The Flame that Burnt Out

7/30/2019 The Flame that Burnt Out

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The Flame that Burnt Out

Period 3A

The Evil Eye at 2:45

Bumps on the Chest

The Heart that Pumped a Little too much


2/11

The Evil Eye at 2:45

Nikki, hurry up! At the pace youre going at, were going to be late! My mum

screeched.

Im coming, ma! I yelled.

I hurriedly applied my mascara and did a once over in the mirror. I looked good

for once. Silver bangles adorned my arms. My long black hair fell down in loose curls,

my light brown eyes popped in contrast with the black eyeliner surrounding my eyes

and my reddened cheeks stood out against my light skin. I smiled and watched my pink

glossy lips curve up.

I took the steps two-by-two and held up the bottom of my sari. My anklets rung

as the bells inside of them moved around. Grabbing my silver heels, I faced my mum

and she looked angry.

Nikki! We are for sure going to be late now and its all because of you. We are

going to a wedding reception, not some fashion show! Ni mai marja, she gasps at my

face, nazar na lagh ja ve1! Come here, Im need to put surma2 behind your ear to ward

off the evil eye! Edhir ah.3

1 Oh my god! I hope you dont get the evil eye!2 Eyeliner.3 Come here.


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Oh my god, ma! Im not going to put surma behind my ear! That whole evil eye

stuff is all a load of bull. Like, seriously? Just because someone looks pretty doesnt

mean some old lady is going to wish bad luck on them because of it. Thats all probably

just a story that fathers made so their daughters wouldnt try to look pretty when they

went out. That way, the daughters would not have any male attention!

Fine then you stupid girl, my mum sneered,go get the evil eye. Dont come

crying to me when bad things start happening!

Yeah, yeah. Lets go, were already late. I said grabbing my phone and silver

clutch.

My mum muttered curses at me while we got into the car. Dad had been waiting

in there for who knows how long. He sighed as he looked at mums annoyed face. Dad

pulled the car into reverse and started driving to the reception hall.

As dad pulled up into the parking lot, I fixed my hair and bangles. I got out the car

as it halted to a stop and I looked at my reflection in the cars window. I looked close to

perfect. After adding more gloss to lips, we headed to the entrance.

The parents of the groom welcomed us with a hug and ushered us in. I took in

my surroundings and noticed that the hall had over four hundred people in it. Some

people were staring at me, some smiled while others gave me a sour look. Maybe my

mum was right.

~


4/11

The party was nearing to an end. Most people who brought their kids had already

left. I checked my phone for the time, 2:14am. I sighed, I was tired. I had broken my

heels, started my period, and I could feel a pimple starting to form on my forehead. The

waiter had also spilled soda on my sari. Tonight was a bad night.

My parents had finally decided it was time to go. We bid our goodbyes and

headed off home. I watched the scenery change as mum drove, dad was too drunk to

drive. I checked the time again, 2:45am. The light ahead of us turned green and mum

sped up. I looked out the window and saw a car coming right us at full speed. I tried to

warn my mum but it was too late. The car had hit us and our car caught on fire. I could

feel my skin peeling. I heard my mum's screams as she looked over at me. My whole

body was on fire but my mums wasnt. Neither was my dads, I was the only one.

I couldnt feel heat anymore, I felt cold. I closed my eyes as the fire kept dancing on

me. Mum was right, the evil eye was real. I shouldve listened to her but it was too late

now. I could feel myself slipping away, my mums cries and dads screams for help

were slowly fading away. I was dead.


5/11

Bumps on the Chest

My aunt had tear filled eyes. She had just told the family that a lumps was found

on her breast. She had an 80% chance of it being cancer. I remember that day vividly.

My aunt, now 4 years later, has almost perfect health with a few ups and downs. She

had her struggles battling cancer. I can only imagine what is was like for her.

I lay in my bed, burying my face in the pillow. I screamed and cried until my throat was

dry. I pulled out my diary as I wiped away my pathetic tears.


6/11


7/11


8/11

The day I lost my dad had to have been the worst day of my life. Just remembering that

day makes me tear up. I had always been a daddys girl, I still am. My dad was the go-to-parent.

