While we wait...

Wiki: Markandeya, a boy born of worship of Shiva,
was given the boon of profound wisdom but a short life.
Markandeya, himself a devout Shiva devotee, could not
be taken at the time of his supposed death.
He was in deep prayer in front of Shivalinga.
Yama's noose trapped the Shivalinga, incurring Siva's wrath.
A war ensued. Yama was defeated. People reached
immortality and were acting with impunity without the fear
of death. Yama was reinstated but, Markandeya was
bestowed to stay forever young.

This is what my father must be feeling right now. Completing his eighth decade of existence on Earth, he would be soon entering his ninth. By now, he must have got used to seeing his friends falling down like flies, one after another. Until about a few years ago, my contemporaries and I were only used to seeing pictures of relatives donning the obituary columns. Pretty soon, like him, we would start seeing more familiar faces of friends, buddies and soul mates. That, my friend, is the double-edged phenomenon called 'Time'. It grows us, nurtures to face the challenges of the time to a future which will lead to our senescence, senility, infirmity and subsequent demise. That is, if we are destined or fortunate enough to experience the whole red carpet laid for appreciation.

Just the other day, one of my close friends was called back by his Maker.  Even though he had been quite regular with his medical check-ups, came out with flying colours in the mandatory tests and tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Grimm Reaper apparently had other plans.

So at the wake, the main topic of discussion was the sudden nature of some deaths and the absence of farewell. The merits and demerits of having a forewarning before the curtain call. The unfortunate thing about forewarning is that the preceding event could be a painful one for both the sufferer and family alike. Sudden death could be swift but traumatic at the moment. In time, after closure, we remember him only as happy, regal and healthy. That is the memory of him that would stay with us.