The Mask Boy

I was year 2022, Dushhera Season. Everyone was happy & students were specially happy as schools were closed in festive season. I went to my friend Rakesh's house to celebrate Dushhera at his hometown, out of my state. His family greeted me warmly & me & my wife stayed at their home for 15 days, away from hectic office life, just plane enjoyment.

1 day before Dushhera, his 4th standard son, Raju, said to him, "Dad, tomorrow is Dushhera. I need a face mask of Lord Hanuman & a gada too." Rakesh smiled and said, "Ok fine, you will get it." Ramesh immediately purchased a gada & a face mask of Hanuman Ji for his son. 

Next day Raju put-on the face mask of Hanuman Ji & with gada in his hands,moved towards market. The market was crowded. Raju was having pocket money to purchase whatever he wanted. He was so obsessed with gada & face mask the he did not took off the mask from his face even for once. But it's been 3 hours he was out of his home. His parents were worried now. Me & Rakesh started searching for Raju in the city. Firstly we filed a missing complaint, then taking car of Ramesh to went to all the friends of Raju, but he was not there. We called his school teacher, tution teacher & his close friends but to no use. We returned back to our home disappointed. My wife & Raju's mom were crying. Raju was just a 4th standard child. 

Ramesh was an intelligent mam. Even before we started searching for Raju, when we first realised that Raju is missing, the first thing Ramesh did was giving the news to the police authorities. The alert police Authority immediately crafted the drawing of Raju & circulated it everywhere in the town with Ramesh's contact number over it. 2 hours after the circulation, one sweet seller named Bholu called on my number & said, "Sir I have found the boy you are looking for. I am a sweet seller. Your son is at my Shop. I am giving you the address. Please come."

Hearing this good news me, my wife & Raju's parents immediately moved towards the sweet seller's shop. The kind sweet seller has given 2 rasgulla to Raju & sitting on the table he was enjoying. Raju's mother & my wife rushed towards him & hugged him tight. Raju's mother was crying, "Where were you my son?" Raju replied, "I was right here. But why dad & uncle uncle were running here & there." Raju's mom said, "Did you see them running.? Why didn't you tell them? They were searching for you only." Raju said, "But why they were searching for me?" Raju's mother said," Ok Son, I know you saw them but since you were wearing this mask, they did not recognise you." Raju said, "It's so beautiful mask. How can anyone not recognise it? Dad himself purchased this for me. How can he forget my mask? "

Raju's mom went emotional seeing the innocence of her son. She said, "Ok son we are sorry for not recognising the mask." Raju said, "It's ok mom but next time if same situation repeats & you don't recognise my mask, I will never be able to go back home. You see, I don't even remember the road to our home." Listening to Raju, his mom hugged him tight & started crying bitterly, "No my son. By the grace of Lord Hanuman, you are safe. Nothing wrong happened."Rakesh & his friend's family were making his wife calm down. All of them felt relaxed after finding Raju safe.

From that day onwards, Raju's parents never left him alone. It was really a sad incident. But since everything was fine now, still I was feeling guilty of myself. Kids are innocent. It was my responsibility to take care of Raju. We should have kept the main door locked from inside if we were busy with our tasks. Children are naughty by behaviour. Since the door was open, that is the reason Raju went out on his own without informing anyone.

We often say, "Prevention is better than cure". But the question is, do we really follow this rule?