Rendezvous with Death

Pluto is a splendidly handsome guy... nothing like those weirdly virile males in shapeless robes on the pages of mythology books. He was wearing a smart tuxedo the night he visited my house and my heart popped out in my mouth. "Hey dude!" I said, "you looking for someone?' I looked up at him with an eager smile, wishing he would say that he had come looking for me. "What's your name?" I asked. "Pluto..."his reply was brusque and careless. He was in a hurry. "Come on... that's what Mickey Mouse calls his...er... his dog! I've never met any human being named Pluto!" "I'm not a human being,"he said calmly. My brows knitted. "Not a human being?"was all I could ask. "I am a god, dear child. I am Pluto, the god of Death!" Upon hearing this, I looked at him sympathetically. He needed help...psychiatric help. I offered him a glass of water, asked him to sit down and assured him that he could spend the night in my house in case he had nowhere else to go. "You are not getting me," he said patiently, "I AM the god of Death and I do not have much time." I felt sorry for him at that point of time... he could not be sane. Which man with a man to call his own would go around the town at that hour claiming to be Pluto, the God of Death? I insisted that he sit down and drink some water. At this, he was furious. "I have not come here for water," he shouted,"I have come here for your father." As far as I knew my Dad and his acquaintances, he'd never known a man named Pluto...rather never known such a handsome man. All of my Dad's friends were pot-bellied and bald or near about getting there. "What business can you possibly have with my Dad?" I frowned. He laughed at me scornfully. "I dont argue with kids. Its in my rule book. I treat them gently and leave them alone unless Jupiter orders me that he needs more kids up there." "Now who's Jupiter? Why do all you guys have names like dogs?" "Jupiter is the king of gods," he was patient and calm once again. "You mean your boss or something?" "We dont have bosses up there. We operate in a different system. Jupiter is my lord...i must obey him." "Ya whatever. However I'm pleased to tell you that my Dad's sleeping and is not interested in seeing you now....not at this hour." "Jupiter wants him and sent me here to get him. There's nothing I can do, neither can you. He has to come with me. Dont worry...I wont disturb him. I'm strong enough to carry him on my shoulders." "What the.... "I stopped short, "Dont you think I've had enough of this nonsense. Now if you will please leave, I think I can get back to bed. It's near to midnight." He still had a polite smile on his face. "You can go back to bed,"he said,"just dont interfere with my work."

God of Death? Who is this man? Maybe a robber.... oh God! should I call the police? An army of thoughts raced across my mind. What occured to me then was to indulge him in small talk and distract him out of the house and then shut the door upon him. "You dont look like Pluto,"I said. "How is that?"he enquired back. "Pluto wears a robe,"I said,"and he's got a beard and wears a ridiculous crown on his head. Infact you dont look like a God at all. I'd have mistaken you for Pierce Brosnan if I were somewhere in America." "This is what Jupiter asked me to wear. He said people would stare at me if I came in that attire that you mentioned. He's the most fashionable man up there... so he knows about the latest trends here on earth." I burst into a paroxysm of laughter, then slightly purple with the exercise, I asked him,"Jupiter got them stitched for you, right?" "Perhaps.... well you're delaying me. Jupiter wants me back soon." "Hey! you guys got mobile phones as well? How can Jupiter call you now. I'm sure he's fast asleep on a lotus. I've read that he's a very lazy guy." "We dont have lotuses up there. Those flowers on which we sleep are called asphodels. And dont abuse Jupiter. He is an angry god." "Oh yeah... Jupiter is very short tempered. All he does is strike peoplw with his thunder. I dont like him at all. Why is he a god..he appears like a demon to me!" All that i said now was true. Aphrodite was my favourite goddess in Greek mythology and I was always very disapproving of Jupiter. Pluto shifted uneasily on his feet. He was clenching his fists. I was sleepy and wanted to ask him to please get out of my house. At this point, I couldnt be more polite.

"It's a minute to midnight," he said,"I have to leave and I have to take your father along with me." "He's going nowhere,"I replied in a no-nonsense tone. "It's already decided,"he said,"Jupiter will strike me with thunder if I fail to accomplish ths task." "Oh f*** Jupiter. Get the hell out of here, will you? And stop bullying me. Moreover you're a god, an immortal. What can Jupiter's thunder do to you?You wont get killed, will you?" I was shaking with rage. "I wont be killed, but I might be maimed."he replied tersely. "Fine... I'll get crutches delivered to your doorstep... or perhaps you can describe the flower you sleep on. It's really smoky up there...the courier might not find you..." "I have no more time to reason with you... I have to leave and I have to take your father with me," he replied as calmly as before. "No... no...nooooooo..."I shouted, "he's my Dad! I love him. Dont you dare touch him!" There was a sudden explosion, a cloud of smoke and a strange smell. The bed on which my Dad slept was empty. "Papa... Papa!"I screamed. I peeped underneath the bed.... like the old days when we played hide and seek. "Papa.... where are you?"I shouted again. He was nowhere. Pluto was gone and so was my Dad. I felt sick in the gut. I felt like punching Pluto's face with all the strength in my body... I wanted to mutilate it forever. Life's not the same since the night Pluto visited me. I've seen the God of Death enter my house. I've become fearless, ruthless, undaunted. And yet the truth remains.... Pluto is a splendidly handsome guy and had it not been for his profession, I'd have become his official consort!