He was the one who showed up to my first honor roll ceremony in 4th grade. He had taken an

early lunch break and sped off with his motorcycle to my elementary school. He was the one

who knew me, who truly knew me. The real me. What hurts me most is what I did on July 3rd of

2011.

I hid under my blanket. Mom was talking to dad on phone since he and my cousin Shaan

were in India for 2 weeks for my dads cousins wedding. I could hear mom calling me to talk to

dad on the phone. I quickly shut my eyes so itd look like I was sleeping.

Jasmeen! Jasmeen? Honey, shes asleep. You can talk to her tomorrow. My mom said

trailing off. Ha! I had fooled her. I didnt really feel like talking to anyone. Why? I honestly

dont know. With that last thought, I fell asleep.

Jasmeen! Jasmeen! Jasmeen! My mom yelled. I groaned as I opened my eyes. It was

9:19am on July 4th. What could she possibly want this early?

What ma?! Why are you yelling? I whined back.

Hurry up and brush you teeth. Grandma is over at Rubys house. Its urgent! I hope

nothing happened to Shaan. My mom said with panic clear in her voice.

I sprung out of bed and rushed over to go brush my teeth and comb my hair. My mom,

my little sister Ashleen, and I rushed out of the house and drove over to my Aunts house. I ran


9/11

to the front door and rang the doorbell repeatedly until my uncle opened it. Sadness was clearly

shown on his face.

Uncle? What happened?! Is Shaan okay?! I fired away at him.

He pointed over to the living room where my grandma was standing. She looked at me

with sad eyes until my mom and Ashleen came in.

Well?! What happened?! My mom and I yelled.

My grandma looked at us dead in the eye and said, Jesse is dead.

My mom screamed and fell to the ground. I leaned against the wall and stared straight

ahead. I could hear my mom sobbing and saying how it couldnt be true. Hes only 42, hes too

young to die. How could it be true? He was just talking to mom last night. I mean, its my dad.

Things like this couldnt happen to me, it only happened to other people. How could he be dead?

How did he die? I just saw him on the 30th when my uncle and I dropped them off at their gate

at SFO. He was smiling. I fell to the ground. My dad was dead. He was really dead.

The next 2 days flew by in a blur as my mom, uncle, grandma, grandpa, Jasveens dad

and I went to San Francisco to get our visas from the Indian Embassy. We purchased emergency

tickets for the 6th to India and we were to reach New Delhi by the 8th.

After we reached the my dads village, Mulliawal, we were rushed into the house. The

whole village was crowded with people. Some women were crying while others gave me a look

of pity and gossiped how tragic his death was. I ignored everyone. I sat in the room my dad slept

in and wrapped myself in the sheets he used and I cried. I cried until my cousins told me to stop

and be brave for everyone else.

Come on, Jasmeen. Theyve brought your dad... My cousin Yaslin said as she started

to cry.


10/11

I nodded and got up but almost fell. My cousins, Jasmeet and Robin, caught me before I

could hit the ground. They held me close and led me to where my dads dead body was. He was

dressed up in suit with a red dress shirt underneath and tie. He looked so peaceful. He looked as

if he was sleeping. He didnt look dead. He looked asleep.

I sat down on the foldable bed my dad was on and I held his hand. He was so cold and

heavy. His hands were so heavy. I gave my dad a kiss on the cheek. His face was cold too. He

wasnt breathing, he wasnt breathing. I started to cry as it finally hit me that he was dead. That

he was never going to come back. That I could never hear his laugh again. That he would never

ask me how my day was. That he would never hug me again. That he would never be able to

give me away on my wedding day. That hed never get to hold my first child. That hed never

see me start my first day of high school. Thatd he never see me graduate. That hed never say I

love you, Jasmeen again. I started becoming hysterical to the point where they dragged me

away from him so they could continue with the funeral without me trying to bring him back even

though I knew he couldnt. They locked in a room with all my cousins around my age and tried

to keep me busy as they lit his body on fire.

To this day, we dont know exactly how my dad died. Either a heart attack or stroke. The

doctors in India never bothered to do an autopsy on him. My life has changed dramatically since

then. Im not as happy anymore. My family isnt as close as it used to be. My mom is off in her

own little world trying to find a husband again so he could support us. Nothing is the same. I

cant say that my life is good now or worse. I dont even know who I am anymore, much less

how my life is.


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The Flame that Burnt Out