PHOENIX - The Rebirth Of Hope

Chapter 8 : Unfulfilled Expectations

"Samarth", Father called from the next room.

Samarth went obediently, already dreading what was bound to come.

"Yes, papa"

"How was your day, Samarth?", Father asked.

Samarth's father, Ramesh Choudhary was a lean man with big hands. He had an almost triangular face with a pointed chin and eyes that appeared sore red from working continuously in the fields. His hairs reached his forehead from lack of cutting. His black beard was overgrown too. There was a small white scar under his left eye from the car accident. He had eyes like the color of dark chocolate. He had a rough voice which could become hard in certain situations.

Situations that mostly included Samarth.

"It was fine, papa.", Samarth replied simply.

Ramesh Choudhary looked at his son."Just fine? How are you doing in class? Is everything understandable?"

Samarth's heart thumped in his chest. His father had first tried a not-so-straight-forward way. But now he was asking straight-forwardly when he hadn't gotten the desired answer from Samarth.

"Well...um.......mostly."

"Mostly", Samarth's father repeated making him feel uncomfortable. Father looked down at the bed.

"Which subjects?". The question was precedented.

"Maths, science, English and civics."

Samarth's father looked up at him.

"I thought it wouldn't be more than one subject.", He said, then sighed. "Hindi, geography, and history?"

"I have no problem in them."

"Well then, you will be disappointed to know, there's no scope in them." Samarth's slammed his hand hard on the only table in the house.

Samarth shuddered. He felt useless. Tears pricked in the corner of his eyes. At that moment he realized how he missed the presence of his brother standing half- hiding behind the curtain. Samarth took a shaky breath and controlled his flow of emotions.

"What have you thought about your future? What do you wish to become?"

"I-I hav-haven't dec-decided yet."

Father massaged his eyes frustrated."Then what am I to do with you! Try more hard. You won't get many chances. I have given you enough. Tried to provide you with everything. God knows, there's talent in you. You aren't talentless. No one is." His voice raised an octave until he was yelling. "But you just don't want to find it. Don't make the same mistake I made. It might cost you your whole life and your family's. I keep repeating this every time. Why don't you get it in that thick brain of yours?!" He sighed. "I am tired of this."

Saying this, Samarth's father got up and walked into the kitchen.

By the time he was gone, Samarth was shuddering badly. His eyes were blurry and sobs wracked his body. He felt a deep pressure in his chest.

He went to bed, blew off the candle, and lied down. The whole house was silent.

The pressure in his chest was trying to break free. Samarth tried to compress it but couldn't and his control was broken. His sobs turned to full crying.

After 15-20 minutes had passed, Samarth felt warm, comforting hands embrace him.

His mother.

She didn't say anything. She didn't need to. She knew already what had taken place. She always knew.

Whatever the case, mothers could never leave their children in distress.

Samarth snuggled closer in that comforting embrace which soon lulled him into sleep.