When Death Smiled

When Death Smiled

December 22, 2012 by dighe31

               
 “It was a time when only the dead smiled, happy in their peace..”
AnnaAkhmatova
It was a cold winter morning.  My fingers were numb from the morning walk.  I lighted the stove for the warmth, then prepared hot tea to refresh and gear up for the daily chore. As I sipped I glanced at the wall clock. The time too seemed to slow down.  In summers the time seems to race.
I peeped into her room, she lay asleep. With no tea or breakfast she lay as though in hibernation.
Now it was noon, I felt uneasy I reached her bed to wake her up but to no avail. I gently caressed her hair, “mother wake up!”  My repeated call sent some signal.  She responded she opened her eyes with difficulty. The light in her eyes was receding.  I managed to straighten her to sitting position, offered tea. The frail body could feel some strength. With the help of maid we managed to give her a bath, cleansing was a must.  Her silver fluffy hairs were neatly combed.  They whispered the story of her hard life she had to endure.  All alone, after her husband’s who was an Inspector in the Police Force was shot dead by dacoits, she brought up her five kids. It was a herculean task to make the both ends meet.

With mere primary education she could not get any kind of job. The eldest son who was in teens ,managed to work hard  for a living for the family, also resumed his studied in the night College. Many a time they had to skip meals .During illness a family friend who was a doctor used to come as an angel to cure them.   Mother narrated her story on some occasions, I  could not hold my tears….she paused and then said ,”you  wanted to know therefore, I have opened my heart to you.  I  pray almighty not to give this severe punishment to anyone.  It’s painful very painful life, to lead the family without any Sources.” No compensation or any monetary help was granted to the widows in some cases.

We both had come closer since then.  The harsh truth of her life disclosed spelt one thing sure, come what may I must hereafter take her utmost care.  But the story does not seem to end here.  One does not know how the end comes.  How much you have to wait for the heavens call…
How strange is the destiny at the end?  You desperately want to leave this world but…
I was awakened by her groans.  I managed to feed her a morsel.  “Death does not come” she cried.  I wiped her tears and laid her to bed. Sleep Mother it’s nearly midnight… Ok I must go… her words incoherent.  That night was terribly cool.  I put the room heater. She felt better. I tried to sleep.  But sleep had vanished the doors of my heart had opened sounded the heartthrob. Wisdom dawns unto you. I prayed God for her.
At dawn I checked in to see her.  Her face glowed with a faint smile.
She has slept peacefully I thought. I drew closer to her cause that smile had terrified me! I summoned our doctor, who pronounced her dead.
Tears rolled down my cheeks, my  voice chocked   I cried, “Mother ! Oh Mother.”
Words echoed: “When her long life has reached her final day: Men and we must grieve when even the shade Of that which once was great has passed away.”…William Wordsworth
By Prajakta Dighe