One of my aunts committed suicide last week. She consumed some pesticide available from agri stores. This was not the first time she had attempted to end her life. She had consumed poison a couple of times earlier too. But during the last couple of times she indeed wanted to kill herself, and this time she just wanted to create a scene and stop an important event – which indeed backfired!
When my mother and my wife visited my uncle’s home last month, she was all upset about her life. She felt she is being completely ignored by all. And the latest event was she was exempted from being called for an important function – my uncle’s grandson’s baptism. In fact my aunt was my uncle’s 2nd wife, just 37 years old – full of energy & dynamism whenever I saw her. She had told my wife about her plans of committing suicide, and ironically had also shown her the pesticide bottle she kept ready for the same.
The baptism was scheduled last Sunday, and she challenged her husband that she will stop the ceremony at any cost. When he had gone out to get some food, she mixed the pesticide, and drank as little as possible so that she can be rushed to hospital, and saved at the last moment. Unfortunately, my uncle returned home a bit late and when he returned my aunt told him, “I have consumed poison, and I am extremely sorry I did this. I will never do this again in life, please save me this time.” It was too late already. They have a doctor residing in the neighbourhood, who refused to open the door for it is police case it seems!
They rushed her to nearest government hospital, which is 50 kms from their place – and she died on the way.
We usually tend to take God’s blessing for granted. A perfect body, a perfect life, and a perfect world – what else can God provide for man to celebrate life? Even then we aren’t happy about what has been given for free. We crib about a bigger salary, a bigger car, a bigger house, and a better wife!
I recollect a beautiful discourse once told by Shiva Shankar Baba of Kelambakam, Chennai. He said that, just before going to sleep – just ask yourself one important question. “How many people did you help today or in how many people’s life did you bring a change? And note it down in a book.” I am sure if we start noting it down from today, we hardly would be able to fill the book with any numbers – it will be all NIL!
Bringing change doesn’t mean you keep forwarding useless SMSs through mobile phones, or keep forwarding sick jokes or a friendship messages via email. Helping & bringing change probably would mean – donating at least Rs 10 to some needy, or spending time with your loved ones, or throwing a surprise lunch or dinner for friends, or at least sharing your knowledge & expertise with your colleagues. You need not necessarily celebrate your birthday in an orphanage once a year as most celebrities do, but you surely can be kind enough with people with whom you interact on a every day basis.
Well here are some other interesting things that followed the death of my aunt –
*The landlord called my uncle to say, “don’t keep the dead body inside the house, you should keep it only outside. And also kindly vacate the house in one month’s time.”
*The church’s priest refused to come to do the prayers. It seems in Roman Catholics, suicides and accidents are not considered natural deaths. And also in graveyards, 10 per cent of the place is reserved for such cases.
The thought of killing thyself comes to all once in a while, but before you take the decision about ending your life ask, “did your presence make any difference to others? If not then you have more to live – for we live for others and not for ourselves.”