The piercing wail of the old woman touched the sky. Sudeep's friends who rushed to the spot were shocked. Back at home, at the same time, Sudeep's mom felt dizzy and became fatigue. She asked for Sudeep. She felt something bad had happened. Kishan, Sudeep's father told her that he went to gym and he might be on his way. He asked her to take rest. Meanwhile, there at the accident spot, one of the Sudeep's friends immediately made a call to an ambulance. The others were thinking what to say to Sudeep's family. Moreover, how to communicate? Finally, one of them rang up to Sudeep's father. The phone is ringing.
Ring ring... ring ring...
Sudeep's Father: Hello...
Sudeep's Friend: Hello Uncle, I'm Sudeep's friend, Yashas speaking.
Sudeep's Father: Ha... Yashas... tell me. Sudeep came with you only know? Where is he? Why you people haven't turned up yet?
Sudeep's Friend: Ha uncle. He came with us only. But, uncle...
Sudeep's Father: What happened?
Sudeep's Friend: Please come to Chowrasta immediately.
Sudeep's Father: But... What happened? Where is Sudeep?
Sudeep's Friend: Uncle, he met with an accident. Please... Come uncle... Please...
Sudeep's Father: (shocked and trembled) What are you saying? Is he alright? Where is he now? Is it major or minor?
Sudeep's Friend: (crying) Uncle, please don't waste time in talking over phone... Come soon uncle.
Sudeep's Father: Okay, I'm coming.
Sudeep's Friend: Okay uncle.
Sudeep's father started immediately to the Chowrasta in his car, still trembling and with heavy heart. He was praying in his heart for Sudeep. He wished nothing happened to Sudeep. He drove very fast, caring not anything except reaching the place. His heart was becoming weaker and weaker. He couldn't able to control the unknown tears that were shedding. He was clueless why his eyes were shedding tears. He was hoping for Sudeep's health and continuously praying to God. He wished it was a minor accident. He wonder how Sudeep's mother sensed that something happened to Sudeep. "That is what mother's love is! She is the first person who sensed that something has happened. She immediately inquired about Sudeep. Nothing is great in this universe than mother's love!"
He reached the spot and applied brakes suddenly. Many people were there, even police were there. The place was at sixes and sevens leaving Sudeep's father clueless. Seeing Sudeep's father, Yashas rushed to him shouting and crying uncle... Sudeep's father asked "What happened? Why there are many? What police were doing there? Are they asking for any money?" Yashas was continuously crying without replying to Sudeep's father's questions. Meanwhile, ambulance came with its siren and everyone moved away.
Sudeep's father was walking along with Yashas and said, "Why to go in ambulance? I came in car. We can take Sudeep to hospital in our car. Where is Sudeep?" "Uncle, you please walk fast and talk to the police." On reaching the spot and seeing Sudeep in that condition, Sudeep's father collapsed and sat down saying "Nooooooooo... It's not Sudeep. Say it's not him. My son is not dead. My sonnn... is not deeeaaaaddd... Sudeep... My dear son..."
Sudeep's body lay in a horrible condition on the road. It was crushed under the tyres of the lorry; that very lorry from which Sudeep saved the old woman. The old woman who blessed him and was talking to him just a few minutes ago was still in shock. She was unable to believe what she had seen... A kind, young boy who saved her life a few minutes ago was lifeless now. 'A few minutes' of time had taken away his life. Now, he was not Sudeep anymore. He was not active anymore. He was just a body; a dead body whose limbs were twisted in the accident. Blood was bleeding making the spot reddish as a mark of his helping old woman. It was an atrocious situation which left everyone panic. Surprisingly, nothing happened to Sudeep's face. It was very pleasant and clear except a few scars left by the road here and there. It was as pleasant as a face of a sleeping child. Yes! Sudeep was sleeping; it's a deep sleep from which he never comes back. He left this world and all the relations.
His friends couldn't digest that their loving friend, Sudeep who was there with them before a few minutes was no more. Sudeep was their motivator and role model. They lost their support. They lost their confidence. They lost their friend who was not just friend but more than that. Their hearts are shrinking with pain... their faces became cloudy and their eyes bulged because of continuous crying.
"Uncle, please calm down... please uncle...." told by Sudeep's friends. Sudeep's father was speechless and was still in shock. He became numb. How can a father digest his son, a cheerful and healthy son lying on the road dead. What can a father do, when it was told not to touch his son at least for the last time. His heart was beating even more and he was sweating more. He was losing all his strength. He seemed low-spirited. Sudeep's father was mourning his son's death which a father never wishes to experience. Meanwhile, a policeman along with one of the Sudeep's friends approached Sudeep's father and asked, "Are you the relation of him? What's the relationship between you?" "He is my son and I am his father," replied Sudeep's father. "I am sorry sir. We are taking the corpse for post-mortem and you follow us," said the policeman. My son became corpse in no time, regretted Sudeep's father.
