It's about 7:30PM in the evening and I'm getting my daily dose of Deutsch. Lukas's cell rings. The only word I can understand in the short conversation is "Mutti". Lukas says: "Mutti died ~20 mins ago. Would you like to go there?" But of course!! How can it even be anything else. Lukas's Sister & Brother-in-law are picking us up in 15 mins. 

As I put on my jacket, my mind takes a trip down the memory lane to the first time I met Mutti (as Lukas's Mother is lovingly called)

She was coming out of a Ship: dressed in hiking attire - trekking poles in hand, sporty sunglasses perched atop her nose.

Is she really 88 years old? I wouldn't put her a day over 60.

I quietly wonder how i will be if i survive upto that ripe age.

She's my instant Hero...

Soon we're in the car with Lukas's family. They're all speaking Swiss-German. Lukas explains a few sentences now & then. We make our way to the Assisted Living centre where she lived the last two years of her Life. The caregiver takes us to her room.

And there She lay.. in her bed. A small smile playing on her lips. Her face has a look of serenity and at the same time I can sense a subtle hint of Pride of having achieved something.

Mutti lived a full life upto 92 years and raised 5 children. From the li'l i know of her: she enjoyed outdoor activities - Cross-country Skiing, Hiking, Tennis and Swimming were some of her favorites. She also loved Classical Music. I have also seen one of her notebooks from college days - her handwriting - nothing short of Calligraphy. From what I've heard she was also a wonderful cook.. Hmm.. how did she do all of that?? My head bows with RESPECT!

And now her Body lays there.. It's my first experience with death of a close person. To me it appears that any second she will open her eyes and start talking -- in French. Yes for some reason Mutti has always conversed with me in French. It's been more of a monologue, as my French hasn't advanced beyond the basic "Bonjour", "Merci", "Comment allez Vous" "Tres Bien".. 

During our visit a week back, she was complaining about her condition in French. Mutti has been waiting patiently for the final Release from this body for the past few months. The body that had supported her active lifestyle all these years feels like a Prison to her now.

And two days ago when we visited her, she was sleeping all the time. Her pupils moved under the closed eye-lids and we could tell that she was dreaming. Dreaming of what lays ahead or what she leaves behind?? No one will know..

The caregiver explains that she had been quiet the last two days and very peaceful during her final breaths. We're in the office and the formalities: paperwork, phone calls begin. Slowly i realise that death is handled very differently in Swiss than in India. It's more of an official process here than a family affair. I'm a li'l surprised to learn that we're not taking Mutti's body home. It will be picked up by the Undertaker tonight and brought to the Village Chapel. Here she will lay in her coffin for 2-3 days - just about enough time for family, friends and acquaintances to pay their last respects and bid her Adieu.

We light candles for Lukas's Mother and Father when we get home. We're both quiet, feeling into a life that has come to an end. We share our thoughts about Death - the only real Truth of this Life as we know it; and about how it forces us to look at Life with a different perspective - to focus on what truly matters.

Most of the next morning is spent with Lukas's family. We create the official announcement, the Obituary for the local papers et al. After the formalities, we arrive at the Chapel with flowers & candles. She lays there in a coffin.. all alone in the little Chapel. What a sharp contrast from India where the body of the deceased lays amidst family & relatives and round the clock prayers.

The Chapel feels cold and stark. I notice that the facial expression has changed a little.. the smile seems to be disappearing. We arrange the flowers, candles & her Smiling Photo taken earlier this year. And the feeling in the room gets Warmer & Livelier.. An old man stops by to pay his last respects. I'm guessing by now the word has spread through the village. We have a few more formalities to complete today, so we bid her Goodbye. 

Lukas tells me her body will be taken away by the Undertaker on Saturday from the Chapel and stored at the Crematorium in Lucerne till Monday. After the cremation on Monday, the family will get the Urn with her Ashes. The Cremation is an official process and no one is allowed inside.

Hmmm.. people in the West seem to want to keep Death at a distance -- perhaps it triggers fears of our own Mortality. Who knows -- i Should not jump to conclusions. Lukas shares that in the old days in Switzerland, the family handled Death and related ceremonies by themselves. Times are changing. Maybe a couple of generations later, India might head in the same direction.

Today Lukas's niece & her children accompany us on our visit. By now, the face is devoid of all expression. It seems to be little more than an empty body.

I offer my respects to a Soul that has completed one Journey. I wish her the very Best for her next adventure wherever it might take her...