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HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER...
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"Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eye, sans taste, sans everything."
EXTREME OLD AGE : IN THIS AGE ONE BECOMES DEPENDENT ON OTHERS FOR CARE AND IS AT TIMES UNABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE WORLD. HE EXPERIENCES "SECOND INNOCENCE AND MERE OBLIVION" AND IS THE REASON WHY IT IS ALSO SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS Second Childhood. AT THIS STAGE ONE MAY EXPERIENCE INCAPAICITY. DOTAGE IS OTHER NAME OR SYNONYM OF IT.
In the front yard of a palace like house sat a old woman. Her skin so pale and wrinkled, that you can barely believe that she once had the beauty that reviled that of a heaven's angel. The house too was quite grand, with domes and windows made in such a way that it looked like a fort. The gates too were spiked like old times. The whole atmosphere presented one with a feel of old times, where king and queens used to rule.
The house had once belonged to a noble man, who happened to be the old lady's husband. It had been a very long time since he died and left her alone, to see the time and people changing in front of her own eyes.
Her eyes after witnessing the cruelties of life have grown weak. Everything seemed blurry to the vision that had once been able to count the feathers of a flying bird. Her jaw was void of gums and teeth making it hard to chew solid food. Taste buds too had been lost in time.
But all this didn't matter in front of what she had achieved. It was not easy to survive alone in this world no matter what, you always need someone, be it be your friends, family or even colleagues. You can't always stand alone, if not at that time but later your heart may desire a support to lean on.
The old woman had bravely stood alone, when her husband died. She took care of all her young children all alone especially at the time when a female was thought to be inferior. When the patriarch of her home died, she took the role and did it really well.
When society frowned upon her, she stood straight in front of them, facing them all alone like a tigress, all alone ready to protect her cubs when needed. She really was a brave lady. Her being alive till day only proved how strong willed she was.
Even her kids were dead except for her youngest son. She was really lucky to have seen not only grandkids but also great-grandkids. Even some of her great-grandkids had children.
But age surely had done a number on her. Though she was healthy, she was now incapable. At the age of Hundred and ten she really needed support but the problem was asking for it. For her whole life she had stood alone never once asking for help but at this stage she couldn't help it.
Her grandkids had wanted her to live with them, so that they can care for her but she refused. She didn't want to leave the home that her husband built with all his love for her. The ancestral home held some very dear memories to her and her family. It had withstood even darkest of weather and time.
She really loved it when her young great-grandkids visited. It really brought joy inside her to see her family happy and flourish.
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It was on her hundred and eleventh birthday that the strong will left her. On the morning of her birthday many of her family members came to wish her and celebrate. Her maid came to wake her up but when she didn't, the maid panicked and called for everyone.
Everyone rushed towards her, one of them happened to be a doctor. He checked her pulse and a frown fell upon his face. He checked again and again, his repetitive action distressing and tensing others more and more.
"What's wrong? Everything is alright, right?" asked someone amongst them in a unsure and somewhat trembling voice.
"She doesn't have a pulse." Was the reply received in a whisper. It was said in such a way as if he himself couldn't believe it.
"What?... What are you saying?" even though everyone knew what it meant they asked again as if the answer will change if they asked.
"She's no more. Gran garn is dead." Replied the doctor , who was one of the old lady's great-grandchildren.
A silence fell upon everyone, even with such a huge crowd present one could even hear the pin drop. For several moments the only sound that was heard was of the grand clock on the wall that itself was as vintage as the grandmother.
"We need to prepare for burial and funeral." Someone amongst them said, breaking the silence.
As soon as the words were out, all hell broke loose. Everyone one was in disarray, some started crying some started shouting and some were muttering intelligent thing but none of it all made sense, none of them made reason.
"Everyone SHUT UP..." a loud and strict voice rang amongst them and everyone stilled.
A male stepped in front of them all, his posture rigid with a scowl on his face.
"Stop acting childish, you all are not kids. Even kids are acting better in this situation compared to you all." Everyone stilled hearing those words.
"She was a brave lady and had faced a lot. She was old, it was only inevitable. You all knew it was going to happen one day or the other, so why are you all behaving like foolish manic." His words held truth and power behind them. His voice strong and without and tremble.
