Who is The Happiest?

A short story

 

Second week of December,vespers going on,desks full with common and known faces.”Stop father! Father stop!”comes the most energetic person of the residential junction, piercieng that divine silence. “God doesn’t exist””It’s a false beliefe”he cried awfully. One of the clergymen “Is he drunk?”The other answered suspiciously,”Probably not”.” Calm down gentlepersons”Bishop requested. A murmur emerged from the sea of silence. “What happened my child?””Why is this tubulence inside you?” asked the father. “Oh father I am ruined Shubhendu Paul has lost his mother, his job everything”he falls down on his knees and weeps bitterly.” Her soul may rest in peace”the father sighs and picks Shubhendu by holding his shoulders. Bishop though actually stunned, he composed himself. All clergymen also sigh. Everyone march towards Shubhendu’s house with a slackened gesture, father consoling the disheartened boy and asking him about the tragedy…

 

That very morning as usual when Shubhendu was ready to head for his office which is at adistance of 35 kilometre from his house, he told his mother that when he comes back do keep the sweets ready as his chances of promotion are prominent. He took his breakfast, offered prayers for his promotion as well as his mother’s health, as his mother suffered from a heart attack, a night before that day.He hugged his mom and waved for the last time. He reached office on time and due to immense hapiness, he gave a Rs 100 tip to the gatekeeper and entered with a vibrant and rejuvenated face. He started his work just like any other day,very happily, the day progressed, he was waiting for the call from the boss’s room, but when the clock struck 4 and sun was about to set and completely unaware of the fact that the sun in his life is also about to set he was preparing to leave for home. The boss called him, Shubhendu thinking of the promotion , knocked the door,”Sir, May I enter ?”The boss gazed him from tip to toe and twitching his facial muscles he said “You are fired Shubhendu Paul”turning Shubhendu’s thoughts upside down,Totally flabbergasted Shubhendu asked in a squeaky voice “Pa…. Par pardon me sir,sir pardon.” Yes you are out of the job”.All dreams and hopes shattered in a moment.”But why chief?””All your ill deeds have been mentioned in this letter,read it you will come to know and yes get out of the office before you read.”The boss said pointing fingers and in a harsh manner. Shubhendu gazed at him with wet eyes and took his steps back,weeping slowly he left the office,thinking of that huge obstacle in his smooth sail.Before going home,on his way  he met his beloved Deepshikha  who was on par with a princess,so pretty and merry.She was the daughter of a very rich person.”Hey! Shubhendu, congratulations for promotions”she exclaimed. A dejected Subhendu said “No promotions Deepshikha,everything is finished””What?” Deepshikha snatched the letter from her beloved’s hand and in the letter Shubhendu was charged of embezzelement of 1,00,000Rs and that was the reason he was thrashed out of the job. Deepshikha was completely in a shock.” Did you really……?””No dear can I do this?”Shubhendu uttered in complete disagreement.” Yes love I trust your dignity,let that foolish boss suffer the loss of an honest and trust worthy person”” Do not worry Shubhendu you will definitely get a good and better job than this?”Shubhendu composed himself and they bid adieu to each other. Shubhendu proceeded towards his home, there something more devastating was waiting for his welcome.He found his mother dead as soon as he reached home.He could just gaze at the corpse of his mother and thus due to anger and grief he ran to the church where the clergymen and father consoled him.

 

The coffin has been taken to the burial site.The bishop offers holy prayers,holding a crucifix.The earth engulfs the coffin and Shubhendu’s mother leaves for heavenly abode.The ever energetic soul of Shubhendu becomes a dried leaf.

Days passes by,time heals the wounds of that tragic loss.Shubhendu regains his energy and vigour but, becomes a complete atheist.After six months again he starts searching for a job. He comes to know that he was fired out from the previous job because of his boss’s nepotism.In the meanwhile he and Deepshikha gets married. Shubhendu can call only Deepshikha as his soulmate because every relative of Shubhendu have taken their hands back in these times of hardships as per the human follies, adding to the series of grievances , Shubhendu is not able to get a job because of the false alligations. He nearly loses all faiths but due to Deepshikha’s essence of love he goes on struggling.After few days,Deepshikha also surrenders in front of Shubhendu’s misfortunes and leaves for her father’s house as she was treated like a princess since childhood and all this is nearly unbearable for her.Shubhendu’s condition gets worse so much that he is not able to have a two course meal. Ultimately Deepshikha divorces him, now Shubhendu has only one belonging that is his house, but unable to pay the rent he has to lose that even.He is now left with nothing but the memoirs writeen on his heart’s deserted shore!Only his shadow is his companion now.

All the desires, worries,ambitions,goals,wishes have dried up now for him he is empty but also free from worldly miseries and joy.He is fiilled with vaccum and void.He has lost everything but has gained eternity of not having anything, he has acquired true happiness?Or a fragile one?the same scene repeats itself after a year’s gap….

Second week of December,vespers going on,same faces are praying,”God is great father!God is great”comes Shubhendu Paul crying with joy like a lunatic, breaking the silence.I have experienced the aroma of true happiness father!exclaimes he.Everyone in the prayer hall gives a calm smile.Shubhendu shouted “GOD IS ONLY AN ILLUSION TO MORTAL  BEINGS IN EXTREME SENTIMENTS”everyone turns back but Shubhendu was nowhere and everyone’s ears were ringing with an echo Who is The Happiest?........................