Premature celebrations

It was a long awaited wedding. Everyone in the extended family and friends were looking forward to it. Preparations had started well in advance. Clothes were made, venues were decided. Everyone was happy because the days of celebrations were back after a long halt. The family was getting together after a long time. They had every reason to celebrate.

So they started gathering up in the town where the wedding was to take place. A town in remote part of the country, getting where was only possible after a lot of traveling. But that didn’t stop them from joining the grand fiesta. Family members from all parts of the country were on their way to what was about to become the center of pride and joy.

But then something happened and everything changed. One phone call converted all smiles into frowns. The eyes that were sparkling with joy became wet. The lips that were singing wedding songs started crying. The place that was about to be a wedding extravaganza became a center of mourning. An important family member had gotten into an accident on his way and received fatal injuries.

Now everyone had a different destination. They were all headed to the hometown of the deceased. Another journey, but with a different purpose. Sadness had taken over the happiness, just like darkness of night gradually eats the sunlight and everything becomes black. No one was laughing anymore. No jokes were being exchanged. Everyone was silent, or crying.

Eventually the convoy reached its destination and the dead was buried. The mourning reached at its peak. Daughters and sons of the father who was no more were now shouting instead of crying. Brothers and sisters of the sibling who just left them were still in disbelief that in the morning they woke up with a carefree mind and now their minds were almost paralyzed by the incident. The family was still together, but not for what they had planned. They were together for what nature had planned for them.