All of a sudden

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

Like every afternoon, Mr. Bose filled his journal , a big fat diary where he writes everything in detail .. and this is a new habit after retirement that he has gathered . With sudden pain inside the stomach one night … And followed by doctor, strict diet and lots of medicines what he understood is life is limited and so writing down as journal will be the best idea…

So every afternoon post lunch, he reaches the balcony and admires the nature a bit and writes whatever comes to his mind sometimes it’s about his school, sometimes his first girlfriend and sometimes his first cooking experience and sometimes his friends and family.. it keeps changing daily, weekly and monthly and it seems an idea just comes to his mind and he keeps on writing. One such day he felt an urgent need to write when he witnessed growing up a man …

” There were times when I experienced lot of unique and interesting happenings in life, some needs to be cherished forever and some gives a thought why it happened with me?

This is the story when I was in class 6 and 13 years of age . One such day I was coming back from school as usual at around 3: 30 pm … Before reaching from a distance I saw crowd infront of our house.. couldn’t figure out what was happening.. I started running towards our house and saw few of our relatives there already, my ma instantly hugged me tight … With my school bag being crushed ..

and one of the neighbour said, ” Don’t tell him now, let him calm down first. ”

My ma there kept on crying and was not leaving me at all… I wanted to go inside the room.. the room which is in the ground floor where each and every day I keep my school bag and change my dress…

It seemed none was allowing me to enter the room, none. I couldn’t figure out what was happening.. All were there but yes I couldn’t see my father!

Where is my father! I shouted , screamed at the top of my voice! Where is he! Everyday I come and he is in the main gate ready to welcome by asking about all the happenings of school… Where is he! Suddenly I saw all stopped crying and was in utter shock… As if they were not ready of my scream! But I had to scream.. I was much clueless then they were!

My maa hugged me tight and pressed my head on her chest and cried and said, ” You want to meet your father? Yes he is in that room , sleeping peacefully, see!

Now my elder aunt was holding my hand and letting me enter the room. I indeed saw my father was sleeping very peacefully. Very. I wondered I came here and Baba is so much into sleep he didn’t even realise it… I started shaking my dad.. my uncle hold me tightly .. and it seemed all crying.. sobbing and my aunt started to explain.. your baba is there with you but from now there will be a difference.. you will not be seeing him except only in pictures and photographs and old videos but he is there in this house forever.. and so he can see you, love you and give his blessings…

I couldn’t believe what she said.. what my baba will be there from today , will not go with me for running or buy me chocolate and go with me the book fair..

All the rituals were over by night.. five of our very close family members decided to stay with us on that night… I hugged ma tight,! I was not crying just I was feeling I needed a space to think. Think a lot and lot … My baba is no more!

At midnight when everyone slept … I tiptoed I had to… I wanted to talk to my dad asking him why did he leave so fast .. so soon! I am only in class 6! I had so much dreams with baba, framed by baba! All his… How could he go so fast! I thought for hours and slept on our balcony chair that night… ”

Mr. Bose completed his writing and whispered

” and it was the day I grew up suddenly without serving the notice period of life… ” Life is such it’s events comes suddenly we may or may not be prepared for it.. experiences or our nature teaches us a lot…

He closed his journal notebook.. and went back to sleep .. today was a exhausting day mentally so much exhausting.. it seemed he started to work in the office again…

He must rest now… He went to sleep by switching off the light.

–

Written by Sayoni Mahapatra Chatterji

Hey, Connect with Us:)

• Instagram
• Pinterest
• WordPress
• Mail