A Strict Father - 1

The Background

Ravi had got very less marks in 11th standard final exam. He could barely pass in exam. His father is a senior manager of a famous pharmaceutical company in Bangalore. Ravi is 18 year old and stays there with his 12 yr old sister and mother named Lakshmi. Lakshmi is a teacher in a private school nearby. Lakshmi had booked the ticket for all three of them visiting their native place after the school exam results. Ravi was very nervous going to home today as he knew his parents would be very angry with him today. His Father 'Roshan' was a very strict father as well as he was very particular about his prestige as a senior manager in a big company. He never liked Ravi getting less marks in exam and was very strict with him on studies. But somehow Ravi didnt have any interest in Studies. He liked music more which his father hated. Somehow his mother was ok as being a teacher she understood that studies cannot be forced upon, but Roshan was not on same line. In spite of her best effort to make Roshan reasonable with his expectations to their child, He was not able to digest the fact. He always believed in being strict with boys in their teen age as his father was when he was young.

Ravi some entered the house and shown the results to his mother who became nervous looking at that. less because of bad result, more because after seeing result how Roshan would react to it. She just kept her calm and hugged her son as she knew that evening is going to be very tough. She didnt say anything and asked Ravi to freshen up and take lunch. Somehow all three of them spent their evening in anxiety waiting for Roshan to come.

It was by 7pm Roshan's car stopped outside. Ravi heart literally started pounding at speed of 120 out of anxiety. Ravi went to his room and took some book in hand to pretend that he was studying. Roshan entered the hall and called Ravi. Ravi came out. Roshan asked the result, Ravi moved his head down. Roshan became very grim and he asked 'Have yu failed?'. Ravi told 'No Papa'. then how much percent have you got. Ravi kept quite. Roshan lost his temper with thi silence and shouted, "I asked how much percent you got". Ravi shivering in fear told '45%'. Roshan face became red with anger and he just got up and slapped Ravi so hard that he fell on floor. Immediately Ravi mother came in between and requested Roshan to be calm. Roshan just pushed her side and caught ravi by hair and asked' What you want to do in your life. You have no shame in telling your marks. What people will think about me. Inspite of putting so much of effort by me, You are so dull headed that nothing goes into this.' Roshan kept on roaring, somehow controlled by his mother to not to hit him more. Ravi was crying profusely with couple of hard slaps which he got from his father. Suddenly Roshan jerked Ravi's head down and went to his room and closed it. Ravi mother made Ravi get up and took him to his room and gave him water.

After taking bath Roshan came out. Still grim, but not so angry though. He sat on Sofa and called Ravi, his mother and sister out. He told in a very stern sound, " I think its a high time that this boy need to be taught a lesson. He need to understand that if he does not study what kind of life is ahead of him. Somehow he is enjoying on the money of his father at the moment. But not anymore. Today onwards he will be servant of this house till his vacation ends. He is not going with his mother and sister to our native place. He will stay here and work as a servant in this house. He will earn the bread only if he works, otherwise he can go wherever he wants." Ravi started shivering out of fear. As his only hope was that he will go to his grandparents house and relax. But that hope dashed. Not only that he will be servant at home. He looked at his mother with tears in his eyes. His mother tried to speak, but Roshan just showed his hand to her to keep quiet. He told, " My decision is final. Nobody can change it". Looking at Lakshmi he told. "Tomorrow morning I will cancel Ravi's ticket and you two are going to Delhi, but not him. And also you are not coming back before May end. Thats my order. There will be no entry for you before 31st May. Did you understand?" Lakshmi Just nodded her head. Roshan just got up and told' I am not hungry today and will not eat anything'. and went to his room straight. Ravi ran and hugged his mother and started weeping profusely. He told,' Mama I want to come with you. I dont want to stay here.'. Lakshmi told," Dont worry I will talk to your father in morning. He is very angry at the moment. He will not listen anything. You take dinner and sleep. Everythign will be fine"

Ravi and his sister took dinner and went to bed. Lakshmi entered their bedroom. Roshan had slept by that time. She didnt disturb her husband and slept too with lots of turmoil in her mind.

Morning Lakshmi got up and saw that Roshan was not in bed, but was in laptop. As soon as she got up. Roshan tuned back and told, " I have cancelled your train tickets and booked air tickets for you both. You are leaving by today evening flight. I have booked return ticket with return journey on May 31st. Lakshmi was stunned. she was hoping that she would talk to her husband in the morning, but he had already booked everything online She got and speak to Roshan," Suniye ji. Its not good to be strict with teenage boy. He can do anything. Now time is not same as earlier. Now a days kids are very sensitive. Please dont be very strict with him" Roshan stared back at Lakshmi. He told," You dont try to teach me what i good for my kid. I know it better. Start packing as you need to leave by evening." Lakshmi tried to get angry and said," I am not going without Ravi." Roshan just got up and slapped her hard. She fell. Roshan Roared," You know me by our 19 yrs of marriage that nobody can change my decision. You are leaving today and thats all." Lakshmi started crying but Roshan didnt moved at all. He went to take bath. Lakshmi went in kitchen quietly to prepare breakfast for him.

Ravi got up at around 7.30am and went straight into Kitchen where his mother was cooking. He asked, " Did you talk to Papa?" Lakshmi turned towards him with tearful eyes and could not speak anything. Ravi's heart just sank. He knew his father very well. But soon he realised that more he cry, more his mother will be upset. He kept his calm and smiled towards his mother and told her," Dont worry Mama. You go. I will be here. I guess I deserve this." Lakshmi started crying by hugging his son. Somehow Ravi controlled him. Lakshmi told crying, " Your father has cancelled train tickets which were two days later. He has booked air tickets for me and rati. We are going today afternoon". Ravi was just stunned. He didnt expect trouble coming so fast. But he knew his mother will be more upset. So he smiled and told, " Dont worry Mama. You and rati go. I will try to win Papa's heart by my good behavior. I will study well during vacations so that he is happy. Dont worry. Now you start packing."

Ravi somehow with heavy heart helped his mother and sister to pack and by 2 PM his father came. He packed everything is car and started for airport. Roshan ordered Ravi to be at home as he will be back by 5 p, after dropping his mother and sister at airport. Ravi agreed and hugged his mother and sister. Said bye to then. Although his mother was crying, he controlled himself as he didnt want her to upset before leaving. They all sat in car and Ravi waived his hand to them. He kept looking at car until it disappeared. He entered back into house and just broke down. Started crying loudly. He cried for atleast half an hour and then didnt realise when he slept.