A Bend in the River of Life (28 page)

She said, “No, no, you must go to work. Work is God. I am just feeling a little feeble. It will be alright.”

Her condition remained virtually unchanged throughout Friday. She talked very little. Saturday morning her condition deteriorated. The doctor came again. He would not change any medication, but added a new one to stimulate her body. He requested if the new medicine could be brought immediately and administered while he was present. Rana rushed out and brought the medicine in less than fifteen minutes. However, he met the doctor at the entrance as he was walking out of the house. He held Rana's hand and said, “That medicine is not required any more. She breathed her last as soon you drove away. You need to be strong now.”

Rana ran inside the house and found his Mother Monika and Aunt Karuna weeping downstairs next to the staircase. He jumped up the steps to reach the second floor. Amit was wiping tears in his room. Sudip was crying outside Rajani's room. Sitting on the laps of their nannies, Saurav and Smita were watching in stupefied silence the unsightly scene of grown-ups shedding shameless tears. Rana kissed them and went into Rajani's room hurriedly. The lifeless body of Rajani was lying on her bed in abiding peace. Her face was glowing like the setting sun. Since his childhood it was ingrained in his mind that only the faces of the holy and saintly effused such radiance when their souls departed their worn out bodies. A firm belief was also engraved in his psyche that what was perceived as death was only a bridge connecting this season of life and the next. It is on that bridge that God's judgment is delivered to the departed soul as to its destination and the new roleplay.

No human being had an idea what that destination and roleplay
might be. Due to that uncertainty human mind cries for the soul of a desolate body. So sitting right by Rajani's bed Rana cried for her departed soul. The events of his own life unfurled before his mental eye in kaleidoscopic succession. He could see the loving, caring, nurturing and protective hands of Rajani everywhere in his life. From his own childhood to the childhood of his children, there was nothing that did not bear the stamp of Rajani. Perhaps taking care of Rana was the only roleplay she was entrusted with in this season of life by the Architect of the River of Life.

As usual, among the friends and family the first to come to the scene were Ramnath and Mita. Not only that they were virtual neighbors, but also they had great respect for Rajani. Of late, Ramnath spent many hours talking to her concerning things close to their life and time. Delving into nostalgia became their joint pleasure and pastime. Sumit, Devika and Kamala, the other children of Rajani arrived next.

Devika was just eight years old when their father passed away. Kamala had already been given in marriage. Devika was the baby among Rajani's children. Yet in good days and bad she became Rajani's right hand in running the household when not busy with her studies. The intensity of Devika's grief was thus understandable.

Gradually, other kith and kin like Sheila, Anjali, Sarojini, Padmini and other friends and family thronged the Roy family home by midafternoon. Meanwhile, the funeral arrangements were ready and the last journey could not wait any longer. But the most grieving part was the act of removing the lifeless body of a noble woman who for seven decades devoted her life in making the River of Life better, stronger, saner and happier expecting nothing in return. To Rana she was the embodiment of tireless toil, indomitable courage, unlimited patience and a fountain of compassion. Hopefully, he reflected, he learnt something from his grandma's life.

Saurav and Smita were watching the proceedings with visible sadness sitting quietly on the laps of Ramnath and Mita. Rana came
near and said, “Let's kiss a good-bye to Great-grandma.” He took them to the remains of Rajani. They kissed her as usual. Smita got perplexed to see everybody around her body crying, but Saurav would be four years old in a few months' time. He began to understand death and parting caused by that. Tears started overflowing his eyes also. He asked Rana, “Dad, where is Great-grandma going?”

Rana said, “Great-grandma is going to your Mama.”

Saurav asked a follow up question, “Dad, Great-grandma also will come at night with Mama to kiss me and my sister?”

Rana said, “Yes, my son.”

Saurav appeared to be satisfied with his answer.

