A Night Of Revelation For Him

“Nobody should get parents like you”, Rohan stormed out of his home after a heated argument with parents about buying a phone.

The time was 11 pm. He was hungry and as soon as he saw a tea stall, he stopped his bike and went near it. “Aunty, one tea.”

“Shall I add one chapati, beta”, asked Radha.

“I don't have enough money.”

“It’s alright. I won't go bankrupt by giving you on chapati”, smiled Radha. “Here is your tea.”

“Why is your tea stall still open, aunty?”

“This is more like my home. I had a small hut in my street. But I sold it and shifted here.”

“But why?”, asked Rohan. Her smile ceased and her face clouded.“It's alright, Aunty. If you don't want to..”

“Nothing like that. This was the place from which my son went away from his awful ill mother, me, as I couldn't provide anything for my 12-year-old to eat due to my poverty.”

“On that cursed day, I slapped him for eating mud due to his hunger. As I had gone to my neighbour’s house to beg for some food, he wrote a letter and ran away.”

“Now he sends me money every month but never came back. I am still waiting for him.”

The images of his fever-stricken mother getting ready for office, the ill father coming home with a smile along with his son's favourite biryani, flashed in front of him.

The realisation struck him hard. After paying her, he took his bike, with tears kissing his cheek!!