Our school had a strange rule—if anyone came to class feeling sad, they were not allowed to sit on the last bench. Because the last bench belonged to Rafi. And if you sat beside Rafi, staying sad was impossible.
Rafi was the official "joker" of our class.
One day the teacher walked in and asked,
"Who didn't do the homework?"
Rafi raised his hand.
"Why didn't you do it?"
"Sir, the homework didn't do me!"
The whole class burst into laughter. Even the teacher couldn't hold back a smile.
During lunch breaks, Rafi would make up stories so funny that we'd hold our stomachs laughing. One day he said,
"Last night I dreamed I was the Prime Minister. Everyone was saluting me."
Neela asked, "Then what happened?"
"Then my mom woke me up and said, 'Get up and go to the market.' My prime minister career ended right there!"
There was magic in his words. Even the hardest days felt lighter around him.
But Rafi had one habit—he never talked about himself. If anyone asked something serious, he would turn it into a joke.
One day Neela asked him sincerely,
"How do you stay happy all the time?"
Rafi paused for a moment and replied,
"Laughter is the cheapest medicine. And I distribute it for free."
We thought he was joking.
---
The Days That Changed
A few days later, Rafi stopped coming to school. At first, we thought he had a fever or something minor.
One week passed… then two…
The last bench stayed empty.
One day, the teacher quietly said,
"Rafi might not return for some time."
Neela felt something sink inside her. One afternoon, she went to Rafi's house. His little sister opened the door. Her eyes were swollen.
Inside the room, Neela saw Rafi lying on the bed. His face looked pale, thinner—but his eyes still carried that same mischievous smile.
Seeing Neela, he said,
"Well, well! The class topper is here. Is the school surviving without me?"
Neela's voice trembled.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Rafi smiled softly.
"If I told you, you'd cry. And I don't want anyone crying because of me."
The doctors had said it was the final stage. There wasn't much time left.
Yet Rafi kept joking. When the nurse came with an injection, he would say,
"Sister, please give it with a smile. It hurts less that way!"
Everyone laughed in front of him… and cried outside the room.
---
The Final Act
One day, Rafi handed Neela an envelope.
"If I suddenly skip school forever… open this."
"Stop being dramatic," Neela said angrily.
Rafi winked.
"I told you I'd become an actor."
One morning, the news came—Rafi was gone.
That day, no one sat on the last bench. The entire classroom felt silent and heavy.
Neela remembered the envelope.
With trembling hands, she opened it.
Inside was a letter:
> "If you're reading this, it means I've moved a little farther away from the last bench.
I know you'll cry. But remember one thing—
I don't want tears when you think of me.
When you remember me, smile.
Because I won't be able to bear seeing you cry.
And Neela, whenever you become too serious, look at the last bench once. I may not be there, but my jokes still are.
The world is round. It's not meant for sitting in a corner and crying.
It's meant for smiling."
Below the letter, there was a small drawing of a smiley face.
Neela pressed the letter against her chest.
She tried to smile… but she couldn't.
Her tears wouldn't stop.
From that day on, whenever someone in class feels sad, Neela quietly walks to the last bench and says,
"Laughter is the cheapest medicine… and there was someone who gave it away for free."
The last bench still remains empty.
But sometimes, when a soft breeze enters through the window, it feels like someone is whispering—
"Hey… why are you crying? Want to hear a joke?"
And as people read this story, they may try to smile…
but without realizing it, their eyes fill with tears.