Three Rainbow Lives of a Cargo Broker

The deceased had several reasons to die but none to carry on living.

One

The boy lay silently on the mattress spread on the floor, mindful not to twist or turn, lest he might disturb the pretty girl lying beside him. A whole day of sweet memories gave him a sense of fulfillment. The house was silent but for the sounds of the night time flies. Vertical wooden window bars of the ancestral home let in the moonlight only sparingly and the light spread unevenly across the room. A streak of rays rendered the little girl’s cheeks radiant.

The Summer vacation had filled up the ancestral home and its huge courtyard with a host of families where the night wind always brought down succulent mangoes from the fatigued trees. Poor girl woke up so early in the morning to collect the mangoes, even before the others would, only to give them to him. He remembered the covert looks she threw at him when people were around. He remembered her shy smile when she fetched him the morning tea from the kitchen.

Gently, he placed his hand over the girl’s forehead, careful not to wake her up. The girl smiled in her sleep.

 

Two 

As he entered the courtyard, he could see many people and recognized some of those faces from his childhood. A forced silence pervaded the atmosphere. All looked at him and a few acknowledged him. It seemed they were all tired from the previous night’s vigil. He walked straight up to the front room where a man lay in his coffin.

It was a simple death.

The coffin was placed on a wooden table covered by a sheet of white cloth. At the head of the table, a wooden cross stood out, as if leaning over to see the dead man’s face. A tall wooden candle stand held a few candles and the dry breeze threatened to snuff them out. A few flowers and a wreath lay across the body. The mourners gathered around the coffin as though they had nothing better to do.

It was a simple death. The deceased never woke up from his siesta the previous day as he preferred to carry on sleeping.

The man went inside where the wife of the deceased lay on a cot. She was weeping silently. A few women stood around with faces laced with sadness. An elderly lady sat beside the wife and stood up on seeing the man.

He slowly placed his hand on the wife’s forehead.

Outside, wind started to blow passionately. Trees swayed and the sound of the agitating branches warned of the impending rain.

The man trained his ears to listen to the music of falling mangoes.

Three

The beach was empty and the chilly wind did not bother him.

Innumerable elements argued between themselves within him. Years of toil was taking its toll on his mind and body. He felt tired and wanted to sleep.

A rainbow, with a smiling countenance, appeared on the horizon. He lay beneath the rainbow and started sleeping.