What did my son do ?

He was barely seven months old then. I came back from office and as soon as I entered the house, I embraced my wife. It was a moment of some sort of jubilation. I asked my wife what did my son do?, He had reached next stage of childhood. He stood up all by himself and started walking.

He being the only child from our marriage, he was given the best of things he craved. Probably he was pampered more than he asked for. He was admitted to a well known school. We understood he was just an average student. I remember, when he was in eighth, I was called by the head mistress. I went to his school and met her. The first look at her gave me an impression that she’s strict. I asked her , what did my son do? It was as if she was waiting for this question whole night and flooded me with her complaints. Some of which I listened and some which I did not bother to. I looked at my son’s innocent face and I felt, the lady could be exaggerating. I, somehow managed to assure her that thing’s would not be repeated. On our way back home, I explained him, how embarrassing it was for me and I guess he understood it.

He wanted to take up engineering as his professional stream of education. Since, the grade he acquired was just about an average, I had to make arrangements for a management seat. On his admission, I gave him a large dose of lecture. He sat quietly and listened to me like an obedient son or may be that’s what I felt. As years passed by, I realized that there has been substantial improvement in him. I could gauge through his results, his approach to any subject, his analyses, and his way of discussion. Some where down the line a feeling of pride crept in me. We discussed and debated on various subjects. One fine day in his absence, some people that included some men and women banged our door. I rushed to open the door. I was pushed back and enquired whereabouts of my son. I was taken aback, but asked them what did my son do? To which one of them replied that he was instrumental in helping his friend elope with their daughter. I informed them that he’s not around. I asked them to take seat. By some means I was able to convince them and I assured them that I would help them with the exact details as soon as he’s back. With this, they left. When he returned, I blasted him with happened in the earlier part of the day. He was cool and composed and explained that though this guy was his friend, he’s had nothing to do with the eloping. I believed him and sometime later I learnt things were settled between the families.

The day when his final year results were out, that was one of the happiest moment in my life. He acquired first class with distinction, something that I thought could be difficult for him. I was proud that he was my son. I felt great whenever I was with him. Soon he started applying for jobs. I too helped him with some data. Before leaving for interviews he used to make sure he took blessings form me and my wife. Sometimes I even help him with mock- interviews. One day as I returned home from my usual visit to the market, my wife informed me that I was called immediately to firm where my son and gone for an interview. I rushed there and their security guided me to the manager’s office. I asked him what did my son do? I was told that my son was in the forefront of people protesting their selection. While most of them were taken into police custody, only four of them were retained by their in-house security and their kins were informed. One look at my son, tears rolled out. I knew my son. He might’ve acted out of frustration. We went back home without muttering a word.

At last he did get a job and that too in an MNC. His perseverance had paid it’s dividends. We partied the day when he got the job. Both of us had vodka and my wife was simply enjoying every moment. We looked at each other, our eyes exchanged feeling of satisfaction and sense of achievement. From then on it was a thrill listening to the day to day affairs in his office. Once, his boss asked him to be ready for an official trip abroad. He was very excited and could not control his emotions. He started calling all his friends and cousins and informed them about his trip to Germany which was scheduled the following month. One day he was unusually late. A sense of worry and restlessness started spreading within the room. Looking at my wife, I controlled my anxiety Suddenly the phone rag. I leaped on to it. I was asked to come immediately to a hospital in Malad by an unknown voice. I smelt trouble but asked my wife to be at home and assured her there’s nothing wrong. I rushed to the hospital. As I reached close to it, I found it was fiercely crowded. I managed to get in somehow with all my senses immune except for my eyes. I checked up at the reception I was directed to a place. Finally I saw a body somewhat familiar, placed outside along with other bodies with a tag of my son’s name written on it, but in dreadful condition. I realised , my son was one of the victim of the bomb blast. I felt numb, looked up and asked, what did my son do? Only to know that this would be the last time I would be asking this question.