Death in the Family
For certain is death for the born
And certain is birth for the dead;
Therefore over the inevitable
Thou shouldst not grieve.
- Bhagavad Gita
It was a warm evening, like many evenings during summer. An infant plays incessantly with the keys he swiped from his father’s hands. The father was placing a call to his own father, with regards to a business concerning the infant. He asks of the water for the infant as to when it will be available. The water is special, you see. No, it is not from the fountain of youth, for it should not be given to an infant. It was simply clean water, cleaned by the best cleaning process available to man. The grandfather replied calmly, saying that it will be available by tomorrow, hopefully, if it was indeed ordered on time. Acknowledging the grandfather, the father thought there was nothing else to talk about and all he needed to say was goodbye.
“Did you know what happened to your uncle already?” the grandfather asked. “No,” the father replied. Curious, he asked about his uncle.
“He’s gone,” the grandfather said. “He just collapsed or something at their office. I’m not really sure what happened but I guess there was already something eating at him from the inside. That’s why I wanted you to have a checkup, so we don’t get caught by surprise.”
Stunned, all the father could say was, “What?!” He couldn’t find the words to say. What do you exactly say to that? A relative died. How do you prepare what to say? Do you prepare what you say? Can you? It’s exactly how the father sees life. He doesn’t prepare for the morbid things. He just lets it pass by and deals with it the best way he knows how to. He writes.
To my uncle,
I look up to you. The only regret I have is that I never told you this. But, I do. We didn’t have the chummy talks, but I heed all the words you say to me, even the simplest ones. You will not be forgotten, and will always be in my prayers.
Rest well, my uncle. It is time you pass the burden of life and enjoy the peace that death brings.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace. Amen.