Painful Repentance

The sky, being overcast with greyish clouds, was finding it impossible to catch even a glimpse of sunshine. Miles after miles, he walked hither and tither, in search of a sustainable job. Recently, Manish underwent painful phase and agony of his wife's untimely death, and adding to his woes, he also lost his existing clerical job.

Various thoughts began circulating in his mind, how he would bring up his only son, as whatever savings he had, had been wiped out on his wife's cancer treatment. Newspapers got piled one after one on sofa, with hopelessness.

With unemployment brewing over the country, it took a heavy toll on his health after many interview rejections. One day, Goddess finally blessed him to manage getting a meagre job at hotel reception desk. He tried to cope up with all household chores parallel to his professional schedule. "I want a decent upbringing for our son and wish him to be an engineer." - these were the last words of his wife , still kept ringing in his ears.

Not a single day would pass without buying expnsive toys, chocolates, dresses, etc for his son, Ribu, even inspite of his meagre income. Gradually, the child turned into a spoilt brat, often used to demand money from his dad faking stories like donation for orphans requested in schools, reference books and others. "No" was quite a rare word from his father's mouth.

As days kept rolling on , Ribu's demands also went on increasing with his growing age. Soon, his father undertook another part time job in order to keep pace with his son's demands. Ribu would never bother about his dad's painful burden, whenever he found him home, he tended to pretend studying attentively. He used to whistle away his days, roaming here and there with his idle friends at maiils, bunking school classes. but surprisingly , used to manage somehow to get promotion every year by adopting all unfair means.

Soon after his class ten board exams were over , his friends brainwashed him how to bamboozle his innocent dad.

One day after analysed planning, Ribu succeeded in convincing his father to enroll him in an engineering entrance coaching centre. Day and night, his father kept pondering over how to collect money for his son's enrollment. Suddenly , an idea flickered through his mind.He sold off his wife's remaining gold ornaments, handed over 1 lakh to Ribu anyhow. Being not so educated himself, he ensured to brighten his son's career and realise his wife's dream.

Here, Ribu, being a spendthrift, became more exuberated, extavagantly spent all money, started going to discos and five star hotels with his friends. Gradually, his boards and entrance exams started knocking at the door, he tried to make-believe his dad by being engrossed in books in his presence.

Manish used to often ask, "How is your preparation, beta?" Ribu would retort with same positive response.

Finally, his 12th boards arrived which he managed to appear anyhow with minimal readiness then consecutively, in April after his competitive exams arrived finally, his father wished him good luck.

Ribu stayed in a nearby park during the exam hours and normally came back home when the exams got finished. Time flies on its own wings when the results were out, Ribu feigned going to a cybercafe to check out his rank. Finding him late, his father could not resist his eagerness, went to the manager of that coaching centre, asked him, "Please tell the rank of my son Ribu Biswas." After checking his name, the manager replied - "Sorry Sir, there is no student with this name. Are you sure your son has enrolled here only?"

"How is it possible? Please check again." The manager did so again. "No, Sir, your son's name is nowhere. Maybe he has pulled the wool over your eyes, innocent father!" Being annoyed, he shouted "Shut up, you, idiot! I have an unflinching faith in my son. Maybe I have mistaken this centre, Ribu mush have enrolled in another centre."

Walking out from the building, he sipped a ginger-mixed tea in earthen cup, Manish tried to prevent suspicion lurking him.

Today was a doomsday for Ribu, as there remained no alternative to seal up the truth. He was at his wit's ends. Unable to decide for hours how to face Dad , finally he ended up leaving a letter on his study table. He left home quickly with a small luggage and some money, wondering how his dad would react to his letter.

Returing back home, his father was surprised to find that letter with bold heading 'Baba', couldn't waste a minute , started reading on the spot -

"Dear Baba,

Today you will be stunned to know the bitter truth which I am revealing here. Baba, I didn't enroll in any coaching centre, rather have misused your hard-earned money due to influence of my money-mongers friends. Frankly speaking, I didn't study even a little bit , therefore, didn't appear for the exams. I know 'Sorry' is a five letter magic word which changes one's mind but it will produce no charm to you as what I have done till today is really unpardonable. I feel like crying now profusely. Let bygones be bygones. From today onwards, I promise you I will try my best for a new beginning and fulfill my mother's wish."

His eyes, soon became moistened, with a constant gaze at the letter.

After spending couple of hours on railway station, Finally Ribu made up his mind to face his dad anyhow and bade goodbye to those friends forever as he would not want to be in contact with them and start a new life afresh. Walking back home, emotions of remorse and melancholy began oozing out from his heart. His mind was clogged with several thoughts. Reaching the front door, he found his father sitting on his study chair, tiptoed and went nearer to him, slowly hugged him tightly from the back, crying out all of a sudden - "Sorry Baba, please pardon me, I will never deceive you anymore. Please don't hold any grudge against me, please..."

No sooner had he spoken than his father's head leaned front over the table. Ribu heard a crackling noise, noticed that his dad's specs fell from his hands, broke into thousand pieces along with that letter lying on the floor.

It was already too late...