Final departure – A Tribute

When a person leaves this world, to be never seen again, he is said to be dead. Since my childhood I have been listening to the stories. A child is born, grows and goes to God one day. Where does he come from and where does he go? Those stories never touched up on these questions.

I have myself never had time or inclination to probe these questions! Till my loved one left this world. It was hard to believe that some one, who was so lively and robust, suddenly refused to speak or move. The saga of several years of life ended in the fraction of seconds. What happened to him, no one can answer, some say the soul leaves the body. But who has seen it? Is it the soul that makes a person speak or move? It is only the physical body that one can talk about, nothing beyond it.

A very close friend of mine left this big world just because of an accident which no one has to be blamed for. Time stood still for the family which took all the care to provide him respect before consigning him to the fire, according to the rituals. He often contested the obsolete nature of their customs and rituals during his life time but once he left this world, the same gained supremacy over the logics or reasoning that he often gave. I was standing there just from a throw away distance looking at him. After he went into a long sleep, he was no longer allowed to sleep in his cozy bed and was shifted to the floor. The whole idea may have been to bring him as close as possible to mother earth. He did not protest and continued his sleep amidst the waiting crowd, calmly tolerating the nuisance.

I kept looking at him in anticipation that he would get up and say ” What are you all doing here? I felt him moving at times but no these were all illusions. Yet his face did break into a smile, characteristic of him. The smile reflected the ease and comfort of his sleep. That must be the most dreadful night for the family, to see their dear son/brother/friend lying like a rock in his own house, which just a few hours ago, bustled with his presence! We waited silently for the crack of dawn. The morning arrived as usual, ther birds chirped and hawkers went on their usual business but that was not a normal morning for the family and loved ones getting ready to bid farewell to our beloved friend. His last journey began with a symbolic bath to him by close relatives – something he would have never liked, when alive. He was then placed on a wooden plank, to be carried on the shoulders of the loved ones. His own house which had shelterd and comforted him, was bidding him good bye. All this while his face, oozed radiance of peace and contentment. We all know that once he left the main gate, he would never return. The vehicle which never goes in reverse gear, took him to the crematorium. The saga of his life ended with flames. We paid him our last homage with tears in our eyes. Later in the day, he sent the rain to soak our tears.

Next day, all that remained of my humble, knowledgable and wonderful friend was a handful ash. It is hard to believe that we will never see him again. His talks and hearty laughter still echoes in our ears. We know that all his blessings and good wishes are always with us. We are sure that he is happy and content wherever he is… I could go on writing those precious moments I have spent with my friend, who always stood by me as a friend, as a brother, as a guardian and a preacher, who always tried to show me the tommorows of today. Whatever I would write today it will end up as tragic story. But never mind I’ll go on praising him till the last moment of my life. This is one thing which I could do in loving memory of my friend.

Dear friends, do think of your loved ones, who wish for your safe home return……… before you go on a Rash drive.

The above post was written on the very next day, my friend passed away. Though it’s personal but somewhere I felt that it should be put for a public reading as it comes as a caution and it explores the trauma of those loved one`s who are left behind and for those who go for a rash drive.

Thanks for reading.

Nabeel.