Rememberings. Four-One-One

Because 9-1-1 was taken, D decided to use 4-1-1.

One among his many business ideas. An emergency helpline service with a prepaid subscription model, tie-up with a few hospitals and a private fleet of ambulance distributed across various vantage points of the city. 

Four-One-One.

...

Today was a heavy, slow, quiet day. His first birthday when he is nowhere. On his last one we had gone to a Japanese place at Park Street, sat on a sofa by the terrace and re-ordered some exotic crab sushi. There was a family with a weeks old bundled baby at the adjacent table. We had smiled and socialised mildly, asking if it was a girl. She was. Watching other baby or toddler girls always made me, and I imagine him as well, truly happy. It reminded us of the best things that happened to us, the best moments of our lives and our best versions. 

We had taken no photographs. That was the last time just the four of us went out for dinner together. 

... 

The first time I went to the supermarket after he left, in March, I had an unexpected  breakdown when I noticed like never before, an octogenarian man, and realised in a jolt that I will never see him grow old. He was frozen in time. Remembered he had asked me decades back. To frame a good-looking picture of his youth for people to see when he died, not that of an old dying man with grey hair and no teeth. I would ask why it mattered when he wouldnt exist. He would say, oh I dont like growing old. 

His face was beautiful, calm and serene at the end, when I touched last, while he was still warm. Forever young, like he always wanted. 

...

He was missed and remembered in silence by the girls today. One reading dad poetry past midnight in her university, the other playing a little unnoticed tune on the keyboards at the end of her practice lesson. The third spent a day out at D's childhood school friend's home with some family warmth and love. 

...

His last birthday, we had taken no photos. He didnt want any taken. He wasn't his favourite self. Here are a few from before. Of him, and his favouritest people.