Christmas is a time when the world rejoices; the cities are dazzling with lights and people are busy preparing cribs and exchanging gifts. On a busy Christmas preparation day that is on 24 of December, there was a group of class 3 students who were busy preparing a crib in the house of Alfred, one of the students. This was to come and celebrate together there after the mid-night mass, as they were wont to do every year. They had also brought all their gifts they wanted to exchange with each other, after the mid-night mass, and hung them on the Christmas tree. When everything was ready they moved out from that house to get ready for the midnight mass and the celebration.
When some of them were trying to cross the road suddenly a truck came and hit Mohan, one of them. On seeing this incident the truck driver sped his truck for he was afraid to accept his mistake. Blood spread everywhere and Mohan lay unconscious on the ground with his torn pants and smashed legs covered with blood. When they saw the accident the boys ran towards Mohan and were frightened to see such a sight. In this helpless situation the boys picked up courage and try to wake Mohan up. Some of the boys ran to Alfred’s house to take some clothes to wrap Mohan’s body and some went to inform Mohan’s parents. When the boys couldn’t wake him up some of them lifted his body and wrapped it in the white cloth brought from Alfred’s house. As they were doing this with their trembling hands Mohan’s parents reached that spot with bitter tears. All of the children wept bitterly and some even fainted at the sight of the blood. Mohan’s parents told the boys to go and wash their hands while they rushed Mohan to the hospital.
The boys were so much shocked and frightened by the incident that they remained there like statues but when some of the people who had gathered there called and sent them away they decided to go to Alfred’s house. They kept silent and prayed for Mohan in front of the crib they had prepared. After prayer Luis said, “What shall we do now? Shall we celebrate Christmas in such a situation?” Most of them said, “No.” Some said, “Let’s give all the gifts to Mohan,” while the others said, “Yes, and we shall not celebrate Christmas.” Felix said, “Why don’t we celebrate Christmas? Let’s celebrate it with Mohan in the hospital, and cheer him up him and be with him.” They all agreed to this good suggestion.
They took all their gifts from the Christmas tree and went to the hospital. It was already dark and the city was shining with cribs, stars and many decorations. When they reached the hospital with their gifts in their hands they met Mohan’s parents who were so happy to see the young kids wanting to see their friend. Then they met a doctor and asked permission to see Mohan and give him the gifts. The doctor sternly said, “No, Mohan is still in a critical state. He is no longer unconscious but still his condition is bad. You should not take even a single kid in.” The boy’s father begged the doctor to allow the children to see Mohan for a few minutes and let them give their gifts by themselves. The doctor said, “No!” because he was afraid to let the children see Mohan in such a condition. Since they could not go in give the gifts to Mohan they gave them to Mohan’s father and asked him to tell Mohan, “We love you and pray for you.” Mohan’s father went in and gave him the gifts.
On seeing the gifts Mohan said to his Father with his shaky voice. “My friends have given me all these gifts. I thank God for such a love of theirs for me. Now these gifts are mine. So, from these gifts, please give a gift to each of them as my Christmas gift to them.” The father and mother and in fact everybody who heard it were stunned at such a great decision but to satisfy their son they did it. On seeing the gifts in Mohan’s father’s hands all the boys wondered. Mohan’s father told them what Mohan desired and gave each of them a gift. On receiving the gifts everyone wept at such love Mohan had for them. Mohan’s father told them, “Now go home my dears,” and he went in. The children said, “We shall go now. The time for Christmas Mass is nearing.” Some said, “Those who want to go may go but the rest of us shall keep vigil and celebrate the coming of Christ by praying here with Mohan.” On hearing this decision of some they all decided to do the same. Alfred said, “As Christ experienced the cold, the rejection and the bad smell so shall we on this Christmas night.” Some said, “Yes, also as Mary moved out from her comfort zone so also let us be with Mohan and give him joy and hope and be at his side.”
