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The Flaw in the Play of Life
Days went by and everything was the same. The only person who knew about the brain tumour was Raymond and Andrew. I tried to convince him to reveal his problem to his mother. But every time he refused and automatically changed the topic to something else. But as the days passed there was something that did not stay the same but actually changed so slowly that only a few people can understand. The change was Raymond he was trying extremely to get high grades and make Ellie happy he literally ended being the topper of the class and he was also getting better in math.
One day he called a meeting for the all the cast and crew.
‘I want to forfeit, I don’t want to be in the play anymore. I want to put my efforts and hard works on my studies.’ Said Raymond.
The whole cast was shocked. The director and I started to speak
‘are you mad, you are the only one who can raise this school to fame, you’re the lead you’re the star’Adam, the director.
‘you crazy, since when did you become the one to make the decision. You can’t leave the play like this’ I said.
Everyone was really angry but I knew the reason for all this.
‘ no you can’t…….’ said Adam but interrupted by me.
‘let him go, please let him go’ I said.
‘ok then’ agreed Adam. The times went by and we found out another lead but he was not even 1 percent close to Ray. But I was not the only one who noticed his change.
‘Sit Raymond, sit’ said Ellie. ‘why did you leave the play? Say the truth.’ said Ellie with a strong accent.
‘I left the play so that I can study more and put my efforts on it so that you are happy. That’s the only reason nothing new. Why are you asking all this?’ said Raymond.
‘ You can an act with others and make them a full, but not me, I am your mother dear, I know when you lie and even when you hide something. You could even make me happy in your own way, by acting, why did you decide to change?’ said Ellie with such a voice that put Raymond into one of the most fearful moment.
‘ I just decided to make you happy in the way you wanted….’ Raymond but interrupted by Ellie-
‘Exactly ‘way I wanted’. You are not the type of doing things on other’s way. You do things in your way and made everyone happy more than they expected. You even left the play which was really difficult to do, and I know that. This kind of decision can only be done when there is a strong reason, even a reason like dying.’ Raymond dramatically moved his eyes that were staring at the floor to Ellie’s suspicious eyes.
‘So now tell me what are you hiding from me Raymond’.
Raymond got closer to Ellie grabbed her hand and started crying and said ‘ I have brain tumour, and that is in the last stage. That’s why I took such a big step.’
Ellie was in a big emotional shock and was almost about to break down. But she stayed strong and cried with having a lot of courage. She said
‘why did you not tell me about this. Did you think that not telling me will keep in peace?’
‘Yes’ stammered Raymond.
‘Well you are wrong, I feel much relieved that I know that you revealed me your difficulty. But yes I am in grieving pain and you have no idea. But now look at me, look at me.’
Ray looked at her with a deep red face.
‘Now you are going to go back to the play tomorrow and you are going to die after you do everything you wanted to. Ok?’ said Ellie.
‘ok’ replied Ray.
And then both of them started to cry by hugging each other and tightly each other very tightly and strongly that it was filled with immense pain but was defeated by the immense love they had for each other. The love was so strong that even a stone hearted man would collapse within.
That night, they were sleeping together, crying and laughing at the playful past. And at the end the held each other’s hand and fell asleep.
The whole month passed and I barely even got to talk to Raymond. During the rehearsal Raymond and eventually everyone was stopped their play and was looking at him. He called me and reasonably I went towards him.
‘I told her, or more specifically she got it out of me. Mom knows about my cancer.’ said Raymond.
‘And the good thing is I came to join the group. So can I?’ he said furthermore.
Without a reply I rushed to the director and told him about the change of plan. He gladly accepted the change but the one clot in the middle and he was Philip, the new lead.
‘No way, I am not going to leave my part I worked hard and got into this play. By the way weren’t you guys the one who begged me to enter the play?’ said Philip with hating arrogant voice.
With nothing to reply back, I said with a hard feelings ‘You can take my part I am the lead’s best friend the second lead if specifically said. You can take my part and I will forfeit. It will be hard I mean extremely hard. But I will do anything to take back Ray, my best friend into this play.’
I stopped by staring at Raymond. Eventually Philip agreed and Adam said
‘try and get the attitude Andy has because you are worth nothing Philip, nothing so shut the arrogance and be nice to everyone.’
‘huh’ said Philip with an arrogant voice.
I went and hugged Raymond and said ‘ I missed you’…………………….
The Decision
The weeks went by and almost everyone came to know about Raymond’s cancer and everyone comforted him but whether he was happy or not, nobody could understand. But the question that kept hurting me was the question to Ellie’s. So one night I invited them to dinner, so that we can talk out with Ray why he doesn’t get chemotherapy or get a treatment or even a surgery even if necessary. So they arrived that night with a happy mood. After the dinner and everything we all went and sat in the living room.
‘Ray? Your mom and I have been thinking since you already talked to the doctor and all, why don’t you get a surgery or chemotherapy?’ I said.
