Adolscence

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By csfire
It was morning and the sun’s rays slowly crept up on his bed through the window. The sun was bright, his eyelids could not block its heavenly light; which at the point our character is in and when the sleep is cut short, it seems a lot more hellish. And so, our character sighed and slowly got up. He went to the bathroom basin and after turning the tap open, took some water in his cupped hands and splashed it on his face. He looked in the mirror and a sixteen and nearly three quarters old boy named Sahil looked back. He had lengthened his hair, which in the opinion of a sweet girl in his class looked good on him! As they affect all at this age, so had the hormones affected Sahil. A few pimples could be seen on his light brown face. He glanced at the wall clock of the room and it showed seven o’clock and seventeen minutes. He had an hour to get ready and reach school.

Now, as is the side-effect of being a teen, Sahil had low patience and a short temper, which will be seen as the story progresses. To get ready for school on time is also a problem for many a student. After finishing the necessary morning chores (brushing, going to the loo, bathing and dressing in the school uniform), he arrived on the dining table for breakfast. He checked again his wristwatch and found he had only five minutes to reach his school, a time challenge he knew he would lose. After all, it takes nearly twenty minutes on his cycle. His dad was already sitting on the table; he of course had his office to reach to. Hurriedly, he said to his dad, “Dad I only have five minutes left, and I have to reach on time today. I can’t afford to miss the football practice at eight thirty. I’ll be kicked out of the team!”

“Well, it’s the third time this week that you’re asking me to drop you at school. If I continue to do this you’ll get used to it.”

Sahil became worried, “Dad please! Being in the team means a lot to me.”

His dad sighed, “Son, you need to realize that when you have responsibilities, you have to work to shoulder them. Unfortunately, you have not learnt it yet. If being in this team means a lot to you, then you should have woken up early.”

“I promise I will next time!! Now, please! I only have three minutes left! I might just reach on time if you drop me in your bike.”

“Well, you promised me the last two times as well. Nothing has come of it. Losing your place in the team might just teach you the lesson required. I am not going to drop you to school. You’ll have to go on your own and I think you should hurry.” His dad said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Sahil was shaking his head exasperatedly, why didn’t his dad understand how important this is?! In anger he said, “What is your problem? You never understand me!”
And he grabbed his bag and left. He jumped three steps at a time on his way to his cycle. On his cycle, he glanced at his watch at felt gloom spread in him. It was already eight thirty and he was still at home. With fury and hopelessness, he left for school. He reached twenty minutes late and just as he feared, the coach told him he was off the team and as a punishment for coming late he had to run five rounds of the football pitch. His mood was off all day. He cursed his dad all day too. After school, he went home and after changing, immediately went to his best mate’s home. With his friend, he went to his terrace and there he told Nayan, his friend, all the day’s misfortunes.

Nayan studies in the same school and same standard as Sahil but is in the science stream, whereas Sahil is in commerce.

“Some day you had.” Nayan said raising his eyebrows.

“Man, the way he behaves sometimes. It’s like he just doesn’t get me. I’m his son! He should understand how I feel!”

Nayan shrugged. There was a long pause. Sahil was now staring at the blinking lights of a tower as if he was looking at something beyond.

“Like the cold leaves after a shiver, I feel my love for my dad leave too…” he said.

Nayan sighed. He said, “You know, many a times it’s the other way around and us not understanding them rather than them us. And I guess your dad’s right; you do need to learn how to shoulder your responsibilities.”

Still gazing distantly, Sahil replied, “Maybe.”

“I mean… you dad was doing it for your own good. He cares for you.” And he continued with a smile, “And if you haven’t realized, you only have one dad. Go home and give him a hug. Just see how things fall into place.”

“All right” Sahil agreed chuckling.

So, after he reached home, he went to his dad’s room and found him back from office. Without saying anything, he just gave him a very long hug. His dad, though surprised at first slowly gave him a hug too and smiled… his son was now finally growing up…

And to use his metaphor, the cold that leaves after a shiver, always returns soon.
It is these kinds of happenings that linger on as memories and become the best moments of our life, especially those which happen in childhood.

As for Sahil, he worked hard to wake up on time and reached his school on time for a month. His coach impressed by him, took him back in the team. And life continues…

GÜA®Ðiån™
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