It was awesome to see Kedar back to his normal self, at the club. Since the past few months, he was in a trance would speak with no one, just a simple hello was what everyone got from him. But today he seemed very happy, jovial, and back to his own energetic self. The first few rounds at the poker table had everyone clutching their belly and everyone who knew Kedar welcomed this change.
It all happened a few months ago when Kedar lost his wife to an accident. It was a shock to everyone for they were the perfect couple; Shama, a homemaker, who created the perfect home for Kedar, a marketing executive. Everyone would always see them fighting over nothing. Once in a party Shama happened to spill some coke over Kedar’s shirt and to everybody’s surprise, Kedar was mad over it. Well he was not mad because the shirt was spoiled but because he didn’t like coke! Their life was a fairy tale for everyone to spin their own tales.
On that fateful day, Shama had stepped out of the house to buy a gift for their neighbor’s house warming. She was walking by the footpath and had just stepped on the street to cross the road when a truck, which had lost control, hit her. She was dead on the spot. Kedar was on his way home when the news was conveyed to him. He didn’t cry, not a tear dropped from his eyes. He went through the entire ordeal without shedding a tear.
There were times he would sit in his balcony with a cigarette in his hand waiting for Shama to yell at him for smoking. But no voice spoke, nor did the walls or the curtains, which Shama had picked up. The house was silent; it was quiet because the ring master was gone. The light which guided each of them had blended into darkness. Kedar, an excellent speaker, a person who was famous for his wit and his high energy decided to curl up in a cave, a cave which he built for himself.
But today it was different; Kedar first pulled one on Mr. Sharma’s bald head. He casually came up to Mr. Sharma and tapped twice on his head and exclaimed “This bulbs rock solid and opaque, no wonder there’s no light”. The whole crowd was surprised but before they realized anything there was a huge uproar. Even Mr. Sharma couldn’t help but laugh. In the nearby table Swetha was singing a song in her pathetic voice (which she was aware of). Kedar went near the table with tears in his eyes and before he could say anything Swetha became quiet. She knew anything she spoke would be upheld in the court of laughter. But then silence has its own charisma and even before a pin could be dropped, everyone started laughing. The entire evening was spent laughing to amusing comments of Kedar.
As the evening progressed and the folks were getting ready to go back home, Kedar made an announcement; an announcement that shocked everyone. Kedar invited them to his marriage anniversary party, their or his third, on 6th June; it was the party which was the talk of the town the previous year, and the year before that. But this year it was going to be different, very different… everybody knew that but then the old Kedar was back, and so the invitation was accepted.
The folks could hardly wait for the d-day, and it arrived. Kedar had left no stone unturned for the celebration. The previous year he had the pearl of his life help him but this year he was all by himself as he bedecked his house for the occasion. Slowly the guests started pouring in; and though they were instructed to carry no gifts, it was gifts all around. They were gifts in all sizes from the size of a cup to that of a refrigerator. The ladies left no stone unturned with each one bringing in alliances for Kedar. Of course they wanted him to be happy, to go on with his life and this was the perfect time. But Kedar was busy; well he had to receive the guests! Mr. Rai stepped in as the reception committee and relieved Kedar to mingle with the visitors. As the evening progressed, the party became livelier with Kedar adding to the entertainment in his own unique way.
All good things come to an end and so did the evening. As the guests started dispersing, Aditya invited everyone to raise a toast for Kedar before they left. Aditya was Kedar’s best friend and was most concerned when Kedar detached himself from the world. He was one person who would pawn his own life for Kedar. Their friendship was more than 15 years old and as matured as a 15 year old wine. He knew how Kedar was feeling every second during the evening. He could feel Kedar’s pain as he smiled, entertained the guests and as he made everyone laugh with his remarks. Only a person close to the heart can see it, and such was Aditya. They were together since college; had gotten into all sorts of trouble from beating up guys to landing up in the police station. They still shared the moment when they had sneaked into the ladies hostel to speak with their then girlfriends.
As everyone gathered around Kedar with their wine glasses, Aditya handed Kedar his wine glass.
“To Kedar, I wish may his biggest dream come true tonight.”
Kedar looked at his wine glass, smiled at Aditya and drank the entire contents in one gulp. With the glass in his hand he hugged Aditya. He looked into Aditya’s eyes with tears and said
“My biggest dream was to die in the arms of the person whom I loved the most, but then she is so long gone now. I don’t want to die with an unfulfilled dream, so hold me my friend.”
Kedar collapsed; the wine glass slipped from his hand and broke in to a thousand pieces. As Aditya held him tight not wanting to let Kedar fall, Kedar looked into Aditya’s eyes and said
“The glass of wine had a purpose in life and it has achieved its purpose. You have a purpose in life for me and you are performing your purpose. I had promised Shama, I will never spend an anniversary without her and I have to keep up my word. Sorry dude.”
Kedar’s smile weakened, as his body became placid. With his vision going blurry he stole a final glance at everyone, his drooping eyes seemed to convey his gratitude for coming to his party. As he embraced death, Aditya held him closer to his heart, tears rolled down his cheeks but his voice choked when he tried to speak.
As he laid Kedar on the floor he could envision Kedar and Shama’s fairy tales coming back to life.
