Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“We all believe different things about the afterlife,” Mia said. “Varanasi teaches us to embrace death in the same way we embrace life. I know that may seem like a difficult concept to accept. But this section of the trip is about facing our mortality. There is no place better to see that than this vibrant, magical city.”
“If I could, I would like to show you something,” Kabir said and checked with us all silently if that was okay. “It will mean going back outside.”
Savannah straightened, bracing herself against her attack of grief, but then took a deep inhale and nodded. I was so proud of the strength that was building within her. I could see Savannah climbing the mountain out of grief higher and higher, day by day. She was reaching the top. She was a damn revelation. She was petite in stature, but her strength was that of a Titan.
One thing was becoming clear—she was stronger than me.
“Okay?” I said, when we rose to our feet.
“Okay,” she said and squeezed my hand. Only once. “You?”
“Okay,” I hushed out. I was anything but. Mia and Leo hadn’t failed us yet. So, I would trust them. It had taken me many weeks so far to give over some control to them, but I could see what they were doing. And it had helped.
We followed Kabir back out into the maze of alleyways. In just ten minutes we saw another two processions. I held my breath when I saw them—I held Savannah too.
She was trembling, but she kept her chin up. And as the family passed, she bowed her head in respect and tears sprang to my eyes. I felt like I’d learned more about life from Savannah in a handful of weeks than any school in my life.
I bowed my head too. I hoped they had passed well. That it was peaceful and that nirvana truly did await them. What an image, to arrive at a place free of pain and judgment, one filled with love in all its forms. No sadness or troubles. Just peace and happiness. That thought made me feel warm with hope. Hope that it was true.
The sound of laughter came from around the corner, taking me from my thoughts. Kabir led us in that direction. When we arrived, it was to a kind of bakery/sweet shop. There were people dressed in white, laughing and eating, celebrating.
Kabir gestured his hand to the people. “They have just seen their loved one cremated.” I frowned, unable to fathom that. I thought back to Cillian’s funeral, then his wake. I barely remembered it. There was lots of crying from my mom and dad. From my other family. There were lots of strained silences, numbness, and dread.
There wasn’t any laughter. And zero celebration.
“They rejoice because their loved one is now in heaven. They are free from earthly constraints. They are healed and they are in eternal bliss. The greatest wish for anyone we love is to achieve this.” A lump was quick to form in my throat when Kabir spoke those words. As I looked to the family members, their smiles were wide, and they were pure.
I wondered who they had lost. I wondered who they were to them. Wondered how changed their lives would be without them in it.
“Here,” Kabir said, gesturing all around us, “we celebrate death.” He smiled. “Death is the best lesson in life. Death teaches us to live, for the short amount of time we are here. Death teaches us to live with all our heart and soul, day by day, minute by treasured minute.”
A man who I assumed was the owner of the shop came out and offered us an unfamiliar sweet treat. Savannah held out her hand. “Thank you,” she said and stared down at that piece of orange candy like it was a turning point in her life. She had hung on to the words Kabir had told us, eyes wide and transfixed on his explanation.
The shop owner handed me a treat too. I stared down at that orange candy, and something within me wanted to grab it and take it. But there was still a voice inside of me that didn’t want me to reach out. It was irrational, I knew it. But it was like, if I did, I would have to admit that there was something good about Cillian dying. My hand balled into a fist, but I forced myself to take it. I nodded at the shop owner in thanks, who reciprocated with a wide smile.
He was celebrating with this family, with us. Death. You could see it in his bright expression that what Kabir had explained to us was firmly in this man’s heart. He was providing an integral part of the celebration to a family who had just sent their loved one to nirvana.