DEATH doesn't do us part .........

Do our eyes ever lie to us? This is the question that I had been asking myself all morning. Deep down, I am aware, it is impossible for me to cross her path ever again. Two years ago, today, was the last time I saw her, as she slowly left us for that better place. Exactly, three minutes after the clock had struck three, I was never to hear her voice again. Tears didn’t wait long to wet my cheeks, as I knew that the person that I had loved the most is no longer with me. With the help of relatives and friends, my mom's funeral preparation went on smoothly that morning.

As family members and friends gathered to pay their last respect and convey condolences, I and the other men in the family tried focusing on the funeral rituals. It was not only our hearts that was in distressed, but our minds couldn't accept the fact that she had left us for good. Having completed the funeral rituals, I being the youngest son, lead the other family members that carried the coffin to place my mom in the hearse. As we carried the coffin, many of her sisters cried hysterically and a few even collapsed. The emotions quickly grew among others present after seeing the state that my mom’s sisters were in that morning. However, I tried my very best to remain brave, as I knew that the worst is yet to come. As the hearse leaves to the crematorium, the skies started to tear. I believe this symbolizes that a good soul is leaving the care of mother earth. I bit my lips trying to control my emotions from running wild. We reached the crematorium in ten minutes as the roads were a little clear.

As we laid the coffin on the woods prior to cremation, having controlled their emotions for a very long time some of my uncles started to cry aloud. Full of emotions, the male members of the family circulated my mom's coffin as a symbol of last respect. They also prayed she would rest in peace and travel to the heavens where the gods await her. The priest then asked us to say our final goodbye. I kissed my mom on her cheek even though I wouldn’t get a kiss in return from her. This made me think of the many times she had showed me loved and I had failed to return it. I knew that I would never receive a mother's love ever in my life as it is irreplaceable. I can't describe the pain that followed as I was asked to close the coffin. Unable to watch further, I closed my eyes as I set the woods that were above the coffin on fire.

The next day, all the male members of the family had to wake up early because they were to return to the crematorium to collect the ashes. Since the method used was wood burning cremation, my mom's bone structure remained intact in certain places. As we were collecting the ash, with tears in his eyes, my brother picked a bone from my mom’s finger and said that this is the hand that used to feed us. I was too sad to even utter a word of response. I can't help thinking that one day we would all be reduced to ashes without taking into account of our social status, religion, caste, wealth and gender. Even the very love that we wanted to feel forever is lost at this moment. Wake up and realize that this life is temporary … is all that I thought at that time.

hmmmm....well I hope you’re not too emotional to notice that I still haven’t mentioned the reason I felt my eyes were lying. This morning, I was woken by a gentle touch. As I opened my sleepy eyes, in front of me stood a slightly bright figure which looked like my mom. Before I could open my mouth, the figure uttered with a soft voice "son look at the time”, I tilted my head slowly to look at the clock nearby....it was sharp three minutes past three. When I turned around back, the figure had vanished. I was definitely not dreaming….but I certainly know now that ….. death doesn’t do us part.