The Story of a Dead Man

'It's my first death anniversary. . ."
I was shocked.
''What. . . ? What did you say?''
''Yes, it's true. . ." He injected confusion into my veins.
"You think I am alive? Huh. . . In fact, it's my first death anniversary. . . I am a dead person, and listen, no body can know me better than myself. Ok? "
I remained silent.
He continued,
One day, she refused to bear me and asked for ultimate separation. . . Yes, for ultimate separation. . . and then she said. . .
'Hey! What can you do for me?'
I can die.
Sure?. . . Then die.. I promise rest of my life would be in your remembrance. . .
I saw her for the very last time, opened the window and jumped from the 20th storey of a building. . . And he became silent.
I was completely dumb found. It was quite obvious for me to find myself in the prison of his presence.
He was looking very tired. I don't know why I felt sympathy for him.
"Then, how are you alive?" I broke the silence.
"I am still dead. . . but she didn't fulfill her promise. huh". He answered in a restless manner. His whispering eyes pointed towards an immense pain.
Suddenly, he entered into something like nightmare.
"Once I was crashed by a car. Many people gathered at the spot. The ambulance driver was in hurry and siren was throwing the waves of fright. . . huh . . .yes. . .siren. . .frightened people. . . and the driver was looking extremely serious. . . probably, he was unable to know I had died because of severe bleeding and, after that, I was killed in a bomb blast.... Many people were spoiled in this explosion, but, Iwas only one who remained unidentified. . . and now I lay buried in police yard. . . the slab on my grave declares me anonymous. . .huh"
................................... "I had died thrice in earth quakes. . .every time, volunteers announced that all the dead bodies had been found. . . but, even after so many years, I am still under the trash" .................................."And times ago, I lost my final breath in the cupboard of a room. . . nobody tried to open the cupboard. . . nobody smelled my dead body. . . and how one can? . . .She sprays a marvellous perfume everyday..huh "
Listen! One day, I died without any accident. . . I thrashed my dead body and hid it under the letters of an old post box. . . I had read at least one letter of everybody. . . but, I never received any condolance for me. . .However, a marriage card. . . a marriage card in which I saw tiny pieces of a broken promise glass and I smelled a dead commitment. . .huh"
.................................." after that Inever read any letter."

-Translation of an Urdu extract from Sahir Shafique's Ek zinda Admi Jo Khud Ko Mara Hua Batata Tha by Nayyer Mustafa