Despite the phenomenal advancement the human race makes in science and technology, we can never be immortal. Death or what happens after that is something that consumes a big part of why we hope, and the fact that we are all destined for an end is probably what makes our time, our life precious. Can you imagine being in the same body, going about the same daily chores, being surrounded with the people you know as family and friends, and basically just existing, endlessly?
Our society has largely stigmatized death. Death is looked
down upon as the inevitable evil that evicts you out of this world. Most
conversations surrounding a death usually steer towards an expression of pain
and loss. Many find avoiding the topic of death, or refraining from talking
about a departed soul to be a good way out of validating the reality of death
altogether. While one is entitled to have his/her own way to deal with death,
death is real and purposeful, much beyond human imagination.
It’s been four months since I lost the most adorable pet; my
best friend and my biggest champion. My “good boy” was a 13-year-old in the
body of a five-year old; lively and playful till the very end of his life. To
anyone who has lived with a pet, losing them can be one of the more
life-shattering moments of your life.
Seeing my dog go felt like a part of me was leaving with
him. It did. He knew me in a way nobody else did, so much so that every time I
felt low or anxious, he fed off my emotions. Moreover, I felt responsible for
him, like a parent does for a child, and the loss of a non-human baby can be
just as devastating, but the powerful force that death is, one eventually
learns to find lasting peace in it.
To those who may not know, I was never keen on getting home
a dog, before Lucky came along. In fact, no one in my or my family’s close
circle of friends had a pet until then. Before we could grasp the arrival of a
five-week-old golden retriever puppy, he became the perfect riot our family of
four needed. He took over our lives with insurmountable amounts of
joy, craziness, love and companionship. My parents found their third child in
him, who always stayed by their side like a dutiful and doting child, while my
brother and I couldn’t stop being in awe of his cuteness and smartness. Calling
him the pride of our family wouldn’t be an exaggeration by any means.
As years went by, Lucky’s presence in our lives became more central. He was a part of our good times and bad times, fights and celebrations, and achievements and failures. The pleasure of entering the house at the sight of his wagging tail and his favourite toy in his mouth was hard to not fall for. He lived to be surrounded by his loved ones, and, if you knew him, it would be no surprise that he could not watch anyone, especially his family, in pain.
Cut to a little past his 13th birthday, the “dog”
whom I once cradled in my arms and nurtured with everything I had, and who, in
turn, breathed hope and compassion in me all his life, was lying, blissfully
unfazed by the intense sobs of his family, or by the lure of his favourite
belongings. That moment marked the powerful force that death is. It gave a beautiful
closure to a life that had served its purpose.
While his illness gave me time to accept what was to
eventually come, it changed my perspective about death. I started looking at
death as the ultimate healer, for it was the best way to channel my anxiety
about having to see my dog go through extreme pain. I was finally prepared
to bite the bullet and let my beloved boy go.
The life cycle of a living being is akin to that of a car. When
you drive your brand new car out of the car showroom for the first time, it is
normal to be extra careful and ensure that the car remains untouched by dents
and scratches. You may also refrain from going very fast, to avoid messing with
its system. As days pass, you may find yourself being more at ease with the
car, and slowly get back to your regular driving. Over a period of time, small
dents and scratches on your car may become common, leading to more acceptance
with the reason of its long use. As years go by and the car’s performance
starts declining, the thought of selling or giving the car away becomes a
reality. There’s not much you can do, but move on trying to feel good about all
the years you spent with it.
