The end

And then there is death. At the end, of course. But that is redundant. The death is always at the end. Not really? It depends on the end one is talking about. The end of what? The end of everything? Or just the end of life? Aren't both the same? Who knows! But, of course, death is some kind of an end. The plain truth is that one doesn't know it. But, is knowing better than not knowing. It is not about better or worse, its about knowing, just knowing, for the sake of knowing. For some unknown reason, one aspires for knowledge, just for the sake of knowledge. Does knowledge change things? Who knows! But, anyway, the death is unavoidable and it is knocking at the door, furiously. Who cares! Yes, everybody cares. Almost everybody. Maybe everybody. Everybody alive, for the dead has nothing to do with the death. Really? Who knows!  

A conversation

It was about 3 pm when I completed my lunch and proceeded to pay the bills at the counter. The restaurant was small and beautiful and was being run by the owners themselves: a young couple. I saw a little girl, the daughter of the owners, at the reception. While paying the bills, I asked her mother, how old was she. "Just five", she replied. Then I started conversing with the girl.

"What is your name?"
"My name is Aditi* and my best friend's name is Rose*."
I didn't hear her clearly, so I asked it again.
"My name is Aditi and my best friend's name is Rose", she repeated the same as if her best friend is inseparable from her.
"Good, my name is Sandeep", I told her, though she didn't ask my name.
"What is your mom's name?", she asked me.
I told her my mother's name.
"What is your sister's name?"
I told her that I didn't have a sister.
"Then, what is your brother's name?"
I told her my brother's name.
Exhausted by the longest streak of conversation I had that day so far, I said goodbye to her and her mother and left the restaurant. I felt that the kindness shown by kids is unparalleled in this world.

*Names changed to have this footnote.