"The Last Journey - How i died ?"
“Okay, here is last question then. Who you would you choose if I
give you a chance to kill someone?”
A soundless moment passed.
“That was your easiest objective question, really, to choose
someone to kill?”
“Come on Anu, what is so difficult about it? You actually cannot kill
anyone, you are dead!”
Mrs. Sarpotdar pitched in before the conversation between #13 and
Anu turned into an argument, “Okay but I do have a technical query, do you want
us to choose anyone from earth or he/she has to be part of our life?”
“I think ‘one’ would be too less if you have whole earth to choose
from. I have heard the situation is very bad with your planet.”
“Yes, very much. One can take up full time job to clean up the
mess …. Politicians, murderers, rapists, terrorists. One cannot even think about
heinous crimes they’ve committed. I wonder if they have right to live.” Suman
said.
“Yeah, I have heard they use God’s name to justify the behavior.
We had a conference in last quarter and many raised this question if such
humans misusing our name should be sent to hell.”
“And?”
“Oh no, it was just discussed without any conclusion, it will take
at least two more years and new CEO to make such new rule.”
“Sounds familiar, just like our parliament session.”
“We had this subject in our degree exams. The Human System. I
always found legal system very interesting. How you let your judges decide what
is good and bad, evil and sane etc. based on factual information. It is very
well designed system knowing the limitations of human mind. I mean
Chitragupta’s whole team know about that particular human’s motives behind the
actions. We can see the naked mind but you guys don’t. So I think that your
problem is less data and our problem is huge data. We both are kind of still
struggling with deciding morality based on available data.”
“I think we are diverting from the topic Mr.13” Anu didn’t miss
the chance to make fun of him.
“Oh yes. To answer Mrs. Sarpotdar, you have to choose a person
from your life.”
“That’s interesting.” Suman started thinking about it.
“That’s insane!” Anu tried not to show her restlessness.
“If I am not wrong, the name already flashed your mind Anu, didn’t
it? But you are feeling guilty and ashamed of the choice, right? Let me make it
easier for you ‘Think about who would you kill if I free you from guilty
cautious , free from giving explanation about the act of killing , free from
judgment of being right or wrong , free from morality attached to it. Be
genuine, don’t take pressure, yeah?”
“Oh yes Mr. 13 that really makes it easier!”
#13 ignored Anu’s sarcasm. He decided to give them some time to
think, although he knew the name that flashed first in the mind will be the
final answer. It is always a tough choice between first instinct and
rationality. This question was added in this quiz on purpose. It was Yama’s way
to make humans realize that everyone who came to heaven is not an angel. They
are here just because demons inside them didn’t act on thoughts. Till ladies
thought of killings, he unlocked his iPad, started reading his notes again. He
was surely satisfied with his notes. Today’s assignment surpassed his
expectations and he thought he completed the jigsaw puzzle.
“I know this might be difficult for you, but you have to remember
that you are already dead. Your choice is not actually going to hurt your image
on earth.”
“Who cares about the image anyways?” Anu exclaimed.
“I might have. It might sound very odd to you Anu but I worked
really hard to maintain image of a good housewife.” Mrs. Sarpotdar was probably
very exhausted being perfect woman.
“My image was already not that good. It is kind of relieving you
know. People don’t expect you to do well if you have already disappointed
them.” Suman smiled wisely. Suman had already thought about killing him
thousand times even when she was alive. She just didn’t had courage to accept
that her love wasn’t true or all divine. “I have my answer ready and it’s
pretty predictable. But I kind of have two people to kill”, she said coldly.
“Bravo, that’s the spirit! I am sorry but you will have to choose
only one. What about you Anu? Mrs. Sarpotdar?”
#13 could not really guess what Mrs. Sarpotdar was thinking. She
probably was still not sure. Anu looked sad with her choice, but he knew she
will be truthful because she badly wanted to know how she died.
“I think I know whom to kill, but I really don’t want to. I can’t.
He … He was….”
“I know Anu, that’s why you are here.” #13 regretted saying this
the moment he said it.
“What? Now, what does ‘that’ mean?”
“Nothing.” #13 tried to cover up.
“Don’t try to be mysterious.” Anu was irritated with question, #13
was adding up to with his mysterious remarks.
