The Father’s Ad-vice

Manthan Goswami
Aug 8, 2017 · 3 min read

There lived a family in the capital city of one state. The man of the house was a very influential person in the society and everybody seemed to know him.

‘Mummy, don’t wake me so early from tomorrow’ said his little son one afternoon. He studied in the eighth standard.

‘Why’ questioned the mother with surprise, ‘Have the school timings changed? It doesn’t happen that way right?’ She was cooking in the kitchen. The drawing room and the kitchen had no wall in between and one could easily communicate.

‘Obviously mummy’ spoke the little boy without looking at his mother. He was busy playing with his gun, ‘I want to sleep for some more time, and 6 am is too early. I can’t wake up’

‘What do you mean you cannot?’ asked the mother. She wasn’t angry on her child. None of the children at home were ever scolded, whatever mischief they might do, they were always supposed to be loved. ‘Beta, you should get up early. Don’t all the children of this city manage to wake up early and go to school?’

‘All the children are not sons of my father, right mummy?’ the boy spoke looking at the mother, his fingers were busy twirling the gun.

‘Oh my God. What’s wrong with you dear’ exclaimed the mother quickly, frowning at her son, ‘It should not matter who your father is. You should always obey the rules not just in your school but everywhere.’

The boy felt the emotion in his mother’s voice, he readily agreed to what his mother said. It’s always difficult to not to agree to your mother’s wish, especially when you are a young boy.

‘Yes mummy. You are correct; it’s my duty to obey the rules of the school.’ And then the boy picked up the newly bought remote control car lying under the table.

The father entered the lavish house; he was accompanied by three to four hefty men. Despite the affluence it was a traditional and an orthodox family. He looked at his son and playfully asked him how his day had gone by. He was a very busy person and was hardly available to look after the day to day affairs of his family. Yet, one thing was very peculiar about him- he loved to teach his children. Not all the subjects but Social Science.

‘Beta, come on get ready. I will freshen up and will be back in ten minutes, go and get the books ready. Come on quick’

The little boy was ready. After twenty minutes, the father came, sat down on the sofa, wore his spectacles and picked up the book.

‘So, we are to begin with chapter 6 right?’ The son nodded. ‘Rights and du…’ The Personal Secretary rushed to him and handed over the phone. The mother was still in the kitchen.

‘Sir the Police Commissioner of Patna is on the line. He is apologizing for his mistake’ spoke the secretary hurriedly. He then gave a sheepish smile to the young 13 year old boss, who was totally unaware about the things happening around him.

‘Tired of working in this city?’ began the father angrily without even saying hello. ‘I thought you will last a little longer in Patna. Why are you in such a hurry to get a transfer?’ he thundered without even listening to what the other person had to say. ‘Don’t get up early in the morning tomorrow for the office, start packing your bags. You will get your transfer order in a few hours’ Lalu Prasad Yadav disconnected the call.

‘How dare he say that?’ he continued angrily, ‘The commissioner says that my men should have obeyed his orders. They were my men, why would they obey a commissioner’s orders?’ saying this he turned to his son and said, ‘So my son, always remember whose son you are. Always do whatever your heart say and never ever be afraid of anybody’ Lalu spoke with a smiling face and repeated, ‘always remember whose son you are.’

The secretary then looked at the thirteen year old Tejaswi. Tejaswi smiled broadly, deeply impressed with his father persona. The mother watched all this from the kitchen. She had now understood that her Tejaswi, will never get up early in the morning for school or follow her advice to obey the rules.

On that day, the foundation stones were laid for the future Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. Simultaneously, the foundations of a rather well known saying collapsed,

‘The youth is the future of India. The youth shall change this country.’