The Last Goodbye
By
Alok Dixit
Homo Sapiens, the living species on the earth are blessed to have considerable privileges of Super species. Humans have always established their supremacy by taming the gullible thereby creating noosphere for themselves. They consider every other species derogatory and are abhorrent about them. Mosquitoes too have faced the brunt of one of the minuscule species considered by humans and have treated no less than disgust. Boomeranging the same emotions, mosquitoes too have been loyal in returning the same what they have got from Humans. Although some mosquitoes could have delineated themselves from this animosity and have opined to be moderately amicable towards human society but the scenario here was inimical to mosquitoes as their lives were on stake. And why not, when every creature howsoever diminutive own fundamental right to save its life.
Usually male mosquitoes outline themselves with the authentic acrimony between as their lifestyle revolves hovering around flowers and sucking the nectar out of them and keep themselves away from the predictable disturbances caused by human indulgences but females turn femme fatale and play full throttle as their existence is directly supplied by humans. But this time all genders of mosquitoes stood together in solidarity. Mr. Johnson (Just ‘Johnson’ for mosquitoes) had a peculiar chemical in his blood. Death was certain, whomsoever feed upon him. Since childhood this chemical was active in his blood and that was the reason he was loathed by the whole community of mosquitoes.
Countless revolutionary mosquitoes were subjugated to martyrdom in order to teach a lesson to Mr. Johnson and many were ultra active to deprive Johnson of his life. Numerous narratives and exclusive editorials were carried out by newspapers and journals where Johnson was tagged with many titles like ‘Opponent of mosquito society’, ‘Barbaric serial killer’ which would simmer the young blooded generation of mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes were now more conscious of the fact. Other than some revolutionary and suicidal mosquitoes nobody lurked around him. But interestingly Mr. Johnson was absolutely paradoxical to whatever was elucidated and scripted about him in the literature. He was benevolent, passive and a peace maker. From the day he came to know that he had an element toxic to mosquitoes in his blood, he started covering himself to the maximum. During day he used to wear a long overcoat and collar of the coat was also raised up to prevent the contact of mosquitoes to his body.
The feeling of anguish had captivated him to the core and had tried various treatments. He continued it till he got himself infected from those miscellaneous medicines. He had only one option that is to get him covered so that none of poor mosquitoes loose their limited life. But whenever his desperate efforts could not restrict mosquitoes loosing their lives, he found himself immersed into pool of grief and guilty. During night he used mosquito net so that the surrounding mosquito could not feed on his blood and add few more days to their lives.
Here the rage was burgeoning amongst mosquito community. They were convinced that Johnson had come on earth with one motive that was to eradicate the entire mosquito community. Till now many veterans and politicians had become the victims. The entire community was always on its toes to kill Johnson. Finally a day came in their lives when all mosquitoes were in state of euphoria. After years of investigation and research, the news of newly discovered chemical in the laboratory which was capable to kill Johnson gave a new hope to the survival of their species. Masku, the prime minister of mosquito community himself took the responsibility of injecting the hazardous chemical in to Johnson but the fervor could not last long as he died soon after drinking the chemical and again one more mosquito was subjected to martyrdom in carrying out the heroic deed. The masses thronged the laboratory and pelted stones at it and further researches were also halted. Now the level of outrageousness was above par, and not a single mosquito was ready to digest the news. Johnson was now a villain for children too. Many big films were cast on Johnson where famous villains like Jimmy, Tafu and Sini participated and not to much surprise all were super duper hits. Every other day various effigies of Johnson were burnt and numerous processions were carried. The pressure of getting rid of Johnson was mounting high on government day by day. The opposition also had one reason to throw fits all around that was Johnson.
Amidst this chaotic environment, the news of intrusion of an African female mosquito named Lily published in the national dailies rocked the whole community of mosquito. After all it was the intrusion of a stranger into the community was against ethics. In a sting operation was deployed and she was arrested by police. Next day after the proceedings carried in court, she was taken for the remand. The police interrogated her strictly and found that her invasion in stranger’s land is accidental. Being asked how she has managed to cross the border she spoke in her defence that she possessed an unusual power which prompted her to drift away from her country. This statement impelled police officials to present Lily in front of Cabinet Ministers. A team of interrogators surrounded her and asked about her about the extraordinary power she had. But she did not budge. The interrogators warned her that if she did not spill the beans over her presence, she would found herself in deep trouble and would be enforced with charges of being a spy which meant paying up for life. Being frightened she confessed that, “I have a peculiar element in my saliva as whenever I tried to feed on humans in Africa , they died almost immediately after it. Soon African humans took the note of such incidences and started the mass killing drives of mosquitoes and I became a villain for my brethren. They wanted to kill me so I waded my way here”. This set the cabinet ministry in motion as they had a big reason to exhilarate. They wanted to avail the opportunity so they materialized the situation. She was being asked to kill Johnson who had killed many mosquitoes mercilessly. But Lily was not ready to snatch another human life. They gave her the choice of either killing Johnson or be ready to loose her life with fake charges of being a spy.
