My Father---Revealing An Untold Reality (Part 02)

In 'Part 01', I told you all about the shape my life has taken due to the influence of my father. This story began with my childhood when I regarded my father as a hero just as we all do. I also talked about the first and last punishment that got from him when I bunked the school during my school days. Later on after growing up, when I joined a college and specially when my father got transferred to a far-off place, I again went astray. I got my name struck off from the college rolls. This is where the Part 01 ended and hereafter Part 02 commences:

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I knew I had to tell my father about my name being struck off from the college rolls. While all this turmoil was going on in my mind, one day suddenly I found father back at home without any prior intimation. He had come due to some important work and now it was high time for me to tell him that he was required to meet the college Principal. I was waiting for the right opportunity to break the news to him but I was deeply worried about how he would react to something that he didn't expect from me at that stage. It was about 8 PM when I got the opportunity to talk to him as then there was no one around otherwise earlier, people kept coming to meet him as he'd come after a gap of about two months. While he chatted with the visitors, I kept sitting quite close to him to observe how his mood was. It had become quite clear to me from the way he chatted that he was in a pleasant mood and maybe because he had returned home after quite some time.

So when I found him alone with no one around and when even my mother was busy cooking the food, I dared to start talking to him and quite cleverly I manipulated the entire talk towards the point I had to make. I still remember what had happened that night.
I had begun by saying, "Father !!! This time you came after a long gap. We miss you a lot here."

Father replied without looking at me with his eyes fixed on the ceiling fan as he might be quite tired after a tedious journey of 9 to 10 hours - "I also miss you all a lot son but nothing can be done. Job is job and it must be done."

Pausing for a while, I uttered, " Father !! Only day before yesterday, I dreamt of you at night. I saw myself as a toddler while you held me in your lap."

Moving his head towards me, he said, "Yea! Yea! I too miss the days of your childhood. Those were wonderful days and you were such a cute child at that time."

I knew it was the right time to channelize the talk towards my studies.

"I remember being taught by you father. I was quite poor in Maths but you made sure that I get to learn the basic concepts."
Having listened to these words, father breathed heavily and then asked, "How is the college going on?"

"It's fine dad but ...but I have got into a sort of trouble"-I had blurted out suddenly and even today I don't understand how I mustered up the courage to do so. Maybe it had something to do with the calm temperament of the father that night.
"What....trouble??? What trouble?", father had suddenly sat up while speaking these words.

"You needn't worry. It's not a big issue, just a minor problem. All you've got to do is to come with me to the college either tomorrow or day-after-tomorrow....whenever you have time."-I said without changing my position while trying hard to hide my anxiety.

"What do I have to do there? means what's the problem? Tell me clearly", father spoke softly but firmly.
It was too difficult for me to hide my fear but when I realised that he was looking at me and wanted an answer, I began to speak.
Though I had a few excuses in my mind but when I started to speak, nothing but truth came out of my mouth. I just couldn't make lame excuses, maybe because I held my father in great regard.

I still remember those few moments while a lot went through my mind. I thought of all the love, affection and trust he had in me. I just couldn't dare to break that. I know now that if then I had told a lie, my life would have gone upside down thereafter. That was one of the most crucial moments of my life. Had I gone ahead with my master-plan of blurting out an excuse, my life would have taken a different turn and I would surely have gone astray.

All of us go through such critical points in our lives at one time or other. It is such moments that impart direction to an aimless life. So to cut the long story short, I told the reality to him about my name being struck off due to my absent from the classes.

While I spoke whatever I had to tell him, father kept looking at me without showing any emotion. Even after I had done, he kept quiet for a long time. I too sat there with my eyes cast on the red mat of the floor.

After about two minutes, he began to speak-"I see. .... But the good thing is that you told the truth. Whatever the matter is, I appreciate your sincerity towards me."

"Father...I know it is an unforgivable mistake, but please don't get angry."-I spoke in broken voice.

"Yes..It's a mistake but you've accepted it. You didn't give lame excuses to justify your mistake"-father said calmly while he turned his gaze towards the door.

"Have you told your mother about it?"-he further asked.

I sat motionless and didn't say anything.

"OK. I understand. Do one thing. Go and sleep now. Tomorrow I'm coming with you."- he kept quiet after saying these words.

I knew he was deeply pained inside as I had broken his trust. That was the time when I felt genuinely guilty for the first time in my life. I was all the more sad because I had not lived up to his expectations. With quite an uneasy mind, I got up silently and went straight to my room. I couldn't sleep even for a while that night.

Next day, father came with me to the college. When we reached the Principal office, I was told that he was busy in a meeting for some time. So we had to wait outside his office. It was long before the peon came to us and told me that I could enter the Principal office.

I got the readmission but not before the Principal asked me the reason for my absence. I knew that my father was there and if I lied, he would be hurt. So I accepted that I didn't attend classes and gave it in writing that I'd never make such a mistake again.

I got the readmission and to my surprise, father didn't ask a single question about why I remained absent from the classes. Maybe he wanted me to learn from my mistakes. He gave me a chance to mend my ways at a time when I could have gone out of the track. He showed belief and trust in me and I got it into my head that I could do anything but could never think of breaking the trust he had in me.

To Be Continued: