Finding the Lost Souls (Watty 2018)

LIFE IS A CIRCLE✔

ahany ahani bhūtāni gachchhantīha yamālayam.
śheṣhāḥ sthiratvam ichchhanti kimāśhcharyamataḥ param(Mahabharat) [v30]

“At every moment people are dying. Those who are alive are witnessing this phenomenon, and yet they do not think that one day they will also have to die. What can be more astonishing than this?” Shree Krishna explains in this verse that life is inescapably a dead end, and so a wise person does not lament over the inevitable.

Deaths are the unavoidable and inevitable truths of life. If the living is the beautiful myths than the deaths are the bitter reality. The human can be a powerful, can possess money and fame but cannot control the cycle of life and death. Unaffected with the heavy rains of the afternoon, sitting on one of the broken concrete platform of the cremation ground Ishita Bhalla chose to sit silently and continued to stare at the burning pyre of her father without blinking her eyes even for a second. The heavy rains wetted her clothes she wore since yesterday but the burning pyre didn't managed to bring tears in her eyes even for a once.

Which grief can be big? Loosing a parent or not crying on it? Raman Kumar Bhalla wondered standing near the burning pyre of his father in law. After lightening the pyre his wife left the place and her sat few steps away but unlike her he couldn't dared to follow her instead he chose to stand next to his father holding his hand with fear. From corner of his eyes he continued to observe his wife who looked stone hard and lost. Her condition pricked him hard but he himself didn't know how to make her feel better. He averted his eyes from his wife and looked at Bala and Mihir who were behind him, standing as a support he needed most. Bala rubbed Raman shoulder and comforted him through his eyes.

"Raman puttar take Ishita back to home. I will come later after completing the remaining rituals." Raman quizzed his brows hearing his father words.

"But why?"

"Ishita is not in a condition to stay here anymore and even you look uncomfortable." His father words made him mum and he eyed at the pyre which caught the fire more and slowly started to convert into ashes.

"I won't leave you alone. This place is depressing." Raman whispered with discomfort and fished his hands in the pocket of his kurta.

"Raman you never came in cremation ground before, I understand your discomfort son." Raman felt like his father vocaled the thoughts going in his mind. He bit his lower lip and than looked at the men who were doing the rituals. "Raman go to Ishita. She needs you most. Mihir and Bala are with me." Raman listened his father this time and left the place. When he went near his wife he encircled his arms around her shoulder and took a free hand in his. His presence didn't affected her much but she threw her head on his shoulder and continued to look at the pyre which started to convert into ashes.

"Ishita ghar chale?" He dared to ask after sometime as the ice cold winds started to shiver them.

"I want to stay here just for more time." Ishita whispered without removing her gaze for a second.
He hummed in response and asked Mihir to wait for them. And Raman became the support for his wife that evening until the fire settled down, turning a body into ashes.

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Through entire ride Raman held his wife shivering body close to his chest, rubbing her in regular intervals. His father had already left in another car along Mihir, Mihika father and Bala and they were accompanied by Jai and Mihir in another car. He looked at Jai through rear view mirror who looked equally concerned for his sister and then rested his head back on the seat. The unusual silence from Ishita was killing him badly. As their car entered in the premises of the bungalow he managed to bring out Ishita with difficulty and than lead her towards the gate where his mother was waiting for them.