One Last Time

The night was dark and cold. The old man lying in the bed listened to the tick-tock of the clock very carefully, as if waiting for something to happen. The cold wind approached his pale face and he closed his tired eyes.

The old man lived alone in a big house. The feeble old man with his shaky steps goes to the garden and does all the necessary work quietly. He often wishes to see his married daughter but only if she cared for her father’s feelings. People often assumed that he lived very happily and peacefully as he had no one in that empty house to cause trouble. It was quite the contrary. 

******

After her marriage, Ellie, his daughter obviously moved to a new house with her husband which was quite far away from the huge house. It was quite painful and tiring for the old man to travel such a long distance but how can a father restrain his love for his daughter? He missed her caring nature, her non-stop talkings and her love. He did everything possible to keep his mind preoccupied but that picture of her daughter made the father upset.

  That morning, the sun did not rise and hence it was cloudy. The old man carrying an umbrella went to his daughter's house to see her. He was warmly welcomed by her daughter and son-in-law. His black eyes were gleaming at the sight of his daughter. 

******

“I missed you so much, Papa! How have you been? I am sorry, I couldn’t come last month to see you,” said Ellie hugging her Papa. 

  “Oh my Sweetheart! Now that I see you in front of me, I feel quite well. You don’t even know how much I remember you everyday. I am like those dead Autumn leaves without you dear,”responded the weak man softly.

‘’Don’t say that. Everyone leaves. I know you wanted me to come over to your place and stay for some days with you. I was busy. And it is necessary for you to understand that, I too have my own work and I just can’t leave Max here all alone…”,said Ellie quite sternly.

 The old man, understanding the futility of such vain conversations chose to keep quiet. 

 He said in a low voice,”It’s not ‘your place’, it is our place.”

  After having lunch together, the old man sat on the sofa almost without moving. Ellie sat by his side and lay her head in his lap. His cold fingers touched her bright face. 

 “Papa, are you doing well? You look quite pale and thin and sick.”

“I am old dear,” answered the old father. “ You can’t expect me to be as handsome as your husband, Max.” 

*******

 This reply was just to make the conversion jolly as the father didn’t want to upset his daughter. Ellie laughed at it. Together they recalled their past and how all things were so less complicated. The sick man that day enjoyed himself. The smile in his little pale face was very precious.  

  They had berries together. Her father wanted to tell her a lot of things but something obstructed him to do so. Maybe his love for her? Ellie started talking about her tedious household work and responsibilities. The old father listened to her quietly and patiently thinking how mature she has become now. 

  The day slowly passed. As it grew dark, it was time for the father to leave. Ellie hugged him tightly and promised like everytime that she would come soon to meet him.  A promise which was never kept. His father smiled just to hide the pain. The journey was very exhausting and he was not well.

******

It was raining. The old man who was lost in his thoughts wished to see his daughter for the last time and knew that he had to make the effort to fulfill his wish. That night the old man actually slept peacefully and never woke up again. 

  Ellie realised that his father left his coat on the dining table. She found a small note in the pocket of the coat. The note showed the lists of  “Things to Do” and the second thing his father wanted to do was to meet her daughter for the “last time.”

  Ellie went numb as she thought what is meant by “last time”? She repeated ,“Last time...Last time... Why?,” with a blank expression on her face. 

 She pleaded to Max that she wants to meet her dad immediately. Max was surprised as he couldn’t think why her wife all of a sudden wants to see her Dad at midnight. He accompanied her to the big gloomy house.

*****

It was silent. A silence which she has never experienced before.  As she moved forward, Ellie found the health reports of the old man on the sofa. He suffered from tuberculosis. Ellie was shocked and muddled. She thought why her Papa didn’t let her know about this. A sudden realization paralyzed her and made her feel guilty about herself. When did she allow herself to indulge in his life after her marriage?

  He never wanted her to know about this, he only wanted her time and her love and her care. Probably, that could have cured the poor sick man. All he required more than medicines was affection and time from his Ellie. What more can an old father expect?

  His father was cold.  As cold as the breath of a winter night.  She found a letter beside his body where it was written how much he loved and missed her. He doesn't blame her daughter a bit and understands her busy life. 

 “Don’t be saddened by my death, sweetheart. I met you for the last time and now I am in peace. You were my home when I was alive and now I bless you from Heaven.” 

 Ellie with her wide-open eyes put one arm around him. She was blubbering now like a little girl.

  She tried to wake his dad from sleep and said in vain, “See Dad! Your Home is here with you. Won’t you wake up?”

-------The End------