaluable companion in Prasad's life, a constant, ever-present shadow.

But as the wheel of time turned, that same technology became a new challenge for him.

The 2020s

When the COVID pandemic shook the world, Zoom meetings became unavoidable in his job.  However, his hearing problem turned these meetings into a nightmare.

Prasad, who once spoke fluently in large gatherings, was now terrified by the countless small, shimmering squares of faces on the screen. The different voices, one loud, one soft, one mumbling... became a confused jumble in his ears.

"Who is speaking? What are they saying?" his mind questioned, but he felt trapped in a cloud with no answer. The walls of his room seemed to shrink, becoming a prison of sound.

“Daddy, you don’t need to talk loudly on Zoom. Just listen, and if you want to talk, just unmute yourself,” his daughter Shreya patiently encouraged him. But his brain couldn't keep up with the speed. It couldn't grasp the chaos of the sounds. His fingers fumbled on the mouse, trying to find the unmute button, but his mind was trapped behind a dark curtain, unable to match the pace.
These difficulties grew more severe. He would remain silent in meetings, sometimes sinking into a heartbreaking emptiness, staring blankly at the screen.

Prasad's health issues deeply worried his family. His wife, Malini, his son, Akhil, and his daughter, Shreya, observed him closely. Symptoms like a staggering walk, inability to stand for long periods, sometimes pausing for what seemed like hours to take a single step, and sudden bouts of dizziness were confirmed by doctors as signs of dementia.

One evening, sitting beside him, Malini gently said, “Swami, the job is too difficult now. Your health is what matters.” Tears welled up in her eyes. Although her voice was soft, Prasad clearly understood the distress in it.

“Daddy, you’ve worked so hard for so long. It’s time to rest. Shouldn't you start living for yourself?” Akhil and Shreya, who were both settled in good jobs, comforted and encouraged him. The love in their eyes moved Prasad's heart. But Prasad's mind was initially unwilling to accept this decision.  He remembered his past life. The moments spent busy at work, the discussions filled with laughter around teacups with colleagues, the travels for new projects—all flashed before his eyes.

That evening, sitting on the balcony, watching the sunset in the distance, a void enveloped his heart. “Am I no longer useful?” his mind questioned. But when Malini held his hand and said, “Swami, you are our world. Your happiness is all that matters to us,” tears filled his eyes. Shreya and Akhil assured him, “Daddy, we will always be by your side.” Their love guided him toward the decision.

Finally, in 2023, he retired. Though the decision felt heavy, the breaking of the old life's chains gave him a strange sense of freedom and a new beginning, like breathing fresh air.

A New Chapter

After retirement, a new chapter began in Prasad’s life. Realizing that his father loved peace and solitude, Akhil came up with a unique idea. He personally decorated a small caravan. Inside the caravan, a small bed, a tiny table, and windows adorned with colorful curtains by Malini—all made it feel like a mobile home.

“Daddy, whenever you feel lonely at home, go into nature in this caravan. Take Mum with you too,” Akhil said. That caravan felt like a moving sanctuary to Prasad.

For her husband, Malini learned to drive in middle age. Her fingers trembled slightly when she first held the steering wheel, but she filled her heart with courage for Prasad. “Swami, I'm learning to drive just for you,” she would say with a smile. They often traveled to the green forests near Hyderabad, like Vikarabad and Narsapur. Once, they even went as far as Laknavaram.

These forests, the faint rustle of leaves floating in the air, the continuous music of the crickets, the calls of the owls, and the distant song of the cuckoo gave Prasad boundless peace. In the evening, as the sun set and the sky was filled with golden and orange hues, Prasad would sit outside the caravan and breathe deeply. Stepping out of the confinement of the house walls and spending time freely and safely gave him new energy.

“Malini, it is so pure and free here. It’s much better than sitting at home,” he would happily tell his wife. The sparkle in his eyes filled Malini's heart with joy. Malini was always by his side on these journeys, like a strong pillar.