“I am not being mysterious. Okay then, let’s reveal the suspense
which I think I have already discovered.”
“Really? Don’t you think you are being overconfident #13?”
“Certainly not. It is not that difficult you know. Mrs. Sarpotdar,
will you do the honors?”
“Mr. Neelkanth Sarpotdar. Yes. That will be my choice. I would
have killed him if I was free from guilt of killing my own loving and caring
husband. ” She said with certainty and without even tiniest shake in her voice.
#13 was happy. His guess was correct. “Logical. He was my first
choice too. Suman, you are next.”
“My answer is predictable. It has to be my so called love of life
– Harish.”
“You surprised me. I really thought it would be his wife or your
parents.” #13 didn’t like losing.
“It was tough choice between him and my parents. But I will go
with him.”
“Okay. Anu?”
“Well, we all three have in common that we have chosen love of our
life to be killed. I am ashamed of my choice but at one point I really wanted
to kill him – Anish.”
“Great choice! I got 2 out of 3 correct. I would say 2.5 as Suman
might have chosen her parents.” #13 was too happy.
Suman and Mrs. Sarpotdar looked at each other and laughed at how
funny this whole conversation was going and how great relief it was to admit
what they really wanted. It was so hard to be alive and was so easy to be dead.
To say things you wanted to say, to not feel guilty, to not feel obliged, and
to not feel being judged all the time. It was kind of funny. All of them wanted
to kill the man whom they loved beyond limits and #13 was celebrating his
success of guessing correctly, he might even have updated his social networking
status with feeling ‘accomplished’.
“Okay cool. We are done with the quiz then.” #13 smiled and marked
three right ticks on his iPad.
“Excuse me #13. I still don’t remember how I died?”
Mrs. Sarpotdar was just playing the quiz t fit into the group but
Suman and Anu played the quiz to know how they died.
“But I told you that it was 50 – 50 chance.”
“So, you are going throw that disclaimer on my face like customer
care executive now?”
“Calm down Anu.”
“I also do not remember anything at all.”
“I know Suman. I should have made clear it was not a magic trick
that you give me answers and remember cause of the death as soon as you answer
last question. It was a process to bring you closer to the memory. Everything
is rational here. I suggest you all to think about this now – Why and when and
how you would have killed Neelkanth, Harish and Anish. Think about last few
days on earth.”
“You want me to plan the murder?”
“No. That will be too dramatic, we are not worried about TRP of
the journey quiz show. But I want you to think about it.”
“And share it with everyone?”
“Not necessarily. It is up to you.”
15 days back,
Suman was not happy as such, but then she never had been
completely happy. She had taken voluntary retirement as a college professor.
Students had planned a warm farewell ceremony for her. Her friends and family
were invited. She had decided to spend her post retirement life with some
orphanage kids. Ceremony was well arranged. She talked about how teaching has
been the best thing happened to her, shared few funny memories of her initial
days, how literature had helped her to learn about life. Her eyes were
searching Harish and her parents in the crowd this whole time. Then students
and fellow teachers gave speeches, full of appreciation for her knowledge,
commitment and dedication. She knew this respect was fake. This is exactly how
her funeral will look like except she will not be there to witness, she
thought. No one from home had bothered to attend the ceremony. Not her parents.
Not even Harish. Not Chinu. Apparently her mother-like elder sister was a bad
influence as per her husband. She had done so much for everyone but they were
still not ready to be proud of her publically because of her personal choices.
She came back. Harish was at home busy with some daily chores.
Everyone acted like nothing happened. Maybe she expected more than she should
have. She didn’t feel bad because she was hurt but because nobody cared if she
was hurt. After a week or so, she met Harish, he wanted her to talk to college
principle about admission of his youngest daughter. He didn’t even mention
about missing retirement ceremony. She felt urge to just slap him then and
there but she just walked away without saying a single word. How can he be that
selfish? Hasn’t he always been? She went to bed thinking about what cruel joke
destiny was playing on.
Yes! That was the night. She had a bad dream, she woke up drenched
in sweat and feeling parched. She went in the kitchen to have glass of water.