Thus began the last trek of a long journey of Rajani, Rana's anchor of life. A wave that emerged from the River of Life almost eighty-three years ago was about to merge with it in peace and grace again. Her body was carefully placed on the pyre. Her second son Sumit, following the instructions of the priest touched the lips of her remains with the torch of flame. Whipped up by the strong autumn wind, the raging fire engulfed the pyre in seconds. In about two hours the worn out body of Rajani was reduced to ashes. On the thirteenth day of her demise religious rites were performed and prayerful offerings were made for the peace and happiness of her soul.

A human being is a combination of body and soul. The body is nothing but the dust of the earth put together by God Himself and the soul is but the breath of God. Thus the body and soul are interdependent on each other. Without the soul the body can never be brought to life. Without the body the soul cannot find its expression. No matter in what manner the body is disposed of, whether buried, or cremated or put to watery grave; it would be reduced to the soil of the earth ultimately. And what is the destiny of the soul? Being the breath of life infused by God, the soul returns to God for His instructions as to the next assignment. Rana had no doubt that people like Rajani who carried out more than their share of earthly responsibilities would find a very special place in God's abode for
her next roleplay.

It was understandable that the loss of Rajani and Keka, the anchor and love of his life, in a span of less than two years, left Rana desolate and forlorn. Yet time goes on and life trudges along. And on the planks of joy and sorrow alternately the River of Life flows on inexorably to its way far destiny, the ever esoteric Eternity.

I
t was long since Rana came back from his maiden trip to the Far East, but a part of his mind remained in Taipei. Kim's resemblance to Keka both physically and mentally was something that was unforgettable. As promised, he wrote to Kim confirming his safe arrival and thanking her for her priceless friendship during his visit to Taipei. He hoped that the two would meet again soon. Kim wrote, among other things, “…The moment I saw your deceased wife's photo bearing an uncanny resemblance with me, I knew you were genuine and my momentary suspicion vanished…. No words could describe adequately as to how much I enjoyed your company. I have no hesitation to express unequivocally that those were the few rare happy days of my life. I feel very strongly that by the grace of God we will meet again before long.”

Since then there was a steady exchange of letters between the two. In the aftermath of the passing of Rajani, Rana wrote to Kim of her demise and how sad and lonely he was feeling despite the fact that such eventuality was not unexpected due to her advanced age. She wrote back, “I am really sorry to learn the passing of your grandma. From the story of your life I know how dear she was to your heart. But let not your sorrow make Saurav and Smita unhappy. At least, you are lucky to have them in your life. When you are sad, take refuge in their joy. Your grief will be washed away by the torrents of their love….I have not given up the hope that our paths will cross again in the near future.”

Rana's heart was filled with love for Kim and his respect for her increased thousand folds. It seemed to him that Kim borrowed those lines from Keka. He was certain that Keka also would have consoled him in identical terms had she been alive.

The prayers of Kim and Rana were answered. He received another invitation to attend a seminar in Hong Kong out of the blue. Surprisingly, it was not a seminar purely on management or marketing but on finance. It did not matter what the topic of the seminar was. What was most important to him at that juncture of his life was that in addition to allowing him a forum to broaden the horizon of his career, it also gave him the opportunity to meet with Kim once again. He wrote to Kim to apply for leave and make travel arrangements to visit Hong Kong, a short hop from Taipei. She was thrilled at the prospect of seeing him again. For her the added attraction was the opportunity to see Hong Kong first hand. To people in other parts of Asia-Pacific, a trip to Hong Kong was much coveted.

The seminar was for three days, but the travel arrangements were made for eight days. So they had ample time for shopping and sightseeing. But most importantly, adequate time was set aside for discussing matters of mutual interest. Flight schedules were coordinated keeping in mind maximum safety and convenience for Kim. In accordance with their plan, Rana's flight arrived first at the Kowloon Airport to enable him to receive Kim and then together they were to proceed to Hong Kong by car. He was waiting at a vantage point in the reception area for Kim's arrival. Coming out of the ramp Kim saw Rana immediately with her eagle vision and began waving at him. She was refreshingly exuberant. Rana responded by receiving her equally enthusiastically as if he owned that symbol of capitalism. That set the tone for the rest of the trip. It was a Saturday afternoon. The seminar would begin on Monday morning. So they had enough time to pick up the thread of relationship from where they had left nearly a year earlier. Though fond and affectionate
letters were exchanged in the mean time, nothing could replace the warmth of meeting in person. Eye is the reflection of mind. Voice is the measurement of passion. Naturally, they were immensely delighted to be together again.