Sudeep's father became a statue. He never thought of listening to such words in his life. Tears were flowing... heartbeat was raised.... body was trembling... he was not ready to face the situation. He was unable to handle it; he was not even in a position to digest it. What to do? How to say to family? How to handle the members of the family, especially Sudeep's mom, who already sensed something bad had happened? He had no clue. Knowing the cause of the accident, from the old woman who was still there crying for Sudeep, Sudeep's father became weaker and weaker. The old women was mourning like anything. She was crying and uttering... this son had saved this old life and he passed away. He had given his life to me... to this old being. Oh God! Why did you take him away? This made Sudeep's father more miserable. He questioned himself, "How could fate play so; while saving an old woman.... killing my young son? What is this justice, O! God?"
He thought of calling Sam, Briti's father and inform. He took his phone and dialled Sam. He informed Sam that Sudeep met with an accident and asked him to come with everyone as soon as possible. Listening to his tone, when Sam asked what happened and how Sudeep was then, Sudeep's father broke in the bad news and burst into tears. Sam was shocked and became speechless. He drove his family in his car saying that Sudeep met with an accident. On hearing this Jane and Briti were shocked and dejected. They asked Sam many questions.... "How is he now? How was the accident happened? When did he meet with an accident? Was he admitted in hospital? Is he alright now?" Sam said, "Will you both please keep quite for sometime? We have to reach soon. I have to concentrate on driving." They both became calm and sincerely prayed to God that nothing should happen to him. After sometime, when they halted for filling fuel Sam broke in about Sudeep to Jane and suggested her not to tell the children all of a sudden.
Jane was shocked and was trembling and crying. Fuel was filled and they resumed their journey. Jane was shedding tears unceasingly. Seeing Jane crying, Briti said to console her, "Nothing would happen to Sudeep Maa. Please don't cry. Let's pray for him. We are there for him to take care. I will take leave from college and nurse him. He will be alright." After listening to Briti, Jane started crying more and more. She couldn't hide the truth anymore. She wanted to break open the sorrow by crying loud.
Briti suspected that something was terribly wrong with Sudeep and asked her mother, "Maa... Is Sudeep alright? At least you tell me. Maa... Tell me what happened? Where is he now? How is his condition? Is it so critical? Why are you crying so? Please tell me... Maa... Please..."
Jane looked at Sam. When Sam gave a sign to say, she held Briti's hands tight and said, "Briti... Su...deep...Sudeep...he is no more." It was a bolt from the blue for Briti. Both Briti and her sibling shocked by opening their mouth and eyes wide. "Maa... no... it could not be true. How can it happen? I will enquire with aunt and confirm," said Briti crying. Jane said "Don't do that. She doesn't know yet. She can't tolerate it. We have to be with her and support her. Don't break in this news to her. Your uncle, Sudeep's father will let her know about it in a right way. She is not feeling well now. We can't inform in this way to her when her healthy is not good."
Briti's heart became heavy. It was like she was suffocating. She was breathing very hard. It became difficult for her to take breathe. Her sibling notice that and cried... "Maa... Briti..." They parked their car at the wayside. Briti's mother took water from the bottle and cleaned Briti's face while her sibling was fanning some air. Her father rubbing her palms and feet. Her palms and feet became cold. After she became better, she was given some water to drink. Her mother consoled her. Her father told her not to be disheartened and they need to strengthened Sudeep's mother. He kept his hands on Briti's head and gave a quick movement to strengthen.
Briti was away from the material world and she lost in her memories. Tears were flowing from her big eyes as the water flows from waterfall. She recollected her last meeting with Sudeep. How genuine he was with love! He never made me sad. Though I scolded him and fought with him yet he never looked back from loving me. Her eyes were wet and continuously shedding tears. She could still smell the fresh trees and lovely warm water in which she traveled with Sudeep. She recollected the time spent with Sudeep, that very night... a rainy night when Sudeep hugged her and expressed his love. Now, she regretted for not responding to his proposal. She was still praying that, that should not be Sudeep. He should come back. Poor girl, Briti. She don't know the game of fate and time.