The light was out due to load shading. While she was drinking water, she kept
thinking about irony in her life - Harish who’d once asked to sacrifice the
baby to prove her love was standing right in front of her, shamelessly asking a
favor for his beloved daughter. Suman was cursed but her money and her
profession were not. Harish had used her in every possible way - emotionally,
physically, and financially. And what was she asking for in return, just few
affectionate words? A gesture that she meant something for him? A hint
that he was proud that he loved independent woman like her? Instead, he was
okay of people called her a characterless person. He had made everything else
in her life worthless. She felt like just running away from all the people who
were ashamed of her. What all she earned in life? She wished if she could just
make him disappear from her life, just ask him what her fault was, whether she
meant even a little to him or she was just a medium to satisfy his sexual lust.
She wanted to ask him whether he would have loved her if she had kept the baby.
She was not even sure if the baby would have loved her back or not. Maybe she
would have been blamed to give him/her birth without the father. Tears rolled
out on her face. She wanted to hear something from Harish even if it was
hateful or pitiful. She just wanted to exist in his life, even it meant as a
person he hated. But she knew he didn’t care. She meant nothing. In frailest
moment she even thought if she could just kill him. Yes. That would have made
her feel better. She turned back and started walking furiously. She stumbled in
the dark on her way to the neighboring house. Something broke. She had piece of
broken glass in one hand.
That’s it. That’s all she could remember. She was blank after
that. She looked up at Mr. 13. He smiled.
15 days back,
Anu had stayed in office overnight for four days. There was no
deadline but Anish had left the apartment 4 days back. She didn’t know if she
wanted to go back to an empty apartment. She knew it would be difficult, but
didn’t know how much. She could not avoid this for long. She came back,
couldn’t sleep. She took a day off and went to her parent’s home. She stayed
there for 3-4 days but it was impossible for her to accept that she wanted to
weep for so many days for a guy who walked out on her just like that. She
didn’t believe that her self-respect will evaporate so fast. It was hard to
accept he created void in her life.
She tried to be back on her normal routine, started cooking,
started eating on time, went to gym, went to office, and threw all the stuff
that reminded her of him. She created awful lot of distractions to fill the
void. She perfectly pretended to be normal like any other girl heartbroken
soul. After almost 2 weeks, she went to a grocery store. She was tired from
walking around the store so much. She thought of having a coffee and bagel in
their favorite coffee shop nearby. She parked the car. She saw Anish. He was
with a girl. She went back to the car to just drive off from there. But she
loved him so much, she could not stop herself from going back and stood by a
place from where she could hear them. He was telling her a story from his
office of old Miss. Martha. She laughed genuinely. Anish also smiled as she
laughed.
She knew how he looked into her eyes when she laughed. Miss.
Martha’s story was his trick to make her smile when she was sad or worn-out. It
was their thing which was now someone else’s too. She felt betrayed. To her
surprise for the very first time she felt possessive about bond between them.
She felt like her smile never meant anything special to him. She was not ready
to share him with the world without her being part of it.
She came back to the apartment. She cried and finally gathered
courage to call Anish and ask him to meet her at the apartment. When he came,
she could see that he was trying hard to act aloof, not look at her directly.
“I am ready to be married Anish.” She smiled, but he didn’t. She
was startled to see his sad face.
“No. You don’t want to. You think you do, but you don’t. I know
you Anu, you saw me at the coffee shop today. You really thought I will not
recognize our car?”
“I have thought about it Anish. This might sound clichéd, but I am
not ready to lose you.”
‘But you are also not ready to be married either. Don’t do it for
me Anu. I don’t want to feel obliged whole my life. I really don’t want to
force my closest friend into something she doesn’t want. I can’t ask you for
that sacrifice. I understand you were jealous today and believe me even I will
be when you will find someone else.”
“I don’t want anyone else. I want a second chance, I am ready. I
will be ready when you will be with me.’
“Don’t make me say hurtful things Anu. Don’t compel me to hurt you
more than I already have.”
“You are punishing me for being myself.”
“I am being practical and apparently you have clearly forgotten
how to be.” He turned away and grabbed his car keys. Her face turned red. She
was so mad at him. She grabbed his collar.