Because of Rana's visit to Hong Kong the previous year he had a pretty good idea as to where to go and what to do in the next seven days. So sitting over a pot of jasmine tea in the coffee shop of the hotel, they chalked out a plan for shopping, sight-seeing and time between themselves. The location of their hotel was to their advantage, being right at the edge of the main shopping district on the Hong Kong side. Before the evening descended, Rana took Kim out for a stroll to familiarize her with the shopping plazas and the nooks and corners of the marketplace as Kim planned to complete all her shopping during the first three days of the week when Rana would be occupied in the seminar. To wrap up their first evening in Hong Kong, they chose to go to the roof top restaurant of their hotel for a leisurely dinner.

The conversation at the dinner table centered on them and then extended to their immediate family. Congratulating him for his promotion once again Kim asked, “Rana, since you continue to be in the same office, I am curious to know how your new position is higher than the previous one.”

Rana answered, “In the previous position I was in charge only of the operations side of the business in the city. In the new position I have the overall responsibility, that is, not only for operations, but also for the credit and marketing areas of the business.” He further clarified, “Kim, it is like the management structure in any hotel. You have managers of various departments and then a General Manager overseeing all the departments.”

Kim said, “I understand now.” With a little pause she asked, “What happens when you get your next promotion? Will you be transferred out of India?”

He said, “Not necessarily, though it is possible. There are a few higher positions within the country and they are at the CEO's office in Bombay.”

Kim asked, “If you are transferred out now what you are going to do?”

Rana responded, “If I am transferred any time, I have no choice but to go. Transfer is the prerogative of the company. Nevertheless, I have found that the top management of the bank is very compassionate. The reason they kept me in Calcutta is because of my two small children. But anything might happen depending on the need of the company at a particular place and time. Normally, the company's need will always supercede individual situation.”

She asked, “When someone is transferred out of a country, is there any predetermined place of transfer?”

He replied, “No place in particular. However, I have seen that most of the transfers from India have been to places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and various countries in the Gulf area in the Middle-East. For your peace of mind, I may let you know that on my return to India from Taipei last year, I offered my name for consideration in case a transfer takes place to the Asia-Pacific region. However, I have a question for you. If the transfer does not take place directly to Taiwan how will you circumvent your mother's reluctance to move out of Taiwan?”

She said, “Rana, I do not know that yet. However, I can at least talk to her if the place is somewhere in a neighboring country. In any case, thank you for offering your name. I really hope that it does happen soon. I am looking forward to it. Let's keep our fingers crossed.”

Changing the subject Rana asked, “Talking about your mother, how is she now?”

Kim replied, “She is well by the grace of God. She keeps asking about you and sends her best wishes to you. She knows that I am here in Hong Kong at your invitation.”

Kim then asked him about the last days of Rajani, “Learning her demise from your letter, I was really sad for you. Did she suffer a lot before passing?”

Rana replied, “Actually, no. It was more of a natural death. She basically succumbed to her advanced age. She breathed her last just few days shy of her eighty-third birthday.”

She asked, “Were you present at the bedside when she passed?”

He said, “Surprisingly, no.”

She asked, “Why, what happened?”

He answered, “She breathed her last within a narrow window when I had to go out to buy a medicine for her.” He expanded further, “She felt sick the previous day. She had fever and high blood pressure without any appetite. Doctor prescribed medicines, which made her drowsy. She ate little and slept through the day. In the evening she was a little better. She spoke to me and the children and kissed them. Next morning she felt feeble and could not get up from the bed. Her doctor came and prescribed a new medicine and asked me if it could be brought immediately and administered in his presence. I went out in no time and brought the medicine in fifteen minutes. But as soon as I stepped out of the house she left this world. It appears that for some reason God did not want my presence at her last moment on earth.” He heaved a long and deep sigh.