I will stay here and wait. Rahul must be on his way now. I can’t see the parents like this. He must be someone very special to crack them all like that.”
I stiffened my body ready to resist every maneuver possible. Something within was stopping me from approaching the body. I did not want to know, and I was not going to, so I just started backing but seconds later I had both the dads forcing me over to him and I knew deep inside I was about to die from within. I tried resisting, shouting to be left alone, I begged the parents to let me be but in vain.
The minute I stood near the head of the person I started to shiver. I was now near him and closed my eyes tight to avoid looking but just then I hear his voice and opened my eyes to see dad unveil his face from behind the sheets. I looked at him and just keep looking. I heard a shattering sound and feel my knees hit the ground but I still could not process. I know the shattering sound was my heart but seeing HIM lying there shut me down totally.
I could hear the parents calling, Aashi shaking me. I think even Mrs. Chawla hugged me but I had turned to stone. I could hear, feel but just didn’t know how to respond.
Everyone was around me but I could only see him, hear him.
I saw dad cover him again, I felt myself being picked up and taken to the side, I saw my father in law perform the necessary rituals before the cremation. I heard everyone crying, I feel Aashi hug me tight crying I saw dad give fire to his body. I saw the flames burn him and take him away but I still just stared and watched and heard and waited for what - I don’t know.