“You have never been so ruthless with me. Is it because you found
someone else now? Now, I don’t mean anything to you suddenly just because I
don’t want a family and typical life? My love means nothing just because it
won’t conclude into a marriage? You don’t even know how selfish you are being
right now, but the world is going to call ‘me’ selfish, right? I am supposed to
have motherly feeling naturally! I am odd one out! I am abnormal! I am not
woman enough! I had told you at the start, but you never took me seriously. I
have doubted myself so much in last 15 days like I never done before. I feel
like killing you right now, Anish. ” Her grip on his collar tightened with
every word. Anish had never seen Anu like this. She was such a cheerful and
happy go lucky person all the time. He was taken aback by her sudden reaction.
He thought she could really hurt him if she wanted to.
“I know. I want to kill myself right now Anu. But I have to go”
She stared at him without losing the grip.
That’s it. That’s all she could remember. She was blank after
that. She looked up. #13 was smiling.
15 days before,
Neelkanth had called. He was going to be late that day because of
the same reason he gave for last 45 years ‘a business meeting’. Neelima
was bored. She had asked Geeta to clean up the attic of the store room which
was next to their bedroom. Geeta was not sure what was useless and what was
important so Neelima had to make that choice. While cleaning up, they saw a
canvas covered with butter paper. Geeta lifted the cover, “Oh my god madam,
this is me.”
Neelima just gave half smile to Geeta, she wanted to hide the
regret.
“And this is? Ohh, was that going to be Manu? My Manu?”
“Yes, Manasi. It was mainly about her, but she was in that age,
when a child’s existence can’t be isolated from a mother. Painting would have
been incomplete without you.”
“Even if it is incomplete, it is so beautiful. Who painted it?”
Neelima didn’t answer. Owners are not accountable to answer
servants. Even if Geeta was more than just servant for her, Neelima
conveniently took the liberty. It was appalling that someone knew her for 40
odd years and didn’t know about her painting. Like an obedient servant, Geeta
didn’t ask unanswered question the second time. Neelima wished she had. Neelima
wanted to complete this painting. She decided not to give up this time. If she
will not make time now then she will never. ‘It’s not too late’ she said at
least 100 times with dropping confidence each time. She started spending her
free time in attic daily. She worked on the painting without anyone noticing
for almost 2 weeks. But Neelima was old now, she struggled to hold the brush
steadily, she didn’t like the strokes, and she spent hours just staring at the
painting clueless. She felt like her own color palette was betraying her. She
was just lost in middle of nowhere. She was tired. She was frustrated that she
was not happy while painting, she didn’t feel the joy she used to, she wanted
to, but she didn’t, she was stressed out, tensed and angry with herself all the
time.
That day, she feared. She feared that it was too late.
She just wanted to go downstairs to get fresh air. She felt
suffocated. Walls near the staircase were full of paintings from different
artists. These painting always used to cheer her up. In fact, Neel had
appointed an art consultant to buy paintings for them just because Neelima
liked painting. He had always made a point in every argument about this expense
as a favor to Neelima to prove how good husband he was. These paintings had
convinced her all these years that Neel was really a good husband, he cared for
her. But today, it was too painful to look at the wall. Her half-done painting
never reached the walls of mansion, never felt the breeze outside, never saw
the sunlight, never caught attention of her ideal husband, and sadly it never
reached her dreams again. She didn’t let it.
Wasn’t she exactly whom she hated in her childhood? Wasn’t she
exactly like the drunkard painter who beat up his wife? His wife didn’t
understand his art, his passion. Wife expected him to be typical husband. It
was not her fault that she just couldn’t understand what he was, what he
wanted, what he could not be, because he never told her.
The only difference between man and Neelima was, he used alcohol
and Neelima used family as an excuse to run away from the problems. They both
terribly failed to stand up for their passion. Self-sympathy is a callous enemy
of creativity, it kills like a slow poison. She realized maybe she failed to be
enough passionate about painting. She let Neel convince her about what was best
for her. She let him be her mind, her brain, her heart. Grass is greener on the
other side, but she didn’t know the other side, she thought this was the
greenest. She fell for happy-life trap, she didn’t fight back enough. ‘He is
not at fault, I am’ Neelima said out loud.
