Her dead body rests on a four-poster single bed adorned with flowers.

We’ve just walked into a cremation ceremony.

I’ve been to funerals, but this is different. I feel an utter lack of hope.

Most of the funerals I’ve been to were for believers who’ve walked with the Lord. They’re in heaven, worshipping with the Bridegroom.

The tragedy is that this woman, the bride, died without knowing her Bridegroom. It’s a different sort of Romeo and Juliet. This Juliet dies and is eternally separated from her Romeo. It’s another Kolkata tragedy: another soul who’s lost forever.

According to Hindu custom, the body remains in the home, usually for a maximum of 24 hours, until the body’s taken to be cremated.

This woman had makeup on her face. We surmised her husband still lives because of the sindoor, or red powder, that follows the part in her hair.

The eldest son, or closest male relative, has the responsibility to complete cremation rituals before the body is cremated.

In this funeral, the eldest son and the second son walked through everything together. A Hindu priest is present to offer chants for the woman. The sons prayed along with the priest and sprinkled sandalwood over the body.

The sons also were responsible for lighting a stick and walking three times counterclockwise, around the body. This symbolized walking back through their life. Then, they touched the fire to their mother’s lips. The flame was symbolic of eternity. When it touched her lips, the body became an offering.

After all the steps were completed, we watched the body enter the concrete cauldron.

The remaining ashes will be gathered and kept. The ashes will be sprinkled into the holy Ganges River. Hindus believe all people are reincarnated.

Now, for the next 13 days, the family will continue to mourn. They’ll enter a fast and not eat any cooked food.

These types of cremation ceremonies happen every day in Kolkata. Every day, another soul enters into a hopeless eternity.

The tragedy will continue until someone can tell Juliet that Romeo lives and still loves her.