The Death

Rahul!can you please come out?I want to go home.

 Radha said to her husband at around 2 PM.They had just returned back to their places in the office and were preparing for the second half of the day.Rahul was a bit shocked to see the red eyes of Radha with tears knowing no stops.

What happened?Is everything okay?Rahul said standing up from his chair and walking out of the office along with his wife.

They went past the door,stood in the gallery and then Radha said to him

'मेरे घर से अभी फोन आया था। मेरी माँ अब नहीं रही।'

The sheer shock of the news was enough to numb the brain.The time felt slow and everything and everyone made no sense.Apart from tear glands,almost everything else felt dead.The mind and thoughts became dull.

But she called you just before lunch.How can this happen just in span of an hour?Asked Rahul.

He soon realized that even when he felt weak himself,he need to put up a brave face and act as if he was a renowned expert at handling disasters.And he definitely realized that it was a  terrible time to ask rhetorical questions.

An angel friend of Radha was passing by and she came to the rescue and supported Radha which she needed badly.Its amazing how friends can help even in seemingly helpless situations.

One thing led to another and both went home,took a flight in the night and reached the place of funeral in the early hours of the next day.

It was a place in the beaches of the Bay of Bengal.Many bodies were burning and her mother's body was laid down by the side of main entrance of the Swargdwar.

Everyone there was waiting for them.After the rituals, the body was engulfed by flames.

The fire was doing it's job spectacularly well.One body part after another was getting converted from flesh and blood into ashes and fumes.The whole reality of me and mine was getting blurred.The head fell off the body and the man there used stick to bring it back.

This  treatment of the dead body like an object which once was the center of the universe for some soul,somehow depicted that inside all the drama and facade,who we really are.The body of a 14 years old boy came inside.The memory structure of an ex chief minister was also witnessing everything.And just a few steps away from the burning pyre,an old man was sound asleep as if he was inside his bedroom.This unique junction of life and death was too much to process for the numb brains of both but somehow inside Rahul's brain entered a thought that no matter which path of life you take,whether you are black or white,rich or poor,young or old,you have an exact same exit and you have no idea when you will face it.Suddenly everyone around him felt important.Everyone felt precious in their own way. He only needed an open mind and big heart to embrace everyone.

The strong wind from the sea and fumes of the fire took Rahul somewhere deeper inside him.

He remembered all the times he was able to communicate with Radha's mother.The barrier of language was more than compensated by the feelings inside.They spoke less and understood more.He realized that he can never hear that voice again.Tears came out of his eyes and gravity did the rest.

He also remembered how irritated he felt when she used to call Radha and talked for hours.It felt as if he wanted her to call less and now once irritating 'Mama calling' was never going to flash again.

He was ashamed of himself.These mind wrenching thoughts kept burning inside and no amount of water flowing through eyes could put them off.

Clocks continued their endless journey and he felt fresh sunlight on his eyes.It was morning and for the first time in his life,he was resting on roadside with a dog sleeping beside him.

He came out of his thoughts to realize how important it is to kiss those hands which gave you the touch of love and care.How important it is to love them back with every cell of your being while you still have the opportunity because kissing them goodbye will be so damn difficult.