The government wanted to milk the situation at any cost so they presented her in front of Prime Minister. Lily bowed down in front of him to show her reverence towards him. He told her if she agrees to kill Johnson, the death sentence would be removed and she would be felicitated with various prizes. Lily was not ready to kill Johnson but his status of being a human killer was enough to kill him so she agreed to use her power and eliminate his existence.
Now every child knew that this time Johnson is going to die for sure and every adult was more conscious than before that his end is very near. Lily was released from jail and was given a month to prepare herself for it whereas Johnson was absolutely unaware of such proceeding and was carrying his routine of covering himself to the maximum.
And that was the reason for which Lily was not able to complete her motive of sending Mr. Johnson in eternal sleep. One fine day Mr. Johnson was resting in his mosquito net and was on verge of sinking in sleep, suddenly he found himself distracted and got up to see a mosquito whizzing in the net. He got alert and requested the mosquito not to bite him. The mosquito was none other but Lily who was on mission to kill Johnson. Lily replied that she is hungry and wants to feed on his blood. He told her she would tear her stomach by doing so and would embrace the death. Johnson gave her some food, fruit juices and some cold beer as a treat. Lily fed herself to full. After having food, Lily changed her mind of biting Mr. Johnson. Lily sang many songs for Johnson; he also entertained her by narrating so many interesting narratives. Then both of them shared their experiences with each other and soon they became good friends. Now Johnson and Lily became habituated of meeting each other. Whenever Johnson left his home for office, Lily always accompanied him. Very often in winters, Lily kept hiding herself in Johnson’s overcoat. In some days they became part of each other’s life. Once when Johnson fell sick, Lily took care of him and Johnson also really appreciated her, he was there to support her. It was Lily’s care that made Johnson recovered well but Johnson found Lily constantly upset. She was under pressure and the cabinet wanted her to complete the task soon. They were constantly monitoring her. Media also kept lots of assumptions about Lily’s progress. Lily gave up reading newspaper due to building pressure on her. She became sad and whenever Johnson asked her the reason of her sadness, she used to avoid the situation but Johnson’s recurrent efforts of making Lily happy went in vain. She only answered him that they would not be together in future. She also told him that she had only one day left with her. Johnson took her out for dinner and shared his heart out that how much he loved her. They also shared drinks with each other. Next morning Lily got up early in the morning and said last good morning to Johnson. She also said that no Lily would ever say any good morning to him and she bites him. Johnson could not recognize that. He requested her to tell him that why can’t they meet again.
Lily was now shattered. She apologized Johnson and said within next five minutes they would be separated from each other. She told him that she is mistress of a special power. Whenever she has bitten any one that person had died within 5 minutes and that person could only survive if she bites him again. Earlier she was not apprised about the fact but when in Africa she bit lots of people and they all died, she realized her power. When the human community came to know about it, they began hating mosquito community. They went for mosquito carnage, crores of them were destroyed and she had to leave Africa to save rest of mosquito community and migrated here.
Johnson was hearing all this with thoughtfulness and was amazed to find what this all got to do with his and Lily’s relationship. Is she being called from Africa or she wants to return Africa? While Johnson was busy in making assumptions, Lily broke his attention by telling him that she has bitten him. Johnson became frightened and he felt that his head whirled and saw darkness around him. He had never imagined that he would get this in return of his love towards Lily. He became very angry. He wanted to kill her. But his love towards her stopped him by doing so. Lily was on her verbal spree. She said if she went back without killing him, she would get capital punishment. She also told that she would get lots of cash reward from the government. Not only this, she would be given a prestigious post in the cabinet and would avail all comforts from government.
While telling him this, entire she fell down, she was not able to fly. Johnson took him in his hand. Lily was unconscious and with lifeless face, she smiled and said, “Dear Johnson, I have done this all for the welfare of mosquitoes. Please forgive me. But shall I say something I have sucked all of your venom. Now you are safe, actually I have bitten you again. Now you are an ordinary Man. Bye, The Last Goodbye! Goodbye to the loveliest person in this world”.
