Goodbye Bunty:-(

Bunty left for the heavenly abode. I called our mutual friend Nagendra to know when he is going to the hospital to have the last darshan of Bunty’s body. He said 10’0 clock at Apollo Hospital Bannerghatta Road.

I left on my scooter at 9.15 am from my home on Uttarahalli Road. Since the road is known to me quite well, I rode at a sedate speed. I reached the Hospital despite some confusion about the Road being made one way minutes before my entry!

I parked the scooter and searched for the mortuary since I knew the body has been kept there since the day of his death. Mortuary was closed and the staff confirmed that there is a body.

I called Nagendra. He said he is at the back of the Hospital. I enquired someone and they said there is only one mortuary.

I went round once again and finally discovered, to my dismay, that the Road is indeed Bannerghatta Road, but the hospital where I was searching turned out to be Sagar Hospital. Till recently the hospital was known as Sagar Apollo Hospital!

That means I had another 5 kms to ride. But Nagendra told me to proceed to the Banashankari Crematorium and wait for him (and the body).

So I went. They were yet to come. It was a very peaceful area. After about half hour’s wait, the Maruti Omni van carrying Bunty’s body came there.

I went and saw the body. No one was around. I felt very sad. He was just 8 months younger to me. Does that mean I am living an extended life? Is that all what is called life?

I have heard that a lot of philosophy (and Vedanta and Vairagya) take birth when we visit a dead body, especially in a crematorium.

After sometime the relatives were trying to get the body along with the stretcher inside the crematorium for conducting the last rites. I also lifted the body along with the others. It has become almost my ‘duty’ during all deaths to give me support to lift the body.

Nagendra came just then. We stood for a few minutes and then came out and went on talking about our lives.

Funny, we were never able to meet each other for quite a long time. The last time I saw him was on 20^th August 2010, the day on which my mother had passed away.

We talked about many things. In fact, many of our ideas matched. We spoke about everything possible under the sun.

He was waiting for 2 of his colleagues who were supposed to come for the last ‘face seeing’ as it is called Kannada.

They did not turn up. He called them. They said they were on the way.

I took a photo of Nagendra for my caller ID. It was grotesque to do that there. But I have read somewhere, death is a phenomenon where a person is dead and others continue to live, till it is their turn to kick the bucket. In fact, nothing will stop, our eating, drinking and sleeping. Only person who would not be there is the person who is dead.

The rites were over. The body was pushed into the oven. We did not see it actually. We were making use of the time the best possible way to share our woes and sorrows and joys.

His colleagues did not turn up.

Bunty’s brother who conducted the last rites came out. I introduced myself. He knew me!

He told that he had heard Bunty talking to me and he heard one sided conversation. Either it was some cross word puzzle clue or some other funny topic.

They were all leaving. Nagendra offered to drop them.

His colleagues did not turn up. I also left in a hurry since I had to go to the Bank to drop a cheque. Being a Saturday, Bank was to be closed early. Like I said earlier, only Bunty is gone. We are all still living till He calls us to tell that our business on this earth is over.

By the way, I wanted to show Nagendra the photo I took which I had used as Bunty’s caller ID.

The photo was small and I dialled Bunty’s number. The photo got enlarged and Nagendra saw it.

I suddenly realised that Bunty is not there to say “Hello” on the other side and disconnected the phoneL