A sentimental soul

We had just come back to our normal life after a stressful week as we had gone through the death of our Grandpa followed by the funeral. This was the first funeral of a loved one as far as my daughter is concerned. She adored him all these days and would miss him forever. As we all joined in the rituals, I could see her struggling to come into terms with this new and remarkable happening, death. It came like a storm and took him away from us. The realities of life are such that most of the time it leaves a scar on our heart unexpectedly.

The day after the funeral, we returned back home to get back to our normal life.

It was a wonderful morning with the sweet fragrance of flowers in the air.  My wife and daughter sat at the backseat. All of us were silent as we drove down the highway.  I made an attempt to break the silence by discussing about the relatives who had been to the funeral. I then asked her as to what she think about the well being of some of them as so many of them were suffering from diabetes, but she didn't respond. I glanced over to check why there is no response and saw her head cocked back. I thought suddenly that she had a headache yesterday and enquired whether that headache is still troubling her. When she didn't respond, I knew something was wrong. She just stared at the ceiling silently, as if she wanted to communicate something but unable to do that.

I stopped the car and rushed to the back seat. My daughter screamed "What's wrong, Dad? What's wrong?" My wife slumped onto my shoulder, and tears were rolled down through her cheeks continuously.

I droved down to the nearest clinic thinking about the possibility of some kind of an exertion due to sleeplessness. Her pulse and heartbeats were fine.  A doctor and nurse took her to the emergency room for a detailed check up.

My daughter walked over to my wife, kissed her on the cheek, and said, "I love you."  It was a terrible scene. I just stood there as a wounded soul and allowed the tears to flow. I became restless and walked up and down along the hospital hallway. I had never felt so lonely in my life. I still remember those moments as if it were yesterday. It will never leave me.

In a matter of moments, my world turned upside down. As deep as my pain was at thinking about the plight of my wife, it spiraled even lower whenever I thought about my daughter. She was so young and would have to grow up with good care.

A short while later the doctor came up to me and said, nothing to worry.  It happened due to over exertion and she is required to be admitted for a day.  I

asked whether I could see her.  The doctor said, “Sure, why not!” I rushed to the bed and she looked all right. 

My daughter was extremely happy to see her mother in normal condition and went close to her and said “Mom, dad was crying!” then gave a mischievous glance to me. My wife looked at me with a pale smile and said, “He will never come out of sentimentalism”.  I just looked at her peacefully and had a sigh of relief.  I know that she is more courageous than me.

Within a short span of time, I have discovered that life cannot be planned in advance and grief is a problem to be solved. Both are like a journey to be traveled with courage and enthusiasm. What a memorable journey it was.