Son Arguing with Father

Right from the second week of October I could not update this blog and this is going to be the first post of November.  Thank you for bearing this recess.  As told i was writing a novel as a part Of Nanowrimo challenge.  Here is my profile url.  Let me share with you the very first chapter of my novel for you people to read.  This is but a crude version, without any editing or grammar checking as generally those things are done at a later stage after completing the manuscript.  Now i have completed the novel.  So here i go.

“What do you think me, a stringed puppet or a programmed robot,” Akash fulminated at his father Vidya.

When Akash showed his anger, her mother Nirmala with whom Akash had no talking terms was listening from inside a room. Her mind was seething in anger and many answers and questions were popping up in her wicked mind.   

“What do you mean by that?” his father asked.

“Look, you’ve done enough to devastate my life thoroughly.  Please for God’s sake, stop here before I burst and do something unexpected and awkward.”

“I just could not know, what exactly you meant?”

“Look, father, it is Akash.  Had it been some other person, you might not be in a position to ask these silly questions.  My wretched present is for you people only.  Shit!”

Akash was not able to sit on a chair but his father was so composed that he was sitting in complacency and had no idea of the story weather that is going to sweep the earth below his feet.

“Akash, you’ve become so tough in the meanwhile,” his father said.

“What tough? You people have transformed me into a mound of stone; a stone without any feelings, a stone without any voice, a stone without any tears or sensation.  The ossification of this Akash is solely for you two people.” Akash for the first time clubbed his mother directly with his father.

“But why don’t you want to marry now?”

“Oh, stop this nonsense.  Can’t you allow this stone to remain attached to a particular piece of the earth? At least spare me to my fate.  Don’t play football with me.”

“But we have given words to the bride side,” his mother said entering the whirlpool of the stormy weather.

“What!! This was the last nail in my coffin.  I was mistaken that though you are my enemy no one, you were not supposed to do this to me.  But I rue now.  Without my knowledge, how come you have gone to that extent?  Amazing indeed.  You are so arbitrary that you didn’t think it suitable to ask me before advancing to that distance.  I was completely routed and bruised, that’s okay.  But now you are playing with the life of an innocent girl, who is no way related to you.  You have been dribbling me like a football as I am your son but that naïve girl… Oh you even didn’t spare her too.  You’re parents or licensed butcher, I could not make out,” Akash thundered and showed his loath towards his parents. 

His father had no idea that his son Akash can be so tough and brusque. “How come you can utter such derisive and brusque words with your parents?” asked his father.

“Derisive? Dictionaries of the world lack a befitting terms to describe parents like you,” Akash replied.

“Speak up your mind and unload yourself,” his father said.

“What will happen then, my lost time would not return.  Can you return my time? No, you cannot.  The greatest irony of my life is that I am not even allowed to speak frankly and guard my interest because I am a plaything in your hands,” Akash argued back.

“Hmm….”

“Take deep breath… the only friend of mine in loneliness.  You people just ensured my devastation thoroughly,” said he.

“Goodness me… I had no idea that in the meanwhile there happened a great transformation in you.  You are not the same son for whom I was proud of.  Now I think I had done some mistakes in your upbringing,” his father said.

“Upbringing… I can say that you had done no mistakes as it was for your appropriate upbringing I was silent till this time and witnessing my drowning.  When much water was flown from the Ganges, I had opened my mouth.  You have failed as a father.”

“Failed and me?” His father showed his amazement.

“Yes, a complete failure.  Look, the forty-fourth springs of my life is approaching.  You have spoiled my life.  Despite knowing my sapping from within, as a part of my duty towards you, I didn’t even utter a single word about my marriage, did I? Now, when marriage means straight suicide for me, all of a sudden you people remembered your son.  Bah! You’ve reduced me to a mocking object and have made my life miserable.  Still for what I have been living, don’t know.  Now, at least do me a favor and forget your parental responsibility.  Please, allow me to die a peaceful death,” Akash requested.

“You’ll not understand, Akash.”

“Oh shit! Look, don’t pressurize me to forget you.  At 43 you just cannot say like this to me.  I know everything.  My friend just want see a portrait of you people in the State Museum as you are great parents.  You doused my fire and when it is in tranquility, you are firing that again thereby ensuring another round of ravage on my life.”

