On one of those nights, I closed my eyes and tried to go off to sleep. I pressed my eyelids hard enough but the sleep was a little too far tonight.
There was an eerie silence in the night today. It was not one of those nights when you are going to bed whilst your body asking for it.
In the middle of the night, when almost everything seemed silent, I felt something grabbing on to me hard enough. It was choking! I felt I am trying to speak something but some energy is not letting me do so.
I tried to open my eyes hard enough but my eyelids were heavy. I could not move an inch. A voice then spoke into my ears - 'Let's go. I'm here to take you along'.
I could barely whisper - 'Who Are You'? Came the cold reply - 'Death'.I froze even more! I struggled to retaliate, but something anchored me to my place. Even after trying hard, I was not able to move.
I decided to negotiate then! I said to the dark figure in front - 'Can we talk'? And it whispered with a husky voice - 'We can talk along the way. We need to go. Your time is over.'
I realized no matter what I do, I will be leaving today. So, I stopped bargaining or reasoning with it. I decided to walk with it.
The 'figure' then spoke. It was your time to go back to he realm. Everyone has to go there one day.
I said - but there are lot of things I am yet to accomplish. I am yet to meet my parents in the next city, I have not seen my brother for ages now.
I have promised to take my daughter to a trip this year, and I do not want to break it this time. I am to make that investment to buy that 'dream house' I and my wife had been preparing to buy for so long. Cant' I have one chance? Just one?
The figure kept listening, It held my hand so tight, I didn't need a hand-cuff. The 'figure' kept walking silently.
I continued - I have a reunion with my friends the next week. There is so much to be done, there is so much 'pending'.
This time, the 'figure' spoke - You mortals have the habit of keeping things for the 'next time'. You keep on delaying, and dangling and postponing and forgetting, until there is no more 'time' left.
Time - is something so many of your near and dear ones wanted from you, and time is something you denied to so many of them!Your mother sits on the balcony every evening, looking far in to the horizon, that you will make one call and ask her - Mom, how are you?
Your father sits with the photo albums, watching your childhood pictures, hoping that you will come out of them, and stay with him for some time.
Your friend next door only meets you on a Messenger, yet you both never took a step forward to cross the doors to reach each other's house for years now.
You miss upon your girl's birthday, the family's festivals and your promises, one after the other.
When was the last time, you met 'yourself'?This time, I was silent. I had nothing to say. I had simply let the time slip away. Allowed the precious moments of the clock to tick and move ahead wen I could have used them to make a precious life. A life worth living and counting back on.
This day was worth a revelation. Worth an awakening. I am leaving today, and there is nothing I would be able to do about it. It is all over! Can I get one last chance - I begged to the dark 'figure'.
There was a grim smile on his face. This is the first time I could see its face, under the hood. The smile was self-explanatory. We kept walking until I reached a door in front. I knew that when I cross that door, I am never coming back. I would never see anyone again.
I didn't want to go. I am yet to live my life. I didn't want to go so early!The door opened and there was a bright light on the other side. The dark figure took my hand and just dragged me in. As it walked through that white light, his shape began to fade away within the light.
And finally, I crossed over and the white light gulped me inside itself. It was a good bye! Forever!
And then, I was back to my bed. It was a bright morning! Brighter than I had seen in a long long time. I touched myself, just to make sure it was all 'real'. I was back to 'life'. I had my second chance 'for now'.
I guess I met my death today! But I guess, I learnt how to value my life, more than ever!!