My Father Is Afraid of Water

With his older brother already tending to their ailing mother, Prateek can no longer hide behind his demanding work schedule to neglect his father, who has Alzheimer’s. He cancels a crucial meeting, putting everything aside to be there for him. But the responsibility is overwhelming. Ensuring his father takes his medication on time, brushes his teeth, and uses the bathroom properly is a struggle. Prateek must force-feed him medicines, clean him and calm his frantic outbursts, tending to him with the patience one would show a child. And yet, in this tender role reversal, Prateek is reminded of how his father once cared for him in much the same way, guiding him through childhood with the same love and devotion. The love a child feels for a parent may not come instinctively, but is something earned and nurtured. Yet, in this moment, such distinctions fade away. For as Prateek gently tends to his father, the depth of their bond is undeniable. It is a love that transcends time and role — one that endures, even as memories fade. Watching him care for his father, it is impossible not to feel the echoes of the selfless love his father once poured into him, now returned with a quiet grace.