Life's Cruel Games

There can be joy in death, just as there can be sorrow in celebrating a birthday. The other day Mallika Kagzi, tears streaming down her face, celebrated the birthday of her only daughter who met a horrible death at the age of 19 (ref post of November 5). Today Santosh Tyagi, fresh from her return from Delhi, celebrated the passing away of her father with luddoos, crispies and tea. He was 96.
“He lived a full life,” Santosh informed. “He was mentally alert, in sound health... he even had a perfect set of teeth. When he was admitted to hospital, not for a moment did he lose his sense of humour. We kept worrying for him, but he was in good spirits and cracked jokes with everyone around.”
Santosh believes that her father had a premonition that his end was near. “Out of the blue, he asked if the weather was fine and then said, it was time for him to go. We did not understand what he meant. Only later did we realize that he was getting ready to leave us and was actually preparing us for the inevitable. He left peacefully. He was 96. What more can we ask for?”
Santosh’s only regret was she could not be present by his bedside when he breathed his last. Her ticket to Delhi was booked in advance for the same day (ref post of October 25) when the news came and she had to take an earlier flight. She reached in time for the last rites and after the ninth day ceremonial feast (“More than 250 people attended”), she was back in Mumbai the day before yesterday.
Much as she kept a brave front while distributing those luddoos in the morning, we could not help empathizing with her mental anguish and sense of loss. Death leaves a vacuum that can never be filled -- no matter what.
Renu Babani:
Heartfelt condolences to Santosh-ji on her loss. May his soul rest in peace.
Jagmohan Papneja:
"As a well spent day brings happy sleep, a life well used brings happy death." --Leonardo da Vinci