Festivals are happy times. Times to make beautiful memories. But what happens when you are thousands of miles away from home, away from your elderly parents who are haunted by those memories and feel all the more lonely and sad? Soumi Basu shares her story of how unexpectedly her family’s Holi became a happy occasion once again!

I was having a chat with my mother-in-law on the phone. She mentioned that Holi was just around the corner and how these festivals are really difficult for them without us. I had caught her in one of those rare, sentimental moods. Most of the time she sounds happy and strong. But this year had been a bit difficult health-wise for both my parents-in-law. She said she was very happy that both her children are happily married and doing well but sometimes the distance seemed too much. She wished we were in Kolkata.

My parents-in-law have never made me feel any less loved than their own children. And love works both ways. They had ceased to be my parents-in-law and become my parents long ago. I live in Paris and my sister-in-law lives in London. Because of their health problems, both of us had already visited them twice last year and were planning to visit them again in the summer when the children’s schools would break for summer. So, paying them a visit and cheering them up was not a do-able option. But my mother-in-law’s longing stayed with me. I was feeling sad and a little guilty.

I was discussing this hopeless situation with a friend and she told me about Support Elders’ unique idea of visiting elderly parents whose children live away from Kolkata with abeer and sweets. All I had to do was take part in their online contest. I visited their facebook page and shared my most memorable Holi experience with them. A few days later they contacted me for the address of my family. Feeling excited and happy, I shared my parents-in-law’s contact information. I did not tell my parents-in-law anything. I wanted it to be a surprise for them.

The Support Elders team visited my parents-in-law in the morning with abeer and sandesh. They smeared abeer on the feet of the elders as is traditional and hugged them. Not just that, they stayed for a couple of hours, chatting with my parents-in-law, sharing breakfast with them, and listening to their stories. The best part was the team clicking photos of my happy in-laws and sending them to us. It was the best Holi gift ever!

I called my parents-in-law later to wish them a happy Holi. With the time difference, it was just early morning for us—the Support Elders team had already visited them and my in-laws sounded so happy and excited. My mother-in-law kept telling me how nice it was and that the team that had visited them were so warm, friendly and well-mannered and just like her own children. My father-in-law, a man of very few words, went all emotional and said it felt like his children had put abeer on his feet. He told me, “I bless my children and the team with all my heart. I am proud that we have raised such sensitive children.”

Even though we were thousands of miles away from them, thanks to Support Elders I have never felt closer to them. A truly unique concept carried out with a very generous heart!