Life after death

Life after death

We never want to die, but life after death indeed is more exciting!

‘Susant sir, how are you?’ nurse came to me in hospital. ‘Fine’ was
all I could say. I never imagined that it would be nurse who would
come to see me during such critical position. I had to struggle really
hard and go through such tough times after the death of my sweetest
wife Keshari. It was just me alone who worked entire day with enough
time for my only son, Ashim. From combing his hair to preparing his
tie, it was my entire task. I always had to take Ashim to his school
and only then I could go to my work place. Trying to play role of both
mother and father was certainly not so easy.

M y boss never understood that and getting scolded as kind of regular.
My moral responsibility never allowed me to go with my friends, get
drunk, just because of my son Ashim. He was only the symbol that
reminded me of Keshari. Teaching in expensive school was challenging
but I managed it through the minimization of my personal expenses. It
was hat I kept on getting offer for second marriage time and again,
but how can I betray Keshari? I never waned to share my love. I was
the happiest person when Ashim came up with distinction marks in SLC,
and now he was ready for the college. I sold my jwellery to teach him
then. His demand for bike was fulfilled through the loan that I took
from my office’s budget. His studies were my entire mission. I never
failed to fulfill his wishes, nor did he ever complain about his
mother seriously.

With the passing of time, his plus two completed. All I wanted to make
him was a doctor, but his mission was for fashion designing, however
he spent year to try for scholarship from Ministry to POKIHS, but
could not achieve and thus the decision was made for Ashim to send US
for Fashion Designing. My old age could now not ask for any loans, nor
could I work extra. So all I could do is mortgage the precious house
to send him abroad. After receiving the visa, I told Ashim entire
story of past, my struggles for him, my sacrifice for him and reminded
him that I would be no where if I could not repay the loan.

‘Don’t worry baba! It’s now my turn! I won’t let my childhood memories
filled house go away!’ was his statement once again a Airport.

**

Five years passed! Ashim, my son is gradually getting virtual for me.
His phone call excites me, but he always shows me that he is in
financial crisis. ‘Let’s see’ will be his reply whenever I ask him
when he will be back. Loan of twenty lakhs with monthly installment of
twenty thousand was getting burden for me. Ashim showed no sign of
returning back, but I was all alone. My retired job would provide me
pension of six thousand that would be little less than enough to feed
myself, pay the bills. Facebook was the time passing way, and a
notification nearly gave me heart attack that said ‘Ashim is in
relationship with Anna Stephen’. It was his life, what could I do? My
old age now doesn’t possess any strength to quarrel with him, but I
could never imagine someone Anna-my daughter in law! Once on my way, I
met his friend Anil who was his childhood friend and was in US as
well. I don’t remember what he said much but…’Uncle, Ashim is happy
there! He now owns house in New York’, nearly gave me second heart
attack. Mentally disturbed, physically ill, since I had some breathing
problems troubled me for couple of days and I finally called him to
ask about the issue. Although he tried to rotate the topic; but my
determination compelled him to speak. ‘Dad! I am settling here, now
you sell that house and say in rent that would rather be appropriate’.
I could hear female voice ‘Oh! What the hell are you doing, hurry
up!’. I now could not resist and kept the phone. My son, whose hair I
had to comb, is now teaching me appropriate way. My son, for whom I
compromised thousand things for his single wish could not manage to
fulfill my single wish for my house. Tears never rolled like this
before. “Keshari, why are you smiling? Didn’t you hear what our son
said?’

‘What about your memories Ashim?’ I dialed again.

‘Memories are to be created, not stuck with!’

‘You got married?’ I asked.

‘No but maybe in couple of months we will, Anna is nice girl’.

‘So will you be back and then?’

‘Oh! Come on! Why should I? Fashion Designing has got no scope in Nepal’.

Enough! I kept my phone. I now wanted to marry, but who will? I am
already sixty. My power is gradually going low. I don’t have anyone to
take care of me.

**

It was the day of my son’s marriage. He never told me but being
father, I always kept my indirect contact with him. My legs movement
took me somewhere where I have never been. I probably was walking in
hallucination. My mind was thinking all about Ashim…I can see him…He
must be in black suit…not in Daura Surwal…He is in…in church…not
temple…Oh! There is father? So who am I? He has got the ring that he
will be putting in Anna’s finger…I can hear his new father chanting ‘I
now declare you man an..n..d..’ BANG!!

**

‘Susant sir, how are you?’ nurse came to me in hospital. ‘Fine was all
I could say!’. ‘Sir, you were walking alone on the road when the taxi
hit you. It was the greatness of taxi driver who brought you here, Can
you give me contact of any of your relatives to call?’. ‘Ashi..Oh! No!
I don’t have anyone, What’s the issue? ‘.

‘Sir you need an operation.’

‘That’s fine, but what is wrong with me?’, I didn’t want to die
anyway. ‘How much does it cost?’

‘Around eighty thousand.’

Two days late, I brought the amount begging further loan. Nurse advised
me to sign the letter that had written..’I will be responsible for
death if occurred at the time of operation..’ Death? Is it that risky?
I asked nurse, ‘Not so much, but you never know what can happen.’ I
then thought of writing something for son.

Dear Ashim, I am going through operation. I did not want to inform you
so that you could spend your honeymoon peacefully. If I die, the house
will legally be yours, if you feel like saving it, else you do what so
ever you feel like. I am happy, your mother will certainly not curse
me. I don’t have any criticisms or complain regarding you. I am sorry,
I could not hand you any property. I hope I will not die through this
operation, but If I, do live your life happily. My blessings as always
with you!

I handed it to nurse and gave her Ashim’s address. An injection was
all I remember then, I was lying on bed with the silent fan above.

**

I can feel this! I am dead, but I see the changing world. I don’t
know where I am. Maybe top of them from where I can see everything. I
can see my son crying in my home and Anna in the party in US from here
itself. I can listen to Ashim’s voice asking for forgiveness and can
even read his mind and heart. ‘Oh! How long should I see them? Where
is my place now? This probably is the way. Okay let me move ahead…’

Wow! I am in new world! World of dead people! Everyone is young and
enjoying! There is no boundry of caste, creeds or country. No pride of
money! Everything is free here. ‘Excuse me’, I asked to person there.
‘Are you new?’ he asked. I nodded and then he took me to another zone.
After asking everything, he told me that I can see the world from
here, enjoy throughout day, travel wherever I want and meet any dead
peoples. He even warned me not to terrorize people in the Earth being
ghost. Why should I? I felt, we never want to die, but life after
death is more exciting! I am all set to search my wife-Keshari now!

Special Thanks to: Susant Neupane and Anil Bhetwal.