Lost and found

Govindu was born seven years after Vanaja’s marriage after intense prayers at all famous temples. Venkatesan, her husband, was a trader in hardware and paints. They showered all affection and pampered the boy meeting every wish of his. He was put in good school with all fanfare and was studying in class 7 The boy aged 14 was playful and had no interest in studies. He played truant from classes frequently and was at the bottom of his class and the report card indicated that he was absent for almost forty percent of the working days. Govindu did not show the report card that mentioned about his poor presence and performance to his parents

The alert teacher sent word with a duplicate card through another boy. Venkatesan had high ambitions and set much store by the boy. He was furious when he saw the progress report. More than the poor marks with all of them in single digits, he was worried about the boy’s truancy. He was afraid he may fall into bad company and develop undesirable habits. He hit the boy with a cane repeatedly despite his wife’s screams to stop it. He told her firmly before leaving for the shop not to give the boy any food for the day or allow him to go to play. Vanaja tried to pacify the boy and applied fomentation on the injury. He shouted at her and locked the door of his room.

In the evening around five, when she went to knock the door, she found it open with no trace of Govindu. She searched in vain and called her husband over phone. Despite all efforts the boy could not be traced. Police also was not able to find him. Days passed by with the mother always crying and the father regretting his rash behaviour. The boy had just disappeared. Months and years flew by. Venkatesan lost his interest in his business. They commenced again their pilgrimage to all temples for god’s grace to get back their boy.

They were travelling in the three tier compartment to Mathura and Brindavan in the North. The train had halted at Nagpur station. Vanaja was looking outside the window at the station that was heavily crowded with hawkers shouting to sell their wares. Chaiwallahs and orange sellers kept coming and asking her. She always nursed the fond hope that one day she can see Govindu. But luck was not on her side. The train started moving slowly. She started crying and Venkatesan patted her telling others are watching her.

When she was going towards toilet she saw at the entrance to the compartment, a boy of Govindu’s age looking away from the corridor polishing someone’s shoe He had long hair that almost covered his face and was in very dirty dress. There was also an equally dirty shawl wrapped over him covering the head. It was cold outside the train. As her attention was on the boy, she did not notice a server from the canteen bringing tomato soup. He collided against her and she fell down on the boy. The boy was stunned but recovered soon and lent a helping hand to lift Vanaja.

The moment she saw the boy, she let out a shriek and wailed” Govindu, Govindu, my dear boy, what is this? I am seeing you in such a pathetic state”

Holding the boy in her arms she implored him “Govindu, please come home. I miss you so much. We swear upon god that we will never scold or beat you. If you are not willing to study, it is fine. You may sit with appa and learn the trade. My darling Govindu, please call me amma once.” The boy gave her a surprised look.

 Venkatesan on hearing the commotion ran towards her. He saw the boy and asked him his name in Tamil. When he blinked, he asked him in Hindi his name.

“Ï am Tiwari Saab,” he replied in Hindi. Venkatesan was also struck by the striking similarity with his son and knew Govindu had a big mole on his lobe of the right ear. As the head was covered with shawl, Venkatesan pulled the shawl and the young boy fell down hurting his head. When he started wailing, the co-passengers remonstrated with Venkatesan not to touch the boy or be rough. The boy wailed in fluent Hindi complaining about Venkatesan’s unprovoked attack. Highly embarrassed, he left the boy alone.

Venkatesan told Vanaja,"Look, the boy seems a North Indian  speaking Hindi, not our Govindu," and gently led her towards their seats. Deeply shocked and disappointed, she started crying inconsolably. In a short while, when she looked around, she saw all the co passengers looking at her with sympathy and some even with misty eyes.
Something must have snapped in her when she suddenly  broke into hysterical laughter much to the shock of Venkatesan amid the concerned looks of the other passengers. Venkatesan realized he had now a new and different problem to pray for to god for His grace.

As the train started moving fast, the boy holding the polishing kit on his shoulder on the platform, stood watching the fast receding compartment mumbling to himself  and wiping his eyes, “Sorry Amma, I could feel the warmth of your love and affection for me when you held me for a brief moment. I have now become a wastrel and fallen deep into very bad company involved in all vices. I have become unworthy of your love and can never fit in as your son to bask in your affection. I will try sincerely to wriggle safely out of this dangerous ring to mend my ways and return to you as your good son. Kindly forgive me, I love you."