‘Is there a hundred percent chance that I will be cured? You want to waste the last of my life by visiting the doctor often and getting chemos and losing my hair and getting hair? Well guess what I want to die simply. The cancer came without any treatment and I will die without any treatment. When there is no surety that I will be cured then why struggle to live long but not happy. And haven’t you heard that cancer is a disease that when its symptoms are shown that means you’re already at the end of the rope.’ said Raymond with sharp voice.
‘Don’t say that dear, you’re going to live a long life.’ said Ellie.
Raymond looked at us with a sad face that no one could be happy to see it. The next day we three went to the doctor.
‘How are you Raymond?’ said Bethany.
‘Huh as if you don’t know’ I remarked.
Everyone stared at me and I ended up saying ‘sorry’.
‘Yes even I suggested him a treatment but he refused. At the end it all depends on him. Its life it’s his decision.’ said Bethany.
‘What about us? Ellie will die within and how will I live with my best friend gone…..’ replied Andrew but interrupted by Raymond saying-
‘Come on Andrew its all about you all isn’t it. Don’t you see how I feel, how much pain I am bearing, why don’t you just let me die peacefully. With or without treatment I am supposed to die so why do you keep on bothering me. Please for god’s sake stop poking me.’
Then he rushed out of the room. After a moment of silence Ellie said ‘Well we sure can’t change that boy’s mind. But thank you Doctor Bethany.’
While giving her fees we left.
‘Who wants a pizza? Lets celebrate because the grand play is tomorrow and I am alive. So shall we?’ said Raymond with a fake happy face.’
‘Yes’ we replied.
And then finally the main day came………………………….
The Pain Behind The Smile
Finally the day came for the big critic judged play.
‘Are you sure you can do this? You had the seizures and all these difficulties for the past few weeks and even this morning.’ said Ellie.
‘I know right? Usually the cancer thing was supposed to hurt but there is something that still gives me the power and the energy to fight on.’
‘Come hear dear, best of luck. I will arrive at 5:00 pm. Go and live your dream before it’s too late.’ said Ellie while kissing Raymond’s head.
Raymond quickly came and hugged her tightly and said ‘If you did not tell me to go back and join the theatre group then I would surely die unhappy. Thanks mom. I love you, love you, love love love love you a looot’ and kissed her back at the forehead.
‘I love you too dear’ said Ellie and laughed.
‘You look bright as the moon Raymond.’ said Adam.
‘Huh I am nothing like the moon’ replied Raymond.
‘It’s ok Ray’ said Adam.
‘What I didn’t mean it in the sad way I meant that I am nothing like the moon, I am way better than the moon. Dumbo.’ replied Ray with a funny tone and the whole theatre echoed with laughter and giggles. Raymond looked around them all happy and wished that this not the last time they see them all happy.
The play began and there were four plays the first and the last were musicals and the ones in between were Shakespeare plays. The whole theatre was filled with people and the three critics looked creepy but you can see the eye and know that they were really interested and excited to see Raymond perform. Raymond was the lead of all the three plays except the ‘Merchant of Venice’ he wanted me to be the lead of that play and I gladly accepted the offer.
The last musical play begin and it was on the song “ O’ Children” by Nick Cave. It was about an old man (Ray) telling his childhood and present stories to others while dancing and performing and acting. And at the end he dies in the play. The rest three plays were amazing and the last one was really emotion for everyone who knew about Raymond’s cancer. The last part of the song where it gives everyone a shiver and a kind of emotional feeling, they perform a great dance and slowly (Ray) dies in the play. I was sitting with Ellie and was watching with a lot of excitement and interest; it was excellently choreographed by Raymond. Then came the end of the song and eventually Raymond plays dead. Everyone gave a standing ovation including the critics. But…………..
Suddenly the everyone on the stage started to get shocked and started screaming and one cried out ‘Oh My God Raymond died’…
I rushed quickly and ran towards the stage leaving the fact that Ellie was behind me and how shocked she was to hear those words. I ran towards him and shoved everyone and went towards him and carried his head over to my lap and saw that he did pass away but he had a smile on his face. Then I realized that only a few people knew about the pain behind his smile.
Suddenly I remembered about Ellie and went to get her but as I was on my way another shocking story was waiting for me. I saw that Ellie’s head was hanging down and she did not answer my shouts at her, she passed away as well. I looked back and forth once at Raymond and the next at his mother. Tears gushed out my eyes and I fell to my knees and cried my heart out and the song was still playing. Within all those chaos I had a happy feeling because Ellie nor Raymond didn’t have to see one of them die first but went to God together. Keeping this in my mind I tried to calm down my heart but it failed. I was sitting there all alone and having no one to give some hope to me………”
The whole vision going through Andrew’s mind ended and came back to the real life. All his students had more or less tears flooding from their eyes. Then one of them said ‘May Raymond and Ellie be safe and rest in peace.’ Then everyone said ‘Amen’… The sun was almost setting and everyone lied down some holding hands with each other and some alone. Then one of the guys from the musical department played the song ‘Suggestions’. Then Andrew took a deep breath and the whole day came to an emotional end.
__END__
