The Sha-shank redemption

Sujimsha, is one of my closest friends since 5th grade. We have been through many adventures together. I was watching something on discovery about the customs that people of all faiths follow in India. Actually Sujim's name popped up because that program reminded me of an 'Offering' his father had made when Sujim got through the engineering entrance.

There is a mosque in Kerala called 'Kaduvapalli', which when literally translated means 'Mosque of the tiger'. Sujim was a pacifist who maintained an irenic attitude towards almost anyone. So he was as far as it can be from being a tiger.

Anyways his father decides to offer a lamb in sacrifice when Sujim joined Btech in College of engineering, Trivandrum. The deal is, the lamb will be sacrificed and a biriyani will be made and offered to poor people once Sujim graduates. The expenses of the lamb will have to be borne by Sujim's family.

Years passed. The goat, rather scapegoat had gradually accepted its fate. Afterall it was giving up its life for a good cause. Many summers later, the lamb now a fully grown sheep had become impatient. Its not a nice feeling to be on the deathrow but not knowing when the end is. Sujim had still not graduated. In 2004, the goat on its deathbed called its great-great grandchildren beside and managed to extract a promise from them that if in case Sujim graduates during their lifetime, they should fullfill their grandfathers destiny. With these last words the goat had died, its life incomplete. A mission unsuccessful, and finally a slow and painful end to a life that was wasted in anticipation of death itself. Eventually when Sujim did graduate, noone in the goat's family even knew about the sacrifice oath. Too many generations had passed by and noone bothered to remember. Thus the poor great grandfather goat's soul lingers in heaven with a heavy heart, dwelling upon the denial of an honourable death!