The excursion

by KParthasarathi 12 Feb 2009

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Though it was a Sunday Aravind was very busy in finalising the report to be submitted to the board the next day. He was busy in his study with the laptop since morning with strict instructions to his wife and children not to disturb him. Nevertheless, his little boy Sunil aged nine years came to the study and stood at the door. When Aravind did not take notice of the boy, Sunil tried to draw his attention through several ways .He dropped a book, closed the door with a thud and coughed intermittently. Aravind did not pay attention to all these interruptions. The boy finally went near his dad and touched his shoulder telling, “Daddy, I have an urgent request to make. Tomorrow is the last date for submission of the form for joining the excursion…” Even before he could complete the sentence Aravind shouted at the boy “Idiot, don’t you see I am very busy. I have no time to listen to you. Go to your mom and ask her whatever you want to. Don’t disturb me.” Sunil continued pleading, “Daddy, mom says I have to take your permission; here is the form on your table. You have to give your approval now itself, as I am required to give it to the school tomorrow morning for joining the excursion. All the other boys have submitted.” Aravind got annoyed and crumpled the form before throwing it to a corner. He bellowed at the top of his voice “Sunil, get out of this room before I throw you out!” The boy silently withdrew with tears in his eyes. It was late in the night by the time Aravind finalised the report. He was very exhausted and forgot about the form when he hit the bed at midnight with heavy eyes.

The next day early morning, he rushed to airport to catch his flight to Mumbai. He had totally forgotten about the form. The boy also had not come to him again in the morning hurt as he was at his father’s anger. It was the second day when most of the boys of Sunil’s class had left for excursion. Sunil along with a few other boys was returning home in an auto rickshaw when the accident occurred. A water tanker hit the auto from behind killing all the five children in it. Aravind rushed home on hearing the news. He could not console his grieving wife who was devastated by the tragedy. Sunil was born to them eight years after the first daughter was born. He was the apple of her eye. Aravind could not control his grief. The presence of the elders and relatives in the house never left them together alone. The frequent visits of police men and the teachers from school had all kept them away from the intensity of the blow.

It was a week after the incident Aravind went to the study to be alone. The sight of his sorrowing wife was too much to bear. It all looked like a bad dream. He sat on his chair closing his eyes even as he recollected the little boy touching his shoulder hesitantly before making the request. He suddenly recollected his wily interruptions, his pleading eyes and the hurt when he left the room. Aravind turned around and saw the crumpled paper still lying in the corner. He rushed towards it and lifting it, he flattened it to remove the creases. Tears were flowing from his eyes when he could not control his grief. He took his pen and signed feverishly in the form as a mad man before crying in inconsolable grief He cried aloud “Sunil, here is the form. I have signed it. You can join the excursion.” His wife who reached there hearing the commotion saw Aravind sobbing like a child.
Kpartha12@hotmail.com
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