為父母圓夢

小蘭 譯

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact，my father， who retired from Indian Government service， had never traveled by air before， so I just took this opportunity to make his experience wonderful， In spite of being asked to book tickets by train， I got them tickets on Jet Airways.

The moment I handed over the tickets to him， he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face，waiting for the time of travel， Just like a schoolboy，he was preparing himself on that day. We all went to the airport together， right from using the trolley for his luggage， the baggage checkin and asking for a window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I， too， was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.

As they were about to go in for the security check-in， he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great， but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.

When he said thanks， I told him there was no need to thank me. But later， thinking about the entire incident， I looked back at my life.

As a child， how many dreams did our parents have that came true? Without understanding the financial situation， we， as children， asked for cricket bats， dresses， toys， outings， etc. Irrespective of their affordability， they catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?

Same way today， when it comes to our children，we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation， we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best: theme parks， toys， etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy， so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young， it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.

Many times， when my parents asked me some questions， I have actually answered back without patience， When my daughter asks me something， I have been very polite in answering. Now l realize how they must have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children， the same attention and same care needs to be given to our parents and elders.

Rather than my dad saying thank you to me， I would want to say I'm sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes.Just because they are old does not mean that they have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes， too.

星期四，父母啟程回家鄉，我們一起到機場為他們送行，曾在印度政府部門任職的父親已經退休，他從未坐過飛機出游，因此我想借此機會為他安排一次精彩的旅行。雖然他要求坐火車去，但我還是給他訂了印度捷達航空公司的機票。

我把機票遞到父親手里的那一刻，他吃驚不已，驚喜之情溢于言表——希望那一天趕快到來。那天，父親像個學生一樣整裝待發。我們一起到機場，從用小推車運送他的行李，到托運行李，到要求一個靠窗的座位，再到焦急地等待安全檢查，整個過程父親都欣喜不已。我看著這一切，也十分高興。

正當他們準備通過安全檢查時，父親向我走過來，噙著淚水，向我道謝。那一刻，他十分激動，那不是因為我做了什么了不起的事情，而是這一切對他來說意義非凡。

父親向我道謝時，我告訴他說其實不必謝我。后來，再回想起整件事，我不禁回憶起了我的生命歷程。

當父母還是小孩子時，他們有多少夢想得到了實現?而我們在童年，不懂得體諒家里經濟拮據，開口向父母要板球拍、衣服、玩具，還要他們帶我們出去郊游等等。父母往往不顧經濟困難，努力滿足我們的各種需求。我們有沒有想過，為了滿足我們的眾多愿望，父母得作出多大的犧牲?對于他們為我們所做的一切，我們說過一句“謝謝”嗎?

而今，同樣地，當我們自己有了孩子，我們總想送他們上最好的學校，不管代價多大，我們都會盡全力給孩子最好的：帶他們去主題公同，給他們買玩具，等等。但我們往往很容易忘記，父母為了讓我們幸福，付出了很多。因此，我們有責任讓父母夢想成真，彌補他們年輕時錯過的；我們有責任讓他們經歷所有想經歷的，從而使生命完整。

曾經有很多次，當父母問我問題的時候，我總是不耐煩地敷衍他們；但當女兒問我問題的時候，我卻非常禮貌地回答。現在，我意識到我的父母當時會有多么地難過。我們要記住，老年是第二個童年。正如我們都會關心我們的孩子一樣，我們也應當給予我們的父母和長輩們同樣的關愛和照顧。

父親向我道謝，我卻更想向他道歉——為了實現乘飛機出游這個小小的愿望，他等得太久了。我真的意識到：為了我，父親作出了多大的犧牲；因而，我會盡自己的全力為父母圓夢。父母上了年紀，但這并不意味著他們應該放棄一切，繼續為孫子那輩作出犧牲。他們也有自己的愿望!

(彭濤推薦)