Arunesh had been wandering aimlessly since early morning. His feet were tired, his stomach was empty, and his heart was burdened with regret. He spent hours lying in a public garden, hoping to find some peace, but his restless mind gave him no comfort. Later, he wandered through crowded marketplaces, watching people busily go about their lives. Yet the day seemed unbearably long. For the last four or five days, every passing hour had felt like a mountain he had to climb.
As he sat alone, memories of home filled his mind. Back then, he had never realized how quickly time passed. His mornings were filled with laughter, his afternoons with games, and his evenings with his parents and siblings. He often played with his younger brother, sometimes quarreling with him only to make peace moments later. He enjoyed spending time with friends, reading books, and roaming around the neighborhood. Life had been carefree. He had no worries, no responsibilities, and no fear of the future.
Now everything had changed.
He cursed himself for the foolish decision of running away from home. Only a few rupees remained in his pocket, and he knew they would not last much longer. Hunger troubled him, yet he had no desire to eat. Ironically, at home he would impatiently call out every morning, asking his mother for tea and breakfast. Today, he had not eaten anything since dawn.
He wondered if he should look for work. But what kind of work could he possibly find? He had failed his high school examination and possessed no skills. Everywhere he looked, he saw boys of his own age wearing torn clothes, washing dishes in tea stalls or working as laborers. For the first time, he understood why his father had always insisted that he study seriously and secure good marks.
At that moment, guilt crept into his heart. He realized that every scolding from his father had been meant for his own good. Yet another voice inside him rebelled. He thought bitterly that there was a limit to how much one could tolerate constant lectures.
His father always seemed to be after him. The memory of the day that changed everything returned vividly.
He had been leaving the house with a friend when his father angrily stopped him.
"Your examinations are just around the corner, and all you care about is wandering around! If you fail this time, you'll understand. From today onward, you won't be allowed to roam outside."
Several neighbors and his father's friends had been standing nearby. Arunesh felt deeply humiliated. Instead of accepting his mistake, his pride took over. The more his father scolded him, the more stubborn he became. His friends encouraged him to skip studies and spend time having fun. Gradually, his interest in books disappeared.
Then came the day of the examination results.
His heart pounded as he searched the result sheet. Once... twice... again and again... but his name was nowhere to be found.
He had failed.
His world collapsed in an instant.
He could not imagine facing his family. Certain that his father would never forgive him, he borrowed fifty rupees from a couple of friends, added the little money he already had, and hurried to the railway station. Without thinking about the consequences, he bought a ticket and boarded the first train he found. After getting down at a nearby town, he began wandering from place to place, unable to decide where to go.
After two or three days, when his initial fear began to fade, the weight of his mistake became painfully clear. Returning home now seemed even more difficult. He imagined the anxiety his parents must be suffering. They would be searching everywhere, worrying day and night.
Still, shame prevented him from going back.
As evening approached, he searched for a cool place to rest and noticed a public library. Thinking it would provide shelter from the heat and relief from his worries, he quietly entered.
Several newspapers lay on a table. Absentmindedly flipping through them, his eyes suddenly stopped at the advertisement section.
There, staring back at him, was his own photograph.
His hands trembled as he read the notice.
"Sixteen-year-old boy, fair complexion, wearing a blue shirt and trousers, missing since 20 June 1988. Anyone who helps bring him home will be reimbursed for travel expenses and rewarded."
Below the advertisement was a message from his father:
"Dear Arunesh,
Your mother, father, brother, and sister are extremely worried about you. Please come home.
Your Father."
His heart raced.
He looked around nervously, afraid someone might recognize him. His eyes filled with tears. His father's words echoed in his mind.
"So... Father has already forgiven me. What a fool I have been."
Yet doubt lingered. Would his father truly forgive him? Fear still held him captive. Unable to stay in the library any longer, he quietly slipped outside.
Lost in thought, he eventually stopped beneath a large banyan tree. An elderly astrologer sat nearby with his mat spread before him.
Almost without thinking, Arunesh stretched out his hand.
The old man carefully observed his worried face, untidy clothes, and anxious expression. He did not need astrology to understand the boy's condition.
He simply said,
"You are walking on the wrong path. Change your direction, and only then will you find happiness."
Arunesh was astonished. He believed the astrologer had read his entire life from the lines on his palm.
He hesitantly asked,
"Will my father still be angry with me?"
The old man smiled kindly.
"Go to your father. Ask for forgiveness and take the right step. Your parents will find peace, and you will become someone they can be proud of."
Those simple words pierced Arunesh's heart. Overwhelmed, he placed a five-rupee note into the old man's hand.
The astrologer blessed him.
"May God guide you, my son."
Without wasting another moment, Arunesh hurried back to the railway station. He had just enough money left to buy a ticket home. As the train began moving, exhaustion finally overtook him. Leaning against the window, tears rolled down his cheeks.
Every scene replayed before his eyes—his father's warnings, his mother's love, his siblings' laughter, his own arrogance, his failure, and the fear that had driven him away.
He realized the greatest mistake of his life had not been failing an examination. It had been allowing his pride to separate him from the people who loved him most.
Looking out of the moving train, he silently prayed,
"Oh God, what a terrible mistake I have made. I have destroyed my own future with my stubbornness. Please let my parents forgive me this one last time. I promise I will never disobey them again. I will study sincerely, work hard, and fulfill their dreams."
For the first time in many days, hope replaced fear.
The train no longer felt like a vehicle carrying a runaway boy. It felt like a bridge leading him back to love, forgiveness, and a new beginning.
Arunesh finally understood that parents may scold their children, but their scolding is rooted in love and concern. Running away from problems only creates greater suffering, while accepting one's mistakes and seeking forgiveness opens the door to growth and happiness.
Moral: True courage lies not in escaping from difficulties, but in accepting our mistakes, seeking forgiveness, and choosing the right path. Parents may be strict, but their guidance is born from love and a desire to secure their children's future.
Post a Comment