Both the mother and children, as well as Prasad, knew that his health problems would increase, not decrease. Though his occasional staggering walk and sudden hallucinations were challenges for her, she took care of him with great patience.

One day, while sitting in the forest in the evening, Prasad weakly asked, "Am I troubling you?" Malini held his hand and replied, “No, Swami, if you are happy, my heart is full.” The love in her words warmly touched his heart.

Malini encouraged Prasad to restart his old hobby: wildlife photography. On these trips, when the camera was in his hand, his brain became active, and his thoughts became clear. "Look, Malini! How beautiful is this peacock, and how its feathers shimmer! There is so much beauty even in this dead tree stump!" When he said this with a trembling voice while taking a photo, his face would light up, and the sparkle and enthusiasm of a small child would appear in his eyes.

The dark shadow of dementia filled Prasad's life with challenges. Some nights, he would suffer from hallucinations.

One night, he suddenly woke up in the dark room and screamed in fear, “Malini, snakes, there are in the room!” The anxiety in his voice and his sweating shadow were visible on the wall. Malini immediately woke up, held his hand, and gently comforted him, “Swami, there is nothing there. It’s a trick of your mind.” Her touch and soft voice melted his fear. However, these hallucinations and nightmares pushed him into severe stress. He would pace around his room, yelling and shouting.
Once, while in the grip of a nightmare, he suddenly hit Malini. Her face was bruised. Though she was hurt in that moment, she quickly recovered and lovingly comforted him, “Oh, Swami! It was a dream, you didn't hit me,” she soothed.

“Malini, I’m not angry with you. But it's not in my control,” Prasad said tearfully, with a feeling of guilt.

Malini, hiding her pain, hugged him tightly, saying, “Swami, it was only a dream. You didn’t hit me.” In that embrace, he felt he had found a safe haven. The medicines and therapies prescribed by the doctors reduced these symptoms somewhat. But the darkness at night continued to frighten him.
“Someone is pulling me into the dark world,” he would mutter, looking around in the dark. “I’m scared. I won’t go alone,” he would cry.

Yet, the moments spent in nature and the photos taken with the camera gave him endless solace. That camera gave his eyes a new vision, telling him that the world was still beautiful. With the help of doctors, Malini, Shreya, and Akhil fully understood Prasad's condition and challenges, and they constantly encouraged him, showing their love in every step.

“Daddy, if it’s hard to remember the camera settings, use the automatic mode,” Shreya gently suggested. “Swami, read this book; it will keep your brain active,” Malini would bring new books, putting them in his hands to encourage him. Akhil would give him puzzles, saying, “Daddy, solve this puzzle, let’s see,” giving him a small game to keep him sharp. Their efforts gave Prasad the assurance that he was not alone.

One afternoon, Prasad went to an art exhibition with his wife. The paintings displayed by the artist, the colorful sky, the birds flying with open wings, the forest scenes etc., planted seeds of thought in him. They filled him with new inspiration. With that inspiration, and with the support of Malini and the children, he organised a photo exhibition. His wildlife photos, pictures of peacocks mid-dance, moments of various birds spreading their wings to fly, a cuckoo perched on a scilentb branch, and stunning shots of forests bathed in mist and light  scenes greatly attracted the visitors.
“There is life pouring out of this peacock photo!” a young visitor exclaimed, and a radiant smile blossomed on Prasad's face.

That moment gave his life a new meaning and purpose. Even though Prasad's life was filled with challenges, the peaceful moments spent in the caravan, the world seen through the camera lens, and the selfless love of his family gave him new hope. Although dementia had changed him physically and mentally, he embraced his new life and every moment in it.

“I may not be the Prasad of the past, but this new Prasad can also enjoy life,” he often says with a smile to his relatives and friends. In that smile is immense contentment and the spirit of a new beginning.

(This story is not just about Prasad's struggle. My intention is to raise awareness about dementia in society and emphasize the importance of family and community support.)

Image (c) istock.com