Parting gift

As the family sat beside the withered old man's body, a young man silently walked up to the glass topped freezer box.

He wore black. black suit, black hat, black rimmed glasses and held a black umbrella.

The gathered had been mourning the whole night and after the well of tears had been spent, a sombre silence replaced the wails and sobs. The intensity of the mourning was much reduced now as if to acknowledge the fact that the old man was not coming back, no matter how much they called out and cried.

The new young man stood watching over the old man's face, intently studying it. His face was stoic and nobody could deduce what his emotions were. In his mind, he was screeching and yelling in pain. He was rolling in the soil and crying a river of tears. Outside he was civil and just one adamant tear escaped his eyes. He quickly wiped it away and turned away to leave.

The old man's daughter stood behind him, offering him a glass of water. He was dazed and for a minute looked out of sorts.

" Did you know my father well?" she asked.

"He was a close business associate" replied the young man in black, now back to his old composed self.

"Would you be able to say a few words about him? His business was his primary passion and someone who could say a few words about that would be a memory for all us to cherish" she said.

The young man in black was at first hesitant, his eyes betrayed a slight sadness, but again, he quickly composed himself and nodded to say yes.

As he stood at the pulpit, he cleared his throat, collected his thoughts and in a steady base voice, started.

"I have know him for a long time now. More than 20 years actually. We started off on a business deal that was extremely pleasant, courteous and trustworthy. That one deal was enough for me to realize the his value as a business associate. Thereafter we had regular business deals and he was my first choice for any deal that came by.

He was meticulous, adroit even. He knew his job as if it were a natural talent, which of course it wasn't. Whatever he achieved was out of sheer hard work and practice. 

I have learned a lot of things from him and will forever remember him as much more than just a business associate. He was a mentor to me, though I have never told him I thought of him as such. I also never did get around to telling him how much I valued his presence in my life. In the last few years of his life I fell out of touch on account of a personal altercation with him and I regret it beyond what my words can convey. I realize that we all take life and the time it allocates us for granted which is the saddest thing to do. If I could go back in time, I'd go back and make amends.

I wish his family strength during these hard times, I know how much it means to lose family. Thank you all. With swelling tears in his eyes he hurriely stepped down and took his seat.

The old mans daughter held his hand as she walked to the pulpit.

" Thank you for your kind words. My father has left behind a letter for you and wanted it read out to the people who gathered here. I hope you would agree to this."

The man just blinked without saying anything.

She now took the place behind the pulpit, opened a yellow envelope and took out a single white sheet of paper. She then began to read in a voice filled with tremors and occasional sobs. 

"Dear all gathered here, I write this letter in poor health. After a life of relative ease and success, I must admit that I am going away from this material world, all in all, a happy man. I know my end is near and am not afraid of the inevitable death that awaits me in the next corner of the road called life.

But I do have one small regret. We are after all men and we commit blunders, some small and some large. 

My blunder was that I never told the young man sitting next to you that he is my son. The man who spoke to you all just now about the business partnership - he is my son. 

I never got around to say this to him in person and don't think I ever can, I am a coward if that is the word that will describe my behavior. But what I would like to say is this. 

Son, I am extremely proud of you. What you have made of your life and what you have become is beyond what I could have ever done given your circumstances. I was never around to help you grow and I am ashamed of it. I wish I had done more and done it sooner. 

I wish to rectify this grave error. I do it by gifting you one last thing - a family. My daughter, the girl reading this letter, knows all about you and already considers you her brother. My wife, knows about you too and is awaiting the moment she can spend time with you as family. 

I am extremely sorry for the inadequacies I have been responsible for in your life son. I hope this would soften the wound. I know this may be asking too much of you, but I implore you to be part of this family and take care of them. 

Along with the gift I leave you half my business estate and house - trifles compared to how much a family is valued. 

I love you son. Good bye. 

Love

Your father

The man in black, with a stream of tears, hugged the girl in the pulpit, shook his head with a forced smile and walked out of the chapel, sad at the loss but also painfully hopeful about a family - he was not an orphan any more.