Life before Death

‘The whispering sound made me woke up.’

Someone appeared before me when I opened my eyes. They were two, standing beside my bed. I cannot see their faces, as the room was dark. One is taller than the other but both had a good physic. 

The taller man is blaming the other for something and he is weeping. They are moving towards the door. Through the light peeped inside the room when he opened the door, I realized that the taller man is beyond fifty and the other is in his youth.

‘Who are they and what are they doing in my room at this hour? Oh! God, Are they thieves? If they are, I will not spare them. How dare are they to get inside my home? Today they will know the power of a girl.’  

Getting up from the bed with rubbing my slumber eyes I followed them secretly. I was surprised to see my whole house in fog! 

‘Are they walking or flying?’ 

I could not reach them without running. They were too fast for me to follow. Getting down the stairs and they were moving towards the hall. I took a golf stick from my father’s golf stand without making any noise. 

When I reached the hall, they were standing beside my bonsai plant. I hide behind my bookshelf, where they were standing. I wonder why they were not stealing anything. Anyway, there is no point in it. They have trespassed into my house.

I held the golf stick with steadiness and determined to attack them. Suddenly, they again started talking, this time much louder. I guessed they were mad and were not bothered about the waking of my family. I listened to them carefully.

“You are responsible for this, Shiva.” The old man said. 

“If you didn’t break the bottle, this couldn’t have happened.”

“I lost my control when I heard them. I did not think about anything rather than saving my nation. For a soldier, his Nation is more important than anything” Shiva replied.

‘Oh! Are they soldiers? But what are they talking about? No idea.’

The old man started again. “After all, my granddaughter is fighting for her life. It is all because of you. You should not have done this. Moreover, you should have to think about the ones who will be affecting by this. You should be a kind human than a proud soldier.”

“Dad, what are you saying? Do you think that I do not care for my niece?” Shiva’s eyes filled with tears.

'The matter is so serious. Someone is in danger. But why are they standing here? May be they need some money and thought that will get it from here. I think both came straight from warfront. Or, How will they have this muddy army uniform. Anyway, eavesdropping is a great task. Let me continue it.'

"Our rival country planned to attack not only our nation, but also all the top nations. They thought that they would become number one after this like what had happened in Hiroshima year ago. They only thought about the power rather than humanity. So for saving millions why should I consider kindness and all?" Shiva answered. 

"But what happened when you break the bottle. The biohazard spread in the lab and transmitted to millions of people stealing their lives. You know that even though we have boundaries people travel worldwide. Now it is swallowing the whole world as a pandemic." The old man countered. 

"I thought that when it is broken, it will destroy. But who knows that this will turn into a horrible situation." Shiva said.

"You went with Sreya for her business meeting and made all the mishaps there. But now that made her life really a hell." The old man responded. 

Their conversation surprised me. 

'Are they talking about me? Why are they mentioning my name and my business tour? I went there with my colleagues. However, these people seem familiar to me. But I can’t remember them. How could I be his niece and the old man’s granddaughter? My grandfather and uncle had died decades ago in the warfront. Oh! No, my uncle’s name is Shiva!' 

I was shocked. I ran to the room where my parent’s sleep. They were sleeping. I try to wake them up. But they were not waking up. I became afraid. 

Suddenly the mobile phone rang. After two rings, my father attended the call. He was very much disappointed. My mother enquired about the call. With tearful eyes, my father said, “It was the call from Dr. Suresh Rabin and Sreya is serious.” They started to cry.

Hearing them cry my grandfather and uncle came there. They became shell shocked by seeing me. They flew from there. I also followed them. 

We reached a hospital. Everyone there seems to be aliens. I saw myself lying in the bed between the medical equipment. Doctors are trying to keep my pulse rate steady. 

My grandfather and uncle started to drag me towards my true self. They insisted me to enter into my own body. Suddenly I started to suffocate. After a while, I was breathing normally. 

I opened my eyes. The doctors were so happy to save another life. They told me that I am out of risk and can leave the hospital tomorrow itself. 

I could not find my uncle and grandfather anywhere. I searched the whole room when everyone left. However, it was in vain. I slowly fell into sleep.

Early in the morning, doctors who treated me sent me a small fair well. I was sent to home by a special hospital vehicle. 

Through the way, I found the usually busy roads now stay free. Not all the shops are open now. Few people are found near the shops. In addition, everyone wear masks and some has covered their faces with handkerchiefs or shawls. Taps and water cans are seen everywhere for washing hands.

Finally, I reached my home. My parents were waiting for me at the courtyard. Dr. Suresh Rabin has given them all the updates about me. I never saw them this much happier before. I entered my heaven and they made me clean my hands with sanitizer and told me to take a bath first. Moreover, my family is more important to me. While climbing the stairs, I smiled at the two portraits hanging on the wall. 

When something falls or breaks, I recognize that, something big was about to come, and it has cleared the way by the blessings of our deceased ones. I realized that always our ancestors will be with us and they will help us to face all the crucial situations in our life.

“Nobody ever leaves this world. They only become invisible before the visible ones.”