7th November - A story

Dad is getting older and with that the inner part of our house is also getting exposed more and more every day. The bricks and iron rods can be well seen from the road now; the house has not been repaired for more than three decades. Every evening brings a new fear in our home; the condition of dad has worsened since last week. The village doctor has also lost all hopes but Nini, my elder sister, and mom still believe that dad will again go to factory riding on his cycle. On the other hand, I am struggling to manage all expenses from my limited tuition fees. Final exams of government schools will be over in next few weeks and with that my earning sources will also stop. The money that I earn these days from my six students is the only means for the being for our financial resources. 

It is my third year in college and I have to pay extra for my honors paper. I sometimes really regret that why have I decided to choose English honors while taking admission in college. Hadn’t I taken honors I would not have had the burden to pay the extra hundred rupees in final year. Sometimes in the evening when I sit alone near the pond, I just recall the old memories of my childhood days. Life was really simple and happy back then. As a child, I could never realize that life can bring so many difficulties for me ahead in my college days. 

I have seen dad from very close but never realize his importance and guidance until now. The fear of his departure forever covered my life with an unknown shadow of misery. Life has not been that harsh upon me as it is in last one week. The cold breeze of November gives a hint of winter’s arrival soon and the lamp in our room has lit up every corner. But I know that no light can usher any hope in my life anymore; I am aware of what is in my destiny, although Nini and mom still bear hope in their mind. The condition is so worse that we had to sell off our cow to cope-up with the increasing financial expenses for dad’s treatment. 

It’s 7^th November and has been raining since morning the condition of dad has deteriorated further. The movement of his body has also slowed down, frequency of heartbeats likewise reduced. Mom hasn’t eaten anything since morning neither Nini, they can also realize that dad will soon embark upon a new journey to heaven. It’s a full moon night and the moonlight is coming through our window on the bed upon which dad is lying. There is no one outside leaving a few dogs; the clock ticked at 8.15 pm and with that I have lost my dad forever. The agony and pain that overburden my heart for so long came along with tears that rolled down my eyes. Today the world appeared to be so unknown to me as if I am newly born baby. I have lost my dad and with that all his guidance that had helped so dearly till then. From today I will be all alone ; I will have nothing except a few memories of dad. 

The following days were really tough for us as we were to follow many rituals for the death of dad. A month has passed by Nini and mom both accepted the cruel truth of life and I also to some extant learnt to be practical. Ahead of this month it is New Year eve and everybody in the village seem to be in festive mood leaving only our family. By now the situation of our house has also become more vulnerable and like my perhaps the house is also passing through its last stage. The outer cover of walls have fallen off , the pillar of the main door is about to collapse as well and in a house like this, Nini, mom and I still dream to restore happiness in our lives.