Someone knocked at the door of Akash.  “Yike.  Who is there?” His dream was disrupted before coming to the logical conclusion.  He woke up rubbing his eyes.  When five minutes passed in the meanwhile, the door knocked again though gently. 

“Akash…Akash, you there, man?” a familiar voice reverberated.

“Ye…yes, coming,” Akash replied.

He opened the door.  “Oh, you…Raj… Come in, come in,” he said trying to maintain his usual smile.  Both entered inside.  He provided a chair to Raj.

“What happened…your cell phone is switched off?”

“Switched off…no way.” He picked up his phone which was beside his pillow.  “Look, it is switched on.  Signal is vibrant.”

“Oh, I see.  Might be a network glitch.”

Akash went inside and washed up his eyes and face.  “Raj, what do you want, tea or coffee?” he asked from the kitchen.

“Oh, come on Akash.  Thanks for asking.”

“No formality.  Just asking.  By the way, I need a coffee.  Coffee will do, I am sure?” Akash asked.

After sometimes, Akash returned with tray, with two cups of coffee.  Both shared coffee. 

“Akash, yesterday was your rest day.  Your eyes tell your dating with…” he smiled.

“Yes, for quite sometime, a McDowell No 1 bottle was lying unused.  Whenever I would go near or open my cupboard, it would ask me to embrace.  I just wanted to avoid for what reason, don’t know.  But finally last night’s weather just egged me to embrace. 

“Look, Akash I don’t want to advise you but don’t know why, my inner self wants to ask you some questions to you,” Raj said.

“Like…” paused Akash.

“For how long, will you lead this lackluster and wretched life?”

“Interestingly, I too ask the same question to my self but sadly I cannot get any answer.  Raj, it has become a poser that lacks an answer, I think.”

“Coffee was tasty and strong.  Thanks.  Your wife would feel happy finding a husband like you.  Or, a cook to say precisely.  Lol”

“Ha…ha.”

Both smiled and Akash said, “Come on, I’ll be relaxing, if such a day would come.  This is too much.  I have been cooking for the last eight years,” he said and became gloomy. “My parents have just reduced me to this position.  What shall I say?”

“I see.” 

By that time he had become so saddened that he would pick up any subject matter and would repeat the same thing that his parents have made his life miserable. Raj realized his feeling. 

“At this age what’s the use of marrying and destroying a life of an innocent girl.”

“What your parents are doing man… really inscrutable.  Aren’t they doing anything to fix marriages of your rest two sisters?”

“My father is neutral but my mother has got different design in her wicked mind.”

“Means…?

“Look, my father goes to various places searching for proposals for my sisters.  But my mothers as usual would show her objections on each and every proposal.  She is the real mover and shaker.  My innocent father just follows her meekly.”

“What is brewing in your mother’s mind?”

“She wants a proposal who would take fewer amounts as dowry.  She wants a proposal within Prayag Nagar. This she does to ensure that her daughters would be available on call, as she knows very well that I would not like to stay with her as we have no talking terms and I don’t like her. She knows very well that I am not going to be beside her after marriage nor my wife would stay with her to help.”

“This is ridiculous.  Everything to one’s interest just is not possible friend.  Marriages happen in India solely for compromises between the bride and groom’s party.  Unless there are such compromises, I don’t think one can fix one’s marriage.  When one belongs to the bride’s side then one will have to play second fiddle to the groom’s side.  Means one will have to compromise more,” Raj said.

“My father is such an uxorious that he would not do anything that my mother does not want.  She would not like to part with his hard earned saving, nor would like to take money from me.  What’s the use of my money when it is not used? Nothing.” 

“Your story is really interesting and tearful.”

“When everything would be unfolded what would happen to you God knows.”

“Okay, I will share that with you but on some other day.” Cell phone of Raj ranged.  “Lo, your wife is calling you,” Akash said smiling.

“Okay, I am coming,” Raj said to his wife over phone.    “Okay, Akash good night.”

“Good night man.”

Akash accompanied Raj till the end of the stair.  He returned and began preparing for his supper. 

Thank you friends.