‘What happened madam, are you okay?’
‘Yes. I just want to be alone for some time.’
‘Why don’t you just lie down upstairs for a while? Kids are
playing outside, I will make sure they won’t disturb you. You also wanted to
finish the book you were reading from last two weeks, right? You said it’s
quite inspiring for women? Here is the book. I will get you fresh cup of
coffee. It will surely cheer you up.’
Neelima took the book, climbed few stairs with heavy feet, turned
back and reminded Geeta.
‘Geeta, please lock that attic’
She sat in her rocking chair watching her grandkids playing in a
garden. She looked composed like always, but she was a mess inside. She
just wanted to sleep for a while. She closed her eyes, but Neel and painting
flashed alternately in her mind. She thought of reading to distract herself.
She took the bottle of sleeping pills from her drawer just in case reading
didn’t help to relax. She opened the book, read few pages, stopped at the line
‘so please ask yourself: What would I do if I weren't afraid? And then go do
it.’
World outside faded, her eyes were moist.
That’s it. That’s all she could remember. She was blank after
that. She looked up at Mr. 13. He smiled.
#13 found it very funny that Suman, Anushri and Neelima looked at
him at the very same moment. He knew what they were thinking. He knew till what
point they remembered. He had used his special software. He had the data on
iPod displayed in three separate columns with few things highlighted. He smiled
again. Ladies were confused. They tried interpreting his over smart,
overconfident smile.
“Why are you smiling #13? Is it really that funny that I cannot
remember how I died despite of answering the questions so sincerely? It is very
rude of you to enjoy this.” Anushri was clearly frustrated.
“I am not smiling because you don’t remember. I am smiling because
you have not yet realized the cause of the death is immaterial at this point”
“I still want to know.” she tried hard to sound firm.
“This question will lose its purpose if you are still hung up on
the cause. Anyways, have you three realized why you are here together on this
journey?”
“Because we are dead?” Suman had lot of patience being a professor.
“Good sense of humor! But why 'you three' specifically?”
"You mean we are related to each other some way like they
show in movies? That’s interesting. Let me think. Anu/Neelima, had you ever
visited my village or college? Had you traveled to my area? I had been to Mumbai
once, but Anu would have been too young to remember if our paths had crossed. Maybe
I had met Mrs.Sarpotdar in market or something, but I don't remember?"
“I was given blood once, maybe we got blood from same person. Had
you ever gone through that Suman aunty and Neelima Aunty? I loved mystery
novels”
"Clearly you did. Let’s try to be little more realistic".
"Nothing is realistic about this #13. You are Yamdut dressed
in a suit, having fancy car, asking us some questions about the past and
telling us the heaven system as opposed to our mythological beliefs."
“This is normal reaction we receive from earth people. All those
stories and books about mythology was just an entertaining way to teach you
guys some philosophy, you guys took it too literally. Can’t help it!”
“I think we are together because our geographical locations were nearby,
maybe heaven also celebrates Woman’s day, or simply cause our destinations were
same?” Neelima tried answering.
“This is better. Dig little deeper.” #13 always enjoyed the
suspense.
“Oh come on, lose the game
and drama #13, have we not answered you enough?” Anu rubbed her hands restlessly,
she didn’t understand the point of this conversation. Neelima gave her a fuming
look like a grandmother would have.
“Sorry, I was rude.” Anu toned down her anger.
“It is alright Anu. You have a lot to learn. It is hard to
overcome lust, anger, greed, pride, jealousy. Don’t worry, you are getting a
second chance.” #13 gave her another clue.
#13 took a pause, again got his typical ‘know-it-all’ expression
back, “So, if you have listened to each other’s answers carefully, you will
understand. Let’s start with Mrs. Sarpotdar or Neelima I should say. What she
wanted? – A career or professional achievement? What she got instead was love
and family. Anu wanted love, but instead she was getting a family and career.
