Part 1 - "Father"

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I heard bells ringing, ever so quietly with my head hung in shame I followed my dad. It had been a disastrous result again, the very thought of a very harsh punishment was already making me sacred. I didn’t have the courage to look him in the eyes, as we entered the car I realized it was going to be a very long ride back home.

I quickly jumped to the backseat of the car escaping his infuriated eyes for a while. He said nothing, the soaring noise made by the engine made me realize the ride had finally begun. Making sure he wasn’t looking in my direction, I uncluttered the last of my nervous veins and took a quick glance at the report card. Math – 13/100 (Failed).

It was a disastrous start to my schooling life, as the son of a professor and bestowed with miraculous siblings I knew I wasn’t supposed to crash at the exams, not in the third grade at least. If Suddenly I realized the car was pulling up and finally it stopped. Slowly and reluctantly I got out of the car and marched my way back into the house.

“Stop right there” Dad’s authoritative stony voice scared me , before I could figure out a thing, Tears rolled down my eyes as his hand made contact with my cheek sending a pulse of acute pain across it. “Ma, Ma “I shouted and ran into the house hoping she would atleast save me from the wrath I was going though.

I hid carefully behind my mother’s legs, Dad came storming in and before my mother could raise a voice, he slapped me again. My cheeks were red and were burning with severe pain , I was crying loudly now , making sure my neighbors would know I was getting an extreme punishment from my dad , I continued howling because in the past this had rendered effective , Dad wouldn’t beat me knowing the ever so nosey neighbors would come running in no time.

“Look, how he creates a commotion, bloody shameless” he shouted.”I am sorry Pa” I managed to strike a note with my chords finally. Dad’s tone did not soften “You don’t utter a word, go in your room and do not step out till evening, you have become blatant, until you are taught a lesson or two, you won’t change”. The completion of lines were done by the final act , I was slapped for the third time and More words were exchanged between Pa and Ma as lamenting like a street dog I , went into my room and shut the door closed.

I don’t remember for how long I fought with my pillow before I slept, but all the events of the day came rushing on to me when I finally got up in the evening. I jumped out of the bed and went straight to the mirror, my cheeks were still burning red and something did hurt. I looked out the window to realize it was a very windy day, with nowhere to go and the door of my room still locked as a punishment , I decided to enjoy the wind all my myself from my room.

I looked around the room and found my math notebook lying in a corner; “I guess I won’t need this anymore” I said and laughed. My mission of wind expedition began, as I tore pages after pages trying to make an aero plane as my friend had done last week in school. But nothing was working; my planes were more interested in taking off and landing rather than flying in the air. As I tore yet another page, trying to create a replica of the Wright brothers wonder I felt a hand caressing the back of my forehead.

I looked up and found myself staring right into dad’s eyes. Not knowing what to do, I whispered “I am Sorry, Pa”.”What are to trying to make” Dad said, “looks like you got some serious work going down here”.

I gasped “ No, Nothing Pa , I am trying to fly an airplane , but these stupid things can’t fly , Something is wrong with the math notebook , I failed in the math exam and now these planes are also not flying ! “. Dad gave a heartily laugh “No Son, You have got the design wrong, the pages are perfectly fine, Let me try”

As I stood up, he pushed something into the pocket of my trousers, smiled at me and sat down. “Oh my god, Snickers” I exclaimed “Thank you pa, I guess failing in math is not that bad”. My dad chuckled and continued with the tremendous job of constructing a paper plane for his son while I sat and munched the chocolate gruelingly.

“Come, Fly this thing, It’s done”. I was skeptical “You sure pa, It looks the same as all those I made and they never flew “. “This one will, come let me help you” my dad replied as he lifted me by his arms and I found myself sitting right on the top of the window. I cried “ Pa , I will fall down , I don’t want to fly any plane” , My dad smiled at me and said “ If you ever fall I will be there to catch you , Now let’s fly this thing off”

As I looked up in the sky, I was amazed at the fact that the plane was indeed flying. “Pa, you’re a genius” I said and laughed. My dad stood there holding my waist and said nothing, I looked back and found him staring at our modern construction marvel, my own airplane.

“I am sorry, I guess I lost it today” He finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity, I felt something moistening my shoulders to find that dad was crying. I was bewildered, after a long silence he said “Son, this world is very fierce, Millions of people come and vanish into thin air without anyone even caring about their existence, you remember Sanju the rickshaw wallah? “ I nodded into agreement. “Did you ever think why did he become a rickshaw puller when people like me of the same age drive around in cars? only because he didn’t study , When he was at your age he never paid attention to his books or maybe he never got a chance” He continued “ I love you so much and you need to study , Study for a good future, You should study to make me and ma happy , Will you make us happy ?

I was shocked; I stood up the window, grabbed his arm by my little fingers and said “I will do anything to make sure you and ma are always happy”. My dad smiled and den lifted me above his head and laughed “Now, Come with me and eat some of your favorite Jalebi, Ma has made it especially for you “. “Failing in math is not at all bad Pa “He glanced up at me and we joined each other for a heartily laugh