Last Birthday!

Jack logged off his computer at the end of the day after work and as usual was moving towards the bar in the city to have his routine drinks in the evening. Moon takes over the night. He starts drinking and when the alcohol content in the blood raises, he blabbers and abuses. He reaches home and by that time, his 3 daughters Mona, Ashley and Clara had slept. The only witness is the street puppy which raises its ears and head seeing him and then continues its sleep. His food was kept in the dining table and his poor wife gets up and opens the door for him. He completes his supper and falls on his bed without removing his shoes. Jenifer, his caring house wife unties his shoe laces and keeps in the rack for the next day wear. The tear factories in her eyes had dried long time back since the factories too needs rest. This is her story even on festivals too. Sometimes her husband’s friends bring him to home. Next day when the sun kissed the home, Jenifer gets ready all her children, makes the day’s food and packs for Jack. Hardly Jack interacts with Mona, Ashley or Clara. This was the mundane of Jack for the last 20 years.

Sameway he headed to the bar that day. He ordered for the wine and was waiting for the starters to come. One very handsome young man appeared before him and asks him permission to sit along with him as he wants to have a talk. Jack has never seen this guy in the bar since he had been to this bar. The guy keeps the starters and sits in front of him. Jack asks the guy to speak. The handsome guy says “Iam not here to speak but to take you away”. Jack couldn’t control his laughter and asks him where he wants to take him? to any palace or to a foreign land. The guy was very cool and said Iam going to take you to my place permanently. Jack yelled at him “Who the hell are you, and have come to spoil my evening?”

The guy coolly said “Iam God, your days are over in this earth and I have come to take you away”. Meantime the ordered wine came and the server was surprised that the starters was in the table already. Jack says the server that the handsome guy who is sitting opposite to me had brought this minutes back. Now the server could not control his laughter and said, even before taking wine, you have reached to the beautiful state sir! Now sweat drops started appearing in the forehead of Jack inspite of the air conditioners running in the bar. The handsome guy again says, your time is over now and Iam going to take you away. I don’t need your permission too, since when time comes, I don’t wait for minute or seconds, I take them away from this earth.

It was totally crashing down for Jack. Everything comes to halt for him and rewinds his life in a flash and realizes that he did not live his life fully and truly! He begs to grant him few months. The handsome guy smiles and says, OK I can give you a week since your Birthday falls next Sunday and let it be your last birthday. I will pick u up on your last birthday, the Sunday evening. Your advance birthday wish is granted and good luck. The handsome guy suddenly disappeared.

Jack left the bar without having his regular drinks. He reaches home. First time, he himself unties his shoes and keeps in the shoe rack. He could not take his dinner as he felt heavy in the heart. He slowly reaches the room where Mona, Ashley and Clara were sleeping. They had forgot to keep the studied books back in the shelves. Jack arranges them and keeps in the shelves and suddenly notices the injured scar in the knee of Mona. The sutures of the injury might be long time back and notices his mother’s medical report in the table since many months. Jack was asking himself, why did my eyes were cloudy all these days and could not see these any of these and why Jenifer did not say anything to him.

Jack went to the shower and came fresh. His mind was in a burden now. He has to do lot of things within one week and leave this place! He again went to the room where Mona, Ashley and Clara were sleeping and started kissing each one of them and his eyes were moist now. Next day Jack got up very early before the sunrise, started helping his wife and helping his daughters. All were now perplexed, they believed something had happened to him seriously but they liked Jack’s new avatar! There was happiness at the bottom of all their hearts.

Jack did not want to disclose that this will be his last week with them in their life, instead wanted to give them his good time. He wanted to complete any task left with him and leave with a gratitude. He met his ailing mother, his school teacher, his childhood friends, classmates, neighbors. Few of his childhood friends, classmates had left this world, so met their family. That week was thanks giving for him, he was thanking all those who had come across in his life and not holding any grudges against anyone. When he was thanking, he felt very light in his heart and was preparing for the exit from the world with gratitude as his curtains were drawing down.

The final week evaporated very fast and the final day came. His last birthday came on a Sunday. He registered for eye donation after his death. He donated what he could, thanked his ancestors, and cooked lunch for his family. The food had less salt but everyone took it happily as it was the first time for him stepping in the kitchen. Got blessings from his mother. Family was very happy on the day, and he was calm and composed that the last birthday had become so special and what he could not achieve in years, he could get in the last one week. Slowly the sun was descending down. He silently left the home and was preparing for the final take off. He went to the nearby garden which had lot of flowers. He picked up one beautiful flower to give it to God when he will come shortly to pick him up. With flower in his hand, he sat under the tree in the garden. Sun started going down and Moon was rising above to take over that night duty.

Jack was waiting, but no one came!!!

Note-The images given for representation in this blog are taken from Google / Unsplash Images. Many thanks for Google & Unsplash.