"It is not that problems are there only in today's families," she analysed. "Forty or 50 years ago also, there were problems in families -- but no son or daughter pushed his/her parents away. In a joint family, there were many other elders too. That has changed today. Many children tell us they have no space for their parents as they live in a small flat. They need that extra bedroom for their children to study.

"But they don't realise," Vaithi continued, "that after a few years, they also will have no room in the same home. Today, everybody has become very selfish. You, me, my children, my car, my TV, my possessions... they can't think beyond that. They (parents) take loans and send their children abroad to study. How many of these children come back and take care of their parents? The only difference is that they have money to keep their parents in a better old age home. I say this because I have been watching the scenario for the last 29 years. How selfish children are and how gullible these old people are!"

Vaithi told the story of a paatti (grandmother) who lived in Vishranthi for three years.

"Last week, her son and daughter-in-law came to see her for the first time," Vaithi said. "They wanted to take her with them. Do you know why? Their daughter, the old lady's granddaughter, is expecting her first baby, and they want help -- free help. And, you will not believe this, the paatti went with them happily. I still cannot forget that lovely smile on her face!"

All the residents of Vishranthi vehemently say they do not expect anyone from their families. But on Sunday evenings, you can see all of them sitting outside with their eyes on the gate -- waiting for their children to come.

Some sons and daughters do come, but Vaithi has strict instructions for them: "I tell them, if you want to bring biscuits for your old mother, you have to bring enough for all the 108 mothers here."

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