Kris Kringle

“How’s Kris Kringle*?”, asked James in his usual loud voice, settling in a chair next to Parth. Oblivious to his arrival, Parth and Chinmayi, sitting with their hands held together, lost in their anguish thoughts, were taken by surprise. There sat James, next to Parth, in the waiting room, with concern.

Parth and Chinmayi turned to each other, not knowing what to say. James waited patiently, till one of them could speak. James was Krish’s pre-primary teacher who doubled as their neighbor as well. It was James, who had christened Krish as Kris Kringle.

Krish according to James was none less than Santa Clause, not only for his physical appearance but for his mannerism as well. As his teacher, James had witnessed on many occasions the philanthropic disposition of the child. May it be sharing his pen or crayons or classwork; he would do it willingly, quite unlike children of his age. He would at times surprise his friends and teachers with flowers from his kitchen garden or handmade gifts and greeting cards on their birthdays. He was a cheerful child who turned every place into a happy one with his words and deeds.

“James, Kris is… is fighting the battle of life”, said Chinmayi with difficulty, trying to hold back tears.

“He will fight back. He is so full of life, it can’t desert him”, said James with conviction.

“Amen”, said Parth. “Thanks for visiting James”, he continued.

“I will pray and wait for his early arrival, back home”, said James as he got up to take their leave. “Stay strong. Kris Kringle, our Santa Clause will come back making splashes soon”.

By the time James left them, the nurse from the children’s ICU unit came looking for Parth and Chinmayi. Krish their only son, now a young boy of 10, was admitted to the hospital a day before when he was thrashed by a speeding car that lost its control, while he was riding back home from school on his bicycle.

“Mr. Parth, Mrs. Chinmayi, Doctor would like to have a word with you. Please follow me to the Doctor’s cabin”

With a ray of hope in their otherwise forlorn heart, they followed the Nurse. Deafening silence filled the cabin where the doctor sat examining the reports. Once they made themselves comfortable, the doctor started speaking.

“Hello. I am sorry to say but, I have to share it. Krish is brain dead now. Not even a miracle would bring him back. How long will he continue to live like this, no one can predict. We are monitoring his parameters and trying best to provide comfort to him”, stated the doctor without mincing the words.

Chinmayi broke down into tears and was inconsolable. Parth was devastated too. He sat lifeless.

“It’s a difficult hour. We understand your pain”, said the Doctor. “But I have a suggestion for you”

Parth looked up though still desolate.

“No one knows how long will Parth continue to live on this earth in a comatose condition. But he can give the gift of life to many, if only done well in time”, suggested the doctor.

“I did not get you Doctor”, replied Parth.

“If you give consent, his organs can be donated. He will continue to live meaningfully in other’s body and some deserving lives could be saved”, suggested Doctor.

There was a pregnant pause.

Parth gulped a sorrowful lump and turned to Chinmayi with grit. “Chinmayi, time now to make sure that Krish continues to be what he is best known as… Kris Kringle…Santa Clause. Let his soul rest in peace with the thought that while leaving this world, he continued doing what he liked the most…spreading cheer and gifting others”, he proposed.

Chinmayi, still reeling under shock, sat numb. Uncertainty hung heavy and its weight was felt by everyone in the consulting room.

Heaving a sigh, she nodded in favor after a while with a river of tears cascading down her cheeks.

“Krish… you were… and will remain, Kris Kringle…forever”, said she sobbing.

With this story, I have a sincere request for all my readers… please pledge to donate your organs posthumously. Ther are many deserving lives that are battling for life who would benefit from this precious gift, which you otherwise won’t need in your soul’s journey into the new world.

*Kris Kringle – A personification of the baby Jesus who, in German-speaking parts of Europe, takes the place of Santa Claus in bringing gifts to people at Christmastime

Picture courtesy Pixabay

Explore previous stories at Stack of Stories…