Second Death-By- Kumar Bahukhandi

Oh my God, am I cloned?" he shouted. "No Mr Amar 'tum mar gaye ho' (you are dead) and that is your body," said a stoutly built gentleman wearing all blacks. Amar took some time to absorb the initial shock. "Who are you?" Amar inquired suspiciously. Well, I am 'Yamdut,' he grinned and extended hand for a shake. Amar had a totally different picture of 'Yamdut' in his mind. Yamdut displayed his identity card. Still Amar was not convinced. Getting a fake I-card is no big deal in India! 'Where is your Gada (club), Bhainsa (buffalo) and this attire?' he questioned. "C'mon man gone are those days. 'Yamlok' is atleast fifty years ahead of your world," Yamdut said with sarcasm. "I have come by a hybrid aerocar and this is a designer uniform", he said with some arrogance.

 

 

'Yamdut' then took out his trendy satellite phone and started talking to someone. "I am afraid we have to spend some time on earth as all routes to Yamlok are jammed," he said. Amar thought it was a good chance to visit his friends and home etc. He thought everybody must be missing him badly. He, alongwith 'Yamdut' went straight to 'Mokshadham'. He saw a large number of cars and two-wheelers parked in a chaotic manner. It was Sunday and everybody was free to attend this social 'get-together' and meet so many people at one go without spending any money! The whole atmosphere was that of picnic. People were laughing, smiling and exchanging jokes. Many business deals were even sealed right there.

 

 Doctors who treated him were busy trying to impress others, explaining about human body, its functioning, diseases and importance of following doctor's advice. At one corner, one of his most cunning friend, who had spent his whole life in wrongful manner, was delivering a discourse on purity of thoughts and deeds! Amar wanted to expose him. Alas! He could not. He was

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just a soul without a body. Amar spotted a group of people engrossed in serious discussion. They were relieved at Amar's demise. "What you sow so you reap," they were saying. Amar had done wrong things and made people suffer. He was neither a good friend nor a good human being. Amar started realising his mistakes. 'Yamdut' patted him on the shoulder with sympathy. They went near the pyre where a few people were busy guiding his sons to arrange wood, ghee (clarified butter) and materials for last rites. His sons were looking very detached, dejected and were following all instructions in a mechanical manner. Amar hardly gave them love and affection of a father.

 

He was engrossed all the time in his own world of pleasures. The feeling of guilt and sorrow started setting deep in him. His eyes became moist. He told 'Yamdut' that he could not tolerate this any more and would like to go home once before leaving for final abode. At home, there was a large gathering of ladies trying to consol his wife crying unstoppably. Amar became sad but still happy that at least somebody is missing him. Being a soul, he could read her thoughts. She was cursing him for not doing any good for family, for spending all the money on his addictions and bad habits.

 

 While crying she was thinking how she was going to support the family and make two ends meet. Amar could not control himself any more and started crying in repentance. Nobody liked him, nobody is missing him and, for sure nobody will remember him at least for good reasons. The thought of all this broke his heart. 'Yamdut' tried to consol him and explained that what is the use now when he was already dead. "No, I was not dead, I was liberated but I have died now," he said with great pain. "I have died twice," he repeated. Folks, the second death is very painful. Let's not die twice.