He too stood like a force in front of them all. His posture said it all, there was nothing left for discussion as the words left. Even those elder to him obliged and listened to him.
Being in army had made the man strong not only physically but also mentally. His teenage daughter came to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Its truly said that actions speak louder than words. Sometimes words are not enough and sometimes you don't even have words. She gave a small smile to him and said "Like you said, it was inevitable. We should celebrate not morn Papa, After all we had some really wonderful years with her and to top it all, it's her birthday. She would not have wanted so much of sadness today, so why are we going against her wishes."
The father smiled at his daughter, she truly was a warrior... His little warrior .
"When did you grow up?" he asked his daughter in a teasing tone.
"I guess when you were not looking" the teen replied with a smirk.
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Everything was prepared and the lady was wrapped in white cloth because she was a widow. The big toes were tied together with a string and a Tilak (red, yellow or white mark) is placed on her forehead. Her body was carried to the cremation ground, by family and friends, and placed on a pyre with feet facing south.
The priest called the lead cremator, He circumambulated the dry wood pyre with the body, recites a hymn, placed rice in the old lady's mouth, sprinkled the body and the pyre with ghee (clarified butter), then drew three lines signifying (deity of the dead), (time, deity of cremation) and the dead. Prior to lighting the pyre, an earthen pot was filled with water, and the lead mourner circled the body with it, before lobbing the pot over his shoulder so it breaks near the head.
As soon as the pot hit the ground, a shill voice broke through the cremation ground. What shocked the family was that it was not the sound of pot breaking but someone screaming, and that someone being the old lady who was supposed to be dead.
She looked around, her mind unable to comprehend what was going on.
"What is this ruckus all about? " she asked her voice squeaky but yet held authority.
"You are alive?"
She looked around once more noting all their strange and shocked looked yet the place she sat didn't register in her mind. She scraped her finger and blooded came out of that scratch. She lifted her hand up to show it to everyone.
"Well, seeing as ghosts are not supposed to bleed..... I guess , am alive."
Everyone had a hard time digesting the fact; surely the old lady was strong but literally battling death, now that was something else, but the old tigress did it too.
As everyone was busy in their own thoughts, with same confused thoughts, the location registered in old lady's mind.
"What in the hell, Are we doing in cremation ground? Who died on my birthday?"
"NO ONE" everyone said together and in sync.
"You all never sing the birthday song with such sync as you all answered me with." She pouted.
"You know you are acting like a baby, you are such a big baby, Grandma."
"I may be a big baby, but I am no crybaby." She answered with such stubbornness that only a child could possess. It's truly said that this age is second childhood.
"Now all of you start moving, I have to get ready after all its my birthday. You all better have my gifts ready." The old lady told the family as one of her grandkid took her off the pyre.
"Hey Gran-gran, do you want candles on your cake?"
"of course I do, what kind of stupid question is that?"
"Are you sure? I mean you do know that it'll be costlier than buying you cake and also placing them on the cake is going to be a herculean task."
"And you call me a kid, you do now that candles with of numerical do come in market and are easily available. All you need is to use you pea size brain to buy three with no. one, I have a hard time beliving you are a teacher."
"Actually, I am a doctor Gran."
"Even more impossible, are you sure you are?"
"You know what Granny?"
"What child?" the old lady asked as she ruffled the teen who had earlier questioned her.
"Even I doubt he's doctor or not?" and with that laughter filled the air; the doctor scowled, as he got the double meaning behind the words along with rest of the family.
Everyone had a great laugh and the mood was instantly lifted to that of joy and happiness.
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(Thought to be shared...)
Where there's a will, there's always a way.....
Rule the pride .....
All you need is strong willpower and nobody in this world can stop you....
Its' true that nobody will remain in this world as no one is immortal .... But what remains is your name.... your soul may pass to next life but the name you earned and the deeds you did always remain ....
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A/N:
I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT...
IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS SUPPORT THAT TOSA IS FARING SO WELL.....
LOVE U ALL ....
AND PLEASE KEEP LOVING THIS STORY....
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xxxEvaxxx
dod