Death is sometimes a key to new life

As we all know once the soul is born it must go through all the stages of life and finally end by releasing the soul to take the new body. Death word often is related to the end of life. However, we often say that there are other types of deaths which are sometimes good or bad as it is not directed to the end of life rather I would say it relates to characteristics. For example, death of ego, jealousy, negativity, evil, relationship. These are attributes of a person that can be good or bad. If bad quality dies, we appreciate it and if a good quality dies then we relate it to circumstances. Isn’t it?

In my understanding would like to touch upon all the aspects of it. The reason is 2020 has come with a lot of experiences and lessons with that loads of learning. Life lessons always give you some valuable learning and I suppose that is something that helps us to evolve from within. The year did start as normal with the very least idea of what has brought it for us. By March when it started things started to turn a little unexpected. How come a virus affects so much that it will create a place of a scared-filled world. Even I was scared for a while but at the same time I also use to feel that leaving our humanity aside doesn’t really help and I would say what is the essence of that life without it. A human without humanity. I can't really imagine that. I will share the experience of my life. Dec 2020, when my father left us. I will never be able to forget the day in whole my life. The reason was the situation I faced was something unexpected. Early morning when we found that dad is not responding the first thing that came to my mind was to look for an ambulance. As it's very difficult for a family to accept the death of their loved one. The same was our situation we knew that dad doesn’t have his pulse and heartbeat is fainting as time passes. But we wanted some miracle to happen. Mom was not at all aware of the real scenario. I, my hubby, and my aunt (mom’s sister) who was a Homeopath doctor were somewhere aware of the reality. But we didn’t want to accept it. Unfortunately, it was Sunday, and we could not get any Ambulance due to covid. The reason was not clear. By that time, I and my hubby knew that there is no hope. But this thing I could say now. As that was the time we wanted to go around and check if a doctor can do something for my dad to stay. Finally, we had some shopkeepers around and one family who stayed just beside our bungalow. They just hear us struggling for help and without even wasting a minute they were present in our house to help us.

After a long 30 minutes struggle to arrange some vehicle we finally decided that we will take him in a car. The reason we had to wait was as it was risky to pull him out of bed as it could have hurt him. But then when things were getting delayed we decided we have to take him to the hospital now y our car. Firstly we had to carry him down. He was already heavy and it seemed he got up some more weight. It was almost clear but with the help of the people who came for help in our house they decided to take him in the same bedsheet where he was lying. With immense efforts everybody along with my hubby somehow we're able to bring him down from the first floor on a bedsheet then the worst was waiting. When we reached the main gate we found the legs were not possible to bend it to make fit in our hatchback car. Then we had to keep my dad down on the floor to arrange for my cousin’s big car thinking it would be possible to get him in. But all efforts were in vain. Then finally my hubby ran to arrange for some vehicle so at least we can try to reach the hospital somehow. Then miraculously we found a caretaker of the house who was usually not available during that time being a daily wage. Strangely we found him and my hubby Rajesh asked him to come ASAP. The reason was we had no option but to take him to the 4 wheels wooden flat cart where we could lay our dad. I mean in my wildest of dreams I could have thought of this situation. The fact was I was living it.

Contributor: Sean Sprague / Alamy Stock Photo Image Credit: AWPTH4

With this kind of cart attached to a bicycle, we tried to reach the nearest clinic / Govt hospital. But in the 3rd clinic, we found a doctor as there were no emergency doctors available in those clinics due to covid on Sundays. Finally, we were able to check his vitals in one of the clinics that too outside the clinic where he was finally declared as brought dead. The point was the situation was so scary that we were asked to take him back home quickly as there was no hope. One of the doctors known to my neighbors finally came to our house to give a final statement so to initiate the death certificate. I asked my brother to come home as soon as possible. He got his flight for the same day and we could perform the last ritual as per Hindu caste only then. It was December and winters were at their peak. So now we were told to keep him home in a room for few hours till my brother reached.

In a few days’ time, we often had this discussion again that we were showing our caretaker gratitude for being there for us when we needed it the most. To our surprise, his words brought tears to our eyes. The lines were “Big Brother went in his own vehicle. Surprisingly we asked him how that was possible. He told us a few years back when his daughters’ marriage was nearing and just before that his only source of earning which was the wooden cart with a bicycle was stolen from the parking. He cried a lot in front of my dad about how he will manage everything now. My dad without giving a second thought he gave him the whole amount that was required for his cart that cost near to 15–20 k. My dad was retired still he never thought anything then and gave his helping hand. I realized that’s what is important. Even after our death, people remember us by our deeds. And it was clear that as my dad was always a self-man in his last days he didn’t want to depend on anyone and went with his pride high. We are proud of you.

Another instance was that was a covid time where we found in Bangalore that even our friends or own family are hesitant to meet but there during the time of death. People were not scared. Nobody from our neighbors ever thought that helping us can cause them any sort of infection or any health issues. The immediate think spark in my head was people who are poor or from the slums and so on are they covid immune. The answer is No but as they have seen so many struggles, so their mind is still very grounded to think about helping rather than becoming inhuman in this covid situation. Infact, this instance actually changes my whole perspective towards life and people. There was a stage I had a feeling that people have lost their human attributes in this covid. However, I found that there are people who believe in staying compassionate even in difficult times. A real test of a person demands in real-time.

Though we had a divine soul departed us that day but I still believe he is always with us and since this belief has occupied my mind. Thereafter all seem to be simple, my panic attacks disappeared, I almost have a clear mind now to get ready for future endeavors. Dad is with me in all my stages of life.