After the discussion they all sat on the stairs and began to sing the Christmas carols that they had practised with Mohan. When the Christmas bells were ringing in the Church they began to sing the song “Silent Night”, the favorite song of Mohan. Mohan who was barely able to speak heard that song and enquired from his farther about who were singing that song. The father on hearing that the song was sung close by went to see and was overwhelmed with pity for the poor boys that were singing that song and other carols in a cold open space covering themselves only with a jacket each. The father moved with tears rushed in and consoled the boy saying, “They are your friends. They want you to get well soon.” On hearing this, the boys exclaimed, “My Friends!” He told his father to call them in. The father told him that the doctors would not permit this.
The boy sent for the doctor and begged him to allow the children in for he wanted to hear and see his beloved friends. On seeing the condition of Mohan the doctor granted his request. The doctor was dumbfounded that the children were still there. He went out and called them in. He took the boys to the ward. They were so happy to see Mohan smiling and filled with joy that amazed everyone in the ward. All were happy with such a smile and gift of the new life and hope of Christ to Mohan that the rest sang the song “Silent Night” and “Come all ye shepherds.” When the singing was over they wished Mohan to get well soon and kissed him. Mohan in turn said with his broken voice, “Thank you my friends, I love you all.” He raised his hand with a smile and bade them bye.
The doctor took the children out and sent them home for their parents might be searching them. The children remained where they were. Mohan’s father on knowing their love went out to see whether they were still there. Indeed he found them there dozing. So he went into the hospital begged for some blankets for them. He went out and gave them to the boys. The boys thanked him profusely and they slept together as a large flock in one of the corridors in the hospital. When all were having a deep sleep all of them saw a vision. That vision was they saw Mohan carrying the baby Jesus and he was coming towards them with a bright smile on his face and with rays similar to that of the sun coming from his heart. The baby Jesus said to them, “Thank you for caring for me, having a place for me in your heart and for sacrificing the celebrations for the love of life on this Christmas. You have suffered with me so now I am born with joy in your hearts.” They saw Mohan was smiling and placing Jesus in their hands as a sign of gratitude and to bless them. When all had received Jesus Mohan bade them goodbye and disappeared. The boys began to explode with the hymn “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” in their dreams.
The doctor and other people from the hospital heard the song and went out to see. They saw the boys were sleeping but singing. They were wondering what had happened to them. So out of curiosity they woke them up and asked them why they were singing while sleeping. The children wondered at their question. They asked each other whether they dreamt about Mohan. Everyone said that they did and in fact they had sung the song in their vision. Then they replied that they saw Mohan in their dreams with Jesus in his hands. They inquired, “How is Mohan?” The doctor with his head bent and sad face said, “I am very sorry. Mohan died last night, a few hours after your visit. Last night itself his parents took him home to bury him today. ”
On hearing this, the children wept bitterly and were very sad. The doctor and the people consoled them and told them that it was God’s plan for Mohan. Suddenly Felix with tears on his eyes said, “All of us saw a vision. It means that Mohan has gone with Jesus last night. So why to cry now? Come on, let us rush to his house or we may even miss to see his face for the last time on this earth.” They all got up from that place and rushed to Mohan’s house.
When they reached there they saw Mohan was in the coffin and his parents were crying bitterly beside him. They all went to the coffin kissed Mohan and told his parent not to cry for Mohan had gone with Jesus to heaven and he was praying and carrying Jesus to them. The boys then joined Mohan’s parents but instead of crying they were singing all the Christmas carols they had practised together with Mohan. When every- thing was ready for Mohan’s funeral they took him to the cemetery and as his body was lowered they sang the hymn, “Holy Night”. The boys then bade goodbye to Mohan’s parents and departed.
Now they went back home with a joyful story to their parents and told them how Christ was born to them in a very special way on this Christmas. Though no fun and no cakes were there yet they had a momentous Christmas celebration that gave new meaning to Christmas.
By Paul George.
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