Suman on the other hand badly wanted a family, but she got love and career. All
three of you wanted what other one had and if you had got it you would have
lived a happy life. Tadaaaaaaaa ….. Look at the set theory diagram”
Nobody looked, but what he said made so much sense now. Suman, Anu
and Neelima complemented each other’s life. Now, Neelima knew why she was
fascinated by Anu. Now, Suman knew why she was jealous of Neelima. Now, Anu
knew why she was amused by lack of happiness in Suman’s life even after being
with love of her life. That’s why they had wondered why other one was not
happy, pieces of jigsaw were fitting perfectly. They were meant to be together
on this journey. This was so interesting, they started thinking about what they
would have done if they actually got each other’s lives? It took their mind off
of remembering how they died. The curiosity had definitely gone down.
“We are very near to heaven now.”
“#13, you said I was here because I thought I wanted to kill
Anish. Did I really kill him or tried to kill him? Did I harm him? I was so mad
at him that day. Is he alive? Don’t tell me how I died but this is all I want
to know right now.” Anu asked suddenly.
“I can’t tell you that. But think rationally, you are such a wise
girl. You would have not been on your way to heaven if you’d killed him. But
again that depends on how much damage he had done to you. That hisab kitab is little complicated.”
“Then, did he hurt me back as defense? Maybe he didn’t mean to
hurt me badly, but something might have gone wrong and I might have not
survived head injury or something in the hospital. That’s why I am here, right?
Anish was impulsive from childhood. No, but that’s not possible. He won’t hurt
me. He loved me too much”
“I am sure that would have reminded Mrs. Sarpotdar of some
afternoon TV soap opera. Jokes apart but People surprise you sometimes! Anish
might have. Besides, you should not have hurt him either by that love logic,
you also loved him too much. But again, these are theories so I cannot confirm
if that was the actual case. He might have just left also. And then...”
“Then what?”
“Oh, slip of the tongue is not my thing detective Anu. I am not
telling you, it can cost me my job.”
Anu smiled on her filmy logic.
“I think he just left. At least I want that story to end with him
leaving.”
Anu could not find any other possibility based on what she
remembered.
“Suman, do you have any questions?”
“Like Anu, even I think I will be left only with possibilities and
not the answer.”
“Give it a try. Never deny the probability of possibility becoming
the outcome.”
“Did you find me in my home or his home when I was dead?”
“Yours.”
“I think I might have killed Harish, might have come back to my
house after that. It was not one day thing or impulse. I loved him but also
hated him for quite long”
“Okay.”
“Or I am not sure. I had these thoughts but I never acted upon
them before. Besides I was 55, and I was too disturbed that day, I might have
also hurt myself badly when I stumbled. Or …”
“Or?” #13 wanted her to tell third possibility.
“Nothing. That’s highly unlikely. I didn’t had courage to do that.”
“Sometimes, you don’t need so much courage as you think you do. A
moment of courage is enough. If you don’t grab that one moment, then you are
left with overthinking before and after.”
“But I don’t think I would do that to myself. I can’t, I possibly
can’t”
“Well, are you sure? You might get your answer if you are sure
about what you just said.”
Suman heaved a sigh of relief and just smiled at his smart quirky
remark.
Neelima was just listening to the conversation. She didn’t think
about how she died. It didn’t matter much to her.
“What about you Neelima? Do you want to discuss?”
“No. I think it was natural death. I am so old you know.”
“Right. That can be true or false.”
“Was the sleeping pills bottle open when you picked me?”
“You all three must be Sherlock fans. Yes, it was. Although few
pills were scattered.”
“In my case, there is no question of killing anyone else. Neel was
not around. He never was. I was so stressed that day, so my blood pressure might
have gone high. Heart attack I will say.”
“Or?”
“Does your ‘or’ means previous possibilities are not true?”
“Might be or might not be.”
“I could not possibly take wrong dosage of those pills. Those were
prescribed by the doctor.”
“Good. Mistake can be intentional or unintentional.”
“It will be so foolish to do that in such old age. I would have
died in few years anyways.” She laughed.
“If you say so. By the way I have one more thing to tell, you
three have one more common thing, and you all blamed ‘the guy’ in your life for
not letting you live life the way you wanted. But I know that you have realized
by now that it’s not true.”
“Yes.” All three synched again.
“We always need that one person to blame to take baggage off our shoulders,
don’t we?” Suman finally gave full-fledged smile.
