Almost a year ago when I got the letter to send the pension case, it was like being caught unawares. I was really not prepared for this rude shock though the certainty of attaining superannuation is not something one can ever deny. Only yesterday I got my National Pension Card like affirmation of the impending D day!!
Retirement for most of us is perhaps a taboo word. We 'know and donot know' type of thing. For anyone having spent almost four decades in 'naukri' ,the 'chaakri' gets imbued in veins. Coupled with workaholism, it is hard to shrug off the very thought of reitirement with a gentle smile et al. It stares like the ghost ready to gulp us down or like a ďint of destiny which has to be accepted come what may. One of my colleagues used to say: 'we get attuned to ringing bells to call'. Many of us are likely to feel, well we are fit enough yet to put in ten more years and this retirement age must be extended. The preparations having set in, no denying the sleepless nights before the die is cast. Its like preparing to meet the fait accompli.
All said and done, there are people who take it sportingly, plan their future course of action judiciously, are sure of what they are to do and how. Many also have the guts to take the VRS to do things they feel they are better capable of than just being a 'sarkari naukar'. And there are those bravehearts and daring people too who start eyeing an assignment post retirement and are bold enough to hit the nail on the head getting five years down the line and live happilly ever after.
'We look before and after and pine for what is not' is true for all to -be 'retirees and also the retired ones. It needs a lot of inner strength to accept life as it comes and also be happy with all the vagaries life brings in its sway. The grace and dignity of many many of retirees and the way they work hard to keep themselves up and doing is really awesome to watch. The regularity of routines, their dedication of services to ameliorate sufferings of many, their relentless efforts to improve upon the living environs, their selfless concern for the common man's day to day travails and efforts to lessen their hardships makes us feel proud of them.
Retirement is a boon or a bane depends on an indiividual's own perspective. I have seen many a strong headed ones unable to take things in a stride and getting into pits of gloom and self pity and also fall prey to one ailment or the other post retirement. It is the most important landmark just as getting into the services is.
Retirement for sure is the reality which must make us feel gratitude for all the grace God has bestowed upon us to put in decades of our lives in the service- many are not fortunate even to get as many years of life itself. It is an occasion to celebrate the biggest blessing of being part of the services which only the fortunate few get to start and work upto the finishing line with grace and honour.
For sure we are always better substituted. And our work may or may not leave the 'footprints on the sands of time' but the very consolation of what we did was to the best of our ability is suffice to stand in good stead and enable us live 'with our heads held high and minds without fear'.
