Newerways

My mother once told me that senior citizens have money and power. I laughed. Then I watched her buy medical devices like some people buy shoes, and I stopped laughing. A few years ago, I accompanied her to ICICI Bank. The moment we stepped through the door, the staff transformed into a hospitality brigade. A chair appeared. A relationship manager materialized, murmuring, "Auntie, please sit." Someone offered water. Another person advised rest after she'd climbed her Everest (a flight of stairs). Meanwhile, I stood off to the side like an unpaid intern nobody remembered hiring. When we left, I said, "They really treat senior citizens like royalty. You got the chair, the priority queue, the smiles. I didn't even get a nod." She smiled. "Of course. Senior citizens have money and power." I was still processing power when she added, "Youngsters are too busy upgrading their lifestyles. We're the ones saving." The logic was airtight. The ban...