GRATITUDE OF THE SURVIVED

 Suresh Kaiparambil was a popular Government College professor in Kerala. His novels and short stories were very well acclaimed by readers. Five of his novels were converted into cinema. He has got two children a daughter Suma and son Sugumar.While Suma fell in love with her post graduate class mate Xavier, her brother and popular artist Sugumar Kaiparambil was attracted by a singer and Brahmin girl Lakshmi Parvati. ProfessorSuresh Kaiparambil as expected wholeheartedly welcomed both the Christian son in law and Brahmin daughter in law to his family fold.

   After completing Bed.degree Suma got job as a Plus Two  lecturer whereas Xavier continued to manage his family textile business.After the sad demise of Xavier's Daddy their family business started to incurr losses and finally Xavier did wind up the business. Consequently with the assistance of his friends Xavier emigrated to Gulf in 2010 and managed to get eventually a marketing executive's job.In 2015 after taking leave Suma also joined with her husband and later procured teaching job in an Indian school. While both parents were living in Gulf their children - boy Atul was studying MSc computer Science in M G University and girl Atulya completed MPhil in English from Central University. Atulya managed to get Ph.D program conducted under Montreal University Canada accordingly she migrated to Canada. Atul after the completion of his course in May 2019 got placement in Bangalore. Things were moving smoothly till Covid19 came.In 2020 people started to work from home. By December 2020 Atul also returned to his native house located near Chalakudy.He was very much thrilled by the new working atmosphere though the work targets assigned were comparatively on the higher side .

.   His immediate neighbour Sebastián and his mother Mary were very much like an elder brother and mother to Atul.His uncle Sugumar who was staying 2 kilometers away from Atul's house were fully preoccupied with their artistic and musical activities.After one month Atul also got Covid19.Both Mary and Sebastián took much care of Atul till he got fully recovered from the pandemic. After graduation and his father's untimely death Sebastián and  his mother were managing their rubber and coconut plantations with reasonably good returns. Even though many marriage proposals came to Sebastián he outright rejected them and has been extremely desirous of marrying his 3 years younger neighbour and bosom friend Anita Mathew. 

      On April 2nd 2021morning  Atulya was sitting in the Montreal University campus  searching the Facebook to her utter shock noticed a message that Atul's Maruti Alto car met with a grave accident hitting the median. From Canada she immediately contacted her parents in Gulf and uncles and aunts in Kerala.The unfortunate story unfolded was that-Even though Sebastián was having a Honda City car for convenience he used to take Atul's Alto.Anita's father Mathew was very particular that his would be son in law should have regular employment and  income preferably Government job.Sebastian tried his level best by applying influence and money to procure a government job,but miserably failed. He even tried his fortune by emigrating to Gulf but returned back after 10 months empty handed. He was struggling hard to keep up his social and economic status. 

On 2nd April 2021 around 10.30 pm IST both Atul and Sebastián were chatting joyfully in Atul's house being weekend both were much relaxed. Suddenly a phone call came to Sebastián and immediately his face became pale and reddish. Atul enquired the details but Sebastián remained tight lipped. Instead he insisted that let us go for a drive in the Alto. Both of them started the journey through the high way and traffic was  very less. Sebastián started to speak and as he was speaking exertion on accelerator also got increased. The phone call was from Anita Mathew informing about the marriage proposal and impending visit of Samson a PWD Assistant Engineer on forthcoming Sunday. This has shattered all the dreams of Sebastián. Sebastián was driving around 120kmph.Suddenly he saw a bike was crossing in front.Abruptly he applied break the car turned and hit the median and turned side way upside-down.Some how Sebastián managed to jump out of the car.With great difficulty he pulled out Atul who was unconscious. Sebastián tried to stop coming vehicles in late hours people were not willing to help, but some were taking the photos of the car accident.After some 18 minutes one Bajaj auto came and they rendered very valuable service.Auto belonged to a painting contractor and his assistants were coming for owner's birthday party. Sebastián narrated the the  incident and full address and details to them. Even though Sebastián was going on talking he was showing much uneasiness and murmuring that here after "my mummy would be left alone".Atul was still unconscious. They took  them to the nearest hospital where doctors examined and told that Sebastián's condition is far more serious and Atul's vital conditions are near normal.As per specialist advice both of them were shifted to the Medical College Hospital. After admitting to the critical care unit within 3 hours whispering words mummy  and Anita, Sebastián breathed his last.  Always supporting his neighbour's, friends and other needy ones,being a registered volunteer himself Sebastian undertook rescue and relief operations for flood victims and Covid19 patients and finally even saving his friend Atul,departed from this world. 

    Xavier and Suma were very much distressed spending sleepless nights with out food praying in front of both Jesus and Sreekrishna respectively.Due to covid19 there were ban on foreign travel to India in their host country.Even if some how they managed to go out of the country returning back was impossible.Prayers were the only option left in this critical situation.Without knowing the facts some of their relatives in Kerala started questioning  parent's attitude and affection towards son Atul. Despite the complaints parents' prayers yielded great relief and in the case of Atul except for minor scratches here and there and small fracture on the right hand he remained perfectly normal.Xavier and Suma's gratitude knew no bounds towards late Sebastian,Auto people and  their God's.