"It does not work that way"

The English spring had just begun.  Maple leaves were turning yellow. Few fallen leaves on the marble pavement were being graced by the cool breeze.  As I sat in the bench, my son had already run away from my clutches to play with the first grass hopper that caught his attention. Grass hoper appeared lot disciplined and matured compared him. 

I moved to UK 6 years back as a part of my onsite assignment. I lay back fully resting on the park bench.  I was yawning consistently, attributed more to my tiresome work in office and partly to my son who didn’t let me sleep last night. “Didn’t you sleep well last night”, enquired my friend who I used to meet In the park every time I went there. “Look at him, playing and enjoying. He didn’t let me sleep the whole night.” My angry voice were on its peak. “Does he even know that I am struggling in office, just so that he can have a better life” I vented my frustration on my friend. “Wait, let me grow old and I will do all this to him, so that he knows how much has tormented me. He will have to look after me the way I look after him..hmmmm”

Somebody patted on my shoulders. I turned back to see a wrinkled hand and traced it up to a blue eyed old man in his mid 80s. “It does not work that way, my son. Love does not work that way”He said, as he ran his hand through his free flowing white bread.  He slowly walked away tapping his walking stick on the ground. His words echoed a thousand times in my mind. 

He reached near my son who was busy playing. Lifted him and kissed him on his forehead and my son held both his ears and kissed him on his eyes. He left my son to play. I saw him fade into the last turning of the park lane. Seeing my son playing happily, I realize  “It does not work that way, my son. Love does not work that way”.