Sudeep's body was taken to post-mortem. His friends asked Sudeep's father to go home and inform to everyone. Sudeep's father left for home. On his reaching home, Sudeep's mother asked for Sudeep. She became much worried having seen the mourning face of Kishan, Sudeep's father. She asked "What happened? Where is my Sudeep? Why are looking sad? Sudeep... Sudeep..." Sudeep's father burst into tears and said, "O dear! Our beloved son left us here and went to faraway place. He won't come back. He.... is no more.... heee is nnnoo mmoorrrr." Sudeep's mother was shocked and unable to digest what she heard. She became senseless. She was out cold. It seemed like her heart stopped beating and she was about to fall, when Jane, Briti's mother who reached Sudeep's home then, came and hold her. Sudeep's father along with Briti's parents made her rest on the bed and sprinkled some water to bring her to consciousness.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she started crying. She enquired what had happened to him and fell down on her knees crying and pronounced, "I remorse for sending my son... my dearest son outside. Why the fate played with us. Why did it take away my son from me? Why? I want my son back. I can't live without him. My son..." She was beating her heart with her hands crying, my son.... I want my son. Briti's mother hugged her and tried consoling her. But she couldn't do as she herself was in deep sorrow. Grandparents also became speechless and started crying since they had listened to the sad demise of Sudeep. They both were hoping to see Sudeep's marrying Briti. They always used to talk to Sudeep about it that they were still alive to see their marriage. Both the grandparents were unable to put up with this. Sudeep's father along with Briti's father was busy informing the demise of Sudeep to their kith and kin.
Many people from all the four directions started reaching Sudeep's house. Which each person meeting Sudeep's mother to express his/her condolences, the mourning became more and more. All were crying.... crying to their heart content. Kishan, Sudeep's father went to bring the dead body after post-mortem and other formalities. The house was filled by many people. Some people even couldn't come inside as there is no place. Sudeep's graduation lecturers along with Sudeep's friends also came rushing immediately catching the available flight after learning about Sudeep's death. Of course, they should come; he was their obedient and studious student and a loving friend.
Sudeep's corpse was brought home. It was wrapped all over with a white cloth except the face to see. It was placed in box. It was not possible to touch him or hug him for the last time. Sudeep's mother yelled with great pain seeing Sudeep's body. The poor mother's heart melted and crushed with pain and anguish. The intensity of cries increased. The lovely, happy home of Sudeep became a mourning place. "Sudeep.... My son. Come back for this mother. Dear... Sudeep... How can you leave me? Sudeep... My dear son... Why did you leave this mother? Sudeep... Sudeep...., cried Sudeep's mother. Grandparents couldn't see their beloved grandchild lying there, in that box lifeless. They fell on that box and screamed. Sudeep's father who stood at the other side of the corpse with Briti's father kept on observing the lovely face of Sudeep, who was his love and strength. His heart was shrinking little by little inside. He kept all his pain in his heart. He was controlling his pain and blue to stand by his family, to strengthen his family. Briti who became nervous to see Sudeep was afraid to see Sudeep in that condition. She couldn't accept the truth. She was not willing to see Sudeep dead lying in that box. But somehow, she gained strength to face the truth; the very truth that Sudeep, her love is no more. She and her siblings along with her cousins stood at one side of the corpse crying.
Everyone came to see Sudeep who lay lifeless in that glass box, for the last time. It was a place of melancholy. Dark clouds of sadness filled the house. Every face was filled with tears and sorrow. Some were crying.... Some were weeping... Some were screaming... Everyone paid their last tributes to Sudeep by placing flower and garlands. All the relatives from far lands and friends came and paid their last visit.
It was time to take the body to burial ground. Sudeep's friends arranged for the last journey. Yayin was also present. He came to know about Sudeep's death from a common friend. He joined the Sudeep's friends. He felt sorry and expressed condolences for the family. He too helped Sudeep's friends in their preparations for Sudeep's last journey.
As soon as Sudeep's mother heard about the last journey, she burst out and yelled no. She hold the box tighter and tighter pleasing them not to take his son away from her. She cried and cried. She became weaker and paler. During her crying, she got hiccups. Briti, made her way into the kitchen and fetch her some water. After drinking some water, Sudeep's mother held Briti tight and looked into her eyes which are communicating deeper meaning about her feelings for Sudeep. She hugged Briti and cried again saying, our Sudeep.... our Sudeep left us Briti... Our Sudeep... Briti's mother was holding the both and was crying. The scene was very heart touching. Relatives were consoling them. Briti, with her melancholic face reached the other side of the box and approached the place where Sudeep's legs were placed and kept her both hands on that box as if she was holding Sudeep's legs. She prayed for his soul and shed tears which fell on the glass; on Sudeep's legs. Unable to control her tears and grief, she ran screaming to her grandparents who were groaning in anguish. She cried her heart out. She cried cried and cried with all her energy drained.
They lifted the box up to proceed for cremation. The two mothers (Sudeep's mother and Briti's mother) who were not allowing taking away the body were hold by other relatives forcefully and tight. All of a sudden, everyone started screaming louder and louder. The place became gloomy. They made their way for burial ground. Many people followed the journey, the last journey. Young and old... kith and kin... well-known and less-known..., acquaintances, friends, neighbours... all followed the corpse. They performed the last rites.
Death is the last intimate thing we ever do!!!
Laurell K. Hamilton
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