The Day My Grandpa Walked Away

As soon as I open my eyes, the pitter-patter sound of the drops on the roof hits my ears and makes my conscious realize there are light shower rains outside, with blurry eyes I see my 'Reminder to Pray' card kept aside my table. Unwilling to close my eyes and unaware about what's the time...apathy strikes and as I try to walk outside my mother comes to me dressed in white clothes 'Don't go outside,' she says, as she quickly holds my shoulder and whispers, 'Grandpa passed away!...change to white before you come out'. Unaware of what was I feeling and with those zero expressions on my face I simply shook my head. I wanted to burst into tears and was feeling like a volcano of my emotions would erupt out, but I simply gulped down all the tremors I was feeling inside my soul. I start walking towards a window next to the middle door trying to catch a glimpse of outside, my eyes weren't discerning any face, and were just in need to see my grandfather's body when they got a little clear. I saw him wrapped in a white cloth and my grandma sitting beside him. 

'He died of a heart attack,' mom said from behind and reminded me to change clothes before walking away. 

I change quickly and walk out seeing people all over trying to console my family, I knew no human and simply sat next to my father trying to look in his eyes and before uttering a word our eyes collide 'The cremation will be performed in the evening, till then go inside and help your mom no need to sit here,' he said in the lowest voice and looked away. What pain? What grief? My chest was feeling a gnawing hollowness inside it. A call came and my father took a leave of a few days from his office. While trying to recollect my senses I hear my neighbors talking about their obligation to find white for the next few days and to get a well-made condolence speech, nodding my head in disgust I walk away.

I feel strange that though a soul abided bye to us by freeing himself from the pain of this earth, the humans around are trying to make it tough...in this I see my family members running around trying to settle people, attending calls from those unknown people who console with superficial words making it look worse. I really wonder how come grandpa got so Important all of a sudden? Till yesterday he got no calls, no flowers, no greetings, no hugs!

He got important just because he is gone? Why didn't these people call him three days back? Why were there no blessings or wishes, not even their presence on his 71st birthday? Why didn't father take a day off that day? Why did no one call or buy him chocolates?

I cheered him up with a coffee and a chocolate pastry that day, but I know even in the precious diamonds I won't find the shine I saw in his eyes that day! The sound of his laughter still rings in my ears! I can't understand why people are trying to cry for that abandoned soul who simply left with a happy Goodbye. Yes! A happy one! 

People often forget birthdays but tend to remember death anniversaries! 

Is death really so fascinating or you have to die to be important in someone's eyes?