RETURNING HOME
Last night I came home. Neither I belong to the parable, nor am a prodigal son. I was studying in the college in the town Sataheep, and had never really an opportunity to come home for vacation. My father used to visit me, whenever he could, during his long sojourns away from home.
Something was different. I could guess from early morning. It had nothing to do with my visit. My mother was so expressive in her excitement on meeting me after such a long time on earlier occassions. But not this time. Something was amiss. Everyone in the home behaved so weirdly. It was a Saturday. Nobody was in speaking mood. Two hours passed and it seemed ages to me. Then I started hearing noises from the road. First I heard one crying voice and then a whole lot of people crying.
I peeped out of the window. And saw a sight which I could never forget in my life. A bier was found in front of the house. Unlike the usual type made of green fronds of a coconut tree, this was made of dried fronds.
My mother came and joined me to look through the window. I asked my mother what is happening. She replied while sobbing- "Your friend Sonchai had passed away long back. His father Pu Yai Bahn also fell into bad times. They became so poor. They could not afford a decent cremation. So they kept back the body. Today they are going to take him to the creamation ground. We did not want to tell you about his death. As it might upset you. His sister Chomechai was so attached to him. Poor girl, she was having real hell, to see her brother kept like that."
Few hours passed. The body was brought outside the home and was kept on the bier.Everybody was lamenting. Nobody was looking at the body.
I was watching Sonchai. He had such a strong body. He was the star player in our school. Some girls even used to fall for him. But being a small village, and since every body knew every body else, the girls had to keep their crush secret. Now he was on the bier.
I was watching the body intently. I saw it getting up and start walking - rather tottering - on the street towards my house. Gradually the mouth started twisting in a prankish grin. And the face started filling up. And so the rest of the body. He was now able to walk properly. He was unaware that he was not wearing any clothes. He was happily whistling a tune and continued his walk towards our home.
He came in and hugged me. I could feel the warmth. And also his body smell - like the sweat smell, after a game of soccer in the school play ground. I was not sure how to start speaking to him. He was happily chatting away- and the others in my house were oblivious to his arrival or his chatter- only I could see him and hear him. I told him that I am happy to see him, after so many days, and shot the customary question " How are you doing?" He shot a glance towards me. Then he observed a strand of his hair on my shirt. It must have fallen when we hugged. His mood changed. He started crying. I asked him why. I knew that he was highly possessive. After all it is a strand of hair- it will grow back. He continued to cry very loudly." Not any more. I wont get it back- I wont get it back".
He started walking back towards his house. It looked as if parts of him were falling down. He was not worried any more- about these losses. Gradually he started losing everything, came up to the bier and fell as a heap. May be, at last, he also returned to his new home.
2/16/02
