A Boy and An Old Man

Inspired by Sir Don Ritchie's life:

"Suicide is not the solution to any problem. When the thought of suicide is avoided and overcome, life can be led by solving problems, finding happiness, and inner peace. The path to that peaceful and happy life requires you to hold onto hope and confidence. Keeping trying is what matters more than accepting defeat; believe in yourself."

In the evening, Karto keeps cleaning his car, hearing his wife calling him more than twice. Karto gets refreshed, goes to the dining hall, and sees his wife eating very little before getting up. 

"Carlie, stop," says Karto, who asks her to take a little more food as her body looks weak. Carlie refuses, and Karto says, "Let me get some fruits for you."

Carlie asks him to take her somewhere the next day. Karto says, "Carlie, get ready tomorrow morning." Karto and Carlie take a taxi as Carlie asked him. Karto instructs the taxi driver on the route to the place, and Carlie is puzzled as she cannot guess the spot.

Finally, the car stops in front of a house. Karto knocks the doorbell, and an elderly woman in her 80s answers through speakers, "Please wait." A young woman opens the door, welcomes them, and asks them to get seated. The young lady introduces herself as Pam and picks up the tea cups and snacks from the small table in front of them.

The old woman walks over, and Karto gets up, picks a candle from his pocket, and goes to a room. Carlie asks the old woman if she could join Karto. The woman says, "Definitely, child." Carlie sees Karto lighting a candle in front of the photo of an old man in a candle stand and sits with his eyes closed for a few minutes.

Karto and Carlie return to their seats, consume the tea offered by the family, and Karto thanks them again. He picks up the diary from the table and writes a note. Carlie gets puzzled and asks Karto about this place and who this family is.

Karto takes her to the spot near the house, points his hands towards a broken bridge, and explains that the family saved him from contemplating suicide. The steel fences between the river and the ground they stand on are high and multi-layered.

Karto asks Carlie to walk with him and asks her to listen to what he is going to say with patience. They both sit down on a bench.

"You know me, Carlie, from last year, but when I was 15, I was a very lonely child, had very few friends, two or three.

During that time, I met a girl named Kair, and we developed a liking for each other. It was her birthday, and she called me to her house when no one was around. I got her gifts, and when we both kissed, suddenly a few other guys appeared before us.

They told us they had pictures of me misbehaving with the girl and asked me to get them the details that his father has for the case against them. The girl Kair smiled at me.

I knew I was trapped; no one is going to believe me. I misunderstood love entirely. I could not think of the thought of facing my parents, friends, society, and cried. So I did not go home; I walked, and I walked and could not attempt suicide. But I thought that was the best thing.

I came to this spot, and my legs shivered, and my body got cold; a shiver passed down my spine, and I cried. But when I walked a few steps towards the river, a famous suicide spot here, a voice called, 'Hey boy there.'

I stopped and wiped my tears. The old man came close to me, put one of his hands on my shoulders, and asked me to walk across to the bench on the other side of the road. I sat with him, and the old man started comforting me.

'Listen here, boy, I know you have the thought of suicide in you. Tell me, why would you want to take your own life?' I explained everything, and the old man asked me, 'Do you accept that some mistakes were on your part too?' I replied yes; I should not have gone to her house in the name of love.

The old man explained to me, 'Telling the truth and facing reality is best than telling more lies and performing any acts to escape from it.' The old man comforted me and walked with me home and left me.

I told all things to my parents; they got shocked, they scolded, and even beat me. It took time for everyone and everything to come back to normal. That old man was the one whom I met regularly, and he advised me to help anyone who faces any problems and could not talk about it and to let myself voluntarily go to them and talk.

It was his house; we went there today."

Karto did not look at Carlie while narrating, and when he turned, Carlie gave him a slap and hugged him. The diary Karto signed at the old man's house had a note, "Thank you, Ritchie. I have helped 3 people this year and gave them the confidence to face the issues and lead a life."