Until Then

it was on a bleak afternoon, that Cancer came and abruptly announced "I am going to be with you for ever. follow me wherever I lead you. fight back if you can, rather if you dare, but indomitable I am, you know" never had John been punched so hard. shocked beyond even a sigh or silent moan, dumb he stood so petrified. he saw his dreams fall apart. the sky- high edifices crumbling down, the soil under his feet giving way. with a lovely family and an aspiring career with life, he was passionately in love! the remaining days were a Marathon race, from hospitals to labs and from oncologists to specialists. while passing through the ordeal of radiation and chemo, bravely he fought back the pain and nausea for hope had reigned supreme, and for his family, he must live! ‘I will don my armor and brandish my steel I will not yield! Oh! Never shall I give in I shall make it through and come out victorious' but soon he realized it to be a tough battle, and saw the chances of winning too bleak. the villain had almost taken his sway, and day by day his body grew frail. but his unconquerable spirit stood unperturbed. with grace he decided to accept his fate. after thirteen months of incessant struggle, his invincible life came to a peaceful halt! at the end of his funeral rites, his best friend, showed himself up before the congregation. in halting voice, he said he was on a task, to read out a letter John had prepared, long before his death but had kept sealed until then. opening an envelope, with wavering hands, like an envoy divinely ordained on a sacred mission, he took out the carefully folded sheets of paper. the subdued murmur inside the spacious hall, gave way to silent breathless anticipation. "My dearest family and friends" the words ran "Long at last, I am at peace, absolutely at peace, with no emails to check, no bills to pay no more deadlines to be worried over, but unfortunately, no charming females in sight!'' the words breathed his flamboyant humor, with his trade mark grace and copious dignity. he led the audience through his life under death sentence. he was thankful for the love and concern, his friends and family had so profusely lavished on in his ailing days of agony and dejection, that exceeded far more than what an ordinary man, in the whole of his life time could accumulate! the last part was a pronouncement of love on his beloved wife and his wonderful child, who stood by him in silent suffering by proxy with a plea to all to keep peace with one's soul despite life's sham, drudgery and shattered dreams, and a goodbye until then he meets his dear ones, on the hallowed portals of Heaven! the congregation silently dispersed, walking away, into a day of sunshine, greatly consoled and inspired!