“We do. I am sorry that you still don’t remember how you died. But
think it this way, the cause of death hardly matters now. The thought which led
you to death and to this journey is all that matters. Your thoughts just before
dying will lead you to what you really wanted out of your life. It must have
made you realize few important things about yourself. You were caught up in
regrets and I wanted you to free yourself from that before we reach.”
“I feel better. Much better.” Anu said with her happy-go-lucky
face. Suman and Neelima nodded positively. They had never thought death would
be so refreshing.
#13 felt good after seeing smiley faces. His reputation was going
to be intact.
“Okay, we are almost there now. You three were such an interesting
bunch of women. I will surely hesitate while laughing at sexist joke here
onwards. You might have thought, why so many questions and answers. Why to
explore the unconscious mind? I wanted you to do that for Anu. As a matter of
fact, she will be here temporarily, she is yet to finish her living. She will
get a rebirth soon. Every life you get is just a learning towards the next
life, a better one. I wanted her to know what other things she had in her life
meant for others. I wanted her to know being yourself might not be a happy
choice, but it is the correct one.”
“I am really happy that I got to do this
journey with you two. And #13, you are really a clever and entertaining Yamdut.”
“I agree.” Suman and Anu said.
“So, I will have some time before this rebirth thing, right?”
“Oh yes. And don’t go by your mythological concepts of rebirth
that you get to be born to pay off your debts and all. Rebirth simply means you
do not have enough experience for our advanced course. Suman and Neelima fit
into that criteria for their next journey and you need some more. You won’t
remember details from previous life but knowledge is eternal.”
“Cool. All the best Suman Aunty and Neelima Aunty.”
“You are lucky that you died at such an early age, you got
to correct things sooner than us. All the best dear.” Suman gave Anu a hug. Anu
laughed on her lucky death.
“I hope you will cover up for our regrets too in next chance.”
Neelima’s fascination had now turned into affection.
They all got down from the car. They all started walking towards a
big door. Suman and Neelima went ahead, Anu turned back towards the Car where
#13 was busy doing some entries on his IPad, “Thanks for the ride in such a
fancy car #13. It really felt good to open up like that, especially not having
to pay any money for the group therapy. Jokes apart, but I really owe you this
one. You treated me like a friend and made it really easy.”
“It is my job Anu. You won’t believe but I was really skeptical
about how my day will go with three female assignments, but I should start
trusting my boss little more now on. He gave me a helpful assignment for my
Ph.D thesis.”
“I hope he doesn’t promote you too soon.”
“What? You just praised me for being good a minute. I am glad they
have not yet adopted 360 degree feedback system.”
Anu laughed loudly at how he still didn’t understand her sarcasm
and jokes.
“No. I mean when I die next time and if you are still Yamdut, I
will be glad to catch up.”
“That I can surely manage even if I get promoted, but you will not
remember me. I will try to remind you though for old time sake. Who knows maybe
by that time, our research team will come up with special device to restore
previous journey’s experience.”
“Why? Are they going to format me like a computer?” She smiled,
looking at Suman and Neelima who had almost reached the gate.
“Actually, pretty much, yes. You see that gate Anu? Once you enter
that gate ...”
“Yes, I should have guessed.”
They
started walking towards the gate. It was final moment for Anu after which she
was not going to remember Anish, Suman, Neelima or #13. She could not resist,
she wanted the final touch of her past. She hugged #13 tightly.
“And you call me ‘dramatic’?” #13 smiled with his
final stroke of sarcasm.
She smiled.
“Don’t worry, it will be fine.”
She got herself together like she always did. She put her old
brave face again while entering the gate,” Yeah. Wish you all the best with
next female candidates and your Ph.D.”
“Thanks”
“By the way you never told me. What was the topic of your Ph.D.?”
“Suicide”
Anu entered the gate before #13 could catch her reaction.
A pop up notification flashed on his iPod -
“Hello Number13,
We have received the conformation
from gate 1 security about Suman Deshpande, Neelima Sarpotdar and Anushri Rao.
We have started the paperwork. We appreciate the on time completion of the
task. Keep up the good work.
Please find attached details
of your tomorrow’s assignment.
Thanks,
Chitragupt on behalf
of Yama.
Head of Corporate and
Accounting, Heaven”.
