The Will
He hadn’t seen the old man since last twenty years and is unaware whether he is alive or not. But Rakesh has to find out. He needs his signature on the will so that he can sell the vintage house in the village after the old man’s death.
On his journey back to his home town, he was just thinking about different tactics he would use so that his dad would sign this agreement. He would start with being a good child, obey his father’s command, and show some deep love and compassion toward him and not to forget the first step is to ask for forgiveness. Even after the drama if he doesn’t agree, he needs to switch to coercion.
He reached bus stand but there was no one to pick him up. “Ah! This is going to be tough” he concluded.
“Daddy, I am home.” He chirped happily masking all other emotions out. He was going to be a good son for once.
No response.
“Dad, Where are you? I came here to meet you. Are you still angry with your son? Dad, please forgive me. I miss you. I know what I did back then was wrong but I was in a situation. I can explain. Please give me a chance.”
Still, there came no response.
“Dad, I know you still love me. I love you too. I know it’s hard to forget but at least you can hear my side of story?” He was losing his composure and temper.
He heard a response before he went out of his character to being the real him.
“Son, I am in the balcony on first floor.”
“Finally he called me son. Here I go with one small win. I need to gain back his trust so that he would give me this house”, he thought.
“Dad how are you?” he greeted him with a hug that stiffed the old man but anyway he hugged his son back.
“I am good. How are you?” questioned his dad.
“I am fine. I am sorry for being away from you for so many years. I thought you would never forgive me. But my heart said that I had to try once before giving up. I am sorry for the past. Can you forgive me dad, please I beg you?”
“I can forgive you but I it would need some time to trust you back.”
“I know dad and I agree. I would do anything to gain back your trust.” He sniffed and gave another hug to dad. “Second win” he thought.
It has been already ten days since he came back. He hardly went out of the house. He wanted to give his hundred percent attentions to his dad.
However, he realized that not much people in the village remember him but he believes that Ritesh uncle would remember him. (Ritesh was his dad’s best friend and Rakesh practically grew in his house).
He had a feeling that his father had started to trust him again but there was still a long way to go. This waiting was taking a toll over his temper. And on top of it his dad commenting on how he should learned to manage his anger was just adding fuel to the wild fire.
That night…
“I can’t serve more to this old man’s needs. He has to sign the papers today. He has no option, either he sign it happily or I will force him.”
His dad was swinging on his chair when Rakesh entered the room. “Dad, I need your signature on some papers.” He asked politely.
“What papers are they?”
“It’s you will. That says after your death this house belongs to me.” He said casually.
“How can you dictate my will?” his dad questioned calmly.
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“Dad, I need this. I have huge debt to be repaid. I need to sell this house or else they will kill me.”
“Did you just said that the house belongs to you after my death?”
“Dad, don’ ask questions. Just sign it.” He slammed the paper on the table angrily.
“What if I don’t?” challenged his dad
“Don’t force me to use wrongs ways to get what I want?” he pulled his gun out and kept it beside the papers.
“Nice gun.” His father joked.
“Do you think this is a joke?” he said pointing towards the gun.
“As per this will, you will be the owner of this house after my death. And you need to sell this house immediately. So I presumed you have already planned my death like you did of your mother, years back.” Past memories just boiled his dad’s anger. “You ass, I never trusted you and I will never forgive you. You are a murderer, you killed my beloved wife, sabotage all my happiness. And now you came back to ask for forgiveness. Do you think I am a fool?”
“You like playing games dad.” He stated with a wicked smile. “Now I know where I get all my devil thoughts from.” He smile widened.
“Don’t, don’t you dare blame me for your wrong deeds. I just did this to teach you a lesson.”
“Oh! Dad, you are so naïve. In case if you die, I am anyway the legal owner of this property. So let’s not waste our time. I don’t want some more blood on my hands. Be a good dad and sign it,”
“I am not afraid of you. I will not sign this deed. That’s final.” He said stubbornly.
Rakesh fired gunshot in the air. “Next one would be right through your heart.”
“You think you would be safe if you kill me? You would be caught this time.” He warned.
“No dad I won’t be caught. I have a cover up story for that. I am the smart one here so shut your mouth and gets your hand moving.”
“Hi Rakesh (the son), I heard a gunshot from here. What happened?”
“Oh! Ritesh Uncle, it’s so good to see you. I think a vase brooked on the second floor. You know there are too many mites up there. You felt it was gunshot, your ears are definitely getting old.” He said giving a huge smile. He was happy that his uncle recognize him this would be help him in the court.
“Maybe you are right son, I am old. What brought you here after so many years?”
“I came to ask for forgiveness. I know I shouldn’t have left dad alone to grieve.” He said faking some tears along with it.
“That’s very considerate of you. But I wish you were here two month ago.” He said sadly.
“Why is that uncle?” he questioned.
“You don’t know?” he gasped talking to himself.
“What I don’t know uncle?”
“Your dad died two month ago. However, everyone thought that your mother’s death would turn your dad mad and he would suicide. But he switched to teaching and that was like a rebirth for him. He was full of energy. Maybe overexertion cost him his life. He had a heart attack. Yet, your father was so generous that he gave away this home to the government to build a school. You should come back during its inauguration. We all are so proud of him” Ritesh’s eyes were full of tears remembering his long lost friend.
“That old feisty piece of shit gave away my last hope. But if he was death who was the one I was talking past ten days?” he was bewailed.
He turned back to see where his father was standing previously, but there was no one.
