Chapter 5

Romil~

Why is Commissioner sir not giving a thought about what I said? Am I a fool? Do I know Nothing? Then what's it?. He helps me every single time, he trusts me every time then, why not now?

"Hello," I took out my phone from my uniform's pocket to see who called me. I learnt it was Commissioner sir.

"Romil."

"Yes Sir"

"Where are you son?"

"I am here, just standing outside our police station."

"Okay. Stay there. I am coming."

"No sir, I'll come.

"Don't do any formalities now, come on, I am coming."

"Okay sir," I hung up.

I have known commissioner sir for a decade now. I was of age twenty when I joined the police force. That time he had just begun his duty as the Commissioner. Being of that age, I had just completed my graduation and gave exams to join the police. By God's grace, I was selected. I was the youngest there. Being naive, everyone uses to assist me and help me to learn different tactics and strategies. Of course, before joining the police I had taken training for about 6 months but was newly joined there so they all cared for me. From the start, It was Commissioner sir who took care of me the most, while he berated the other officers even for petty things. He was always by my side, even if I made mistakes it meant nothing to him. At first, I thought that because I was new there he didn't bother Scolding me. But later on, about a year passed and still I kept making minor mistakes, not like the ones I used to make a year prior but they were mistakes anyway. He didn't scold me even once.

I finally decided to ask him the reason behind this. I went to his cabin and with a polite voice I asked him if he could let me inside. He had a cheerful smile on his face, no wonder why but seeing my face, his face usually used to get lightened up as if I was his charmer. He offered me water and told me to be seated.

I started the conversation by making him remember all the past from where I joined the police team. But I couldn't bolster the flow and he probably understood that maybe I wanted to talk to him about something else.

He told me to come straight to the point. I took a deep breath nodding my head. Seeing that my speaking step by step has gone in vain, I reluctantly agreed to ask him.

On telling the entire dilemma that stirred my chest, I felt a little light-hearted. On hearing my question about, why is he being partial towards me even though I made and made mistakes he started laughing loudly?

While laughing he said that this is what I was hesitating to ask him just a minute before. And my reply was a clear yes. His laugh slowly began to fade and now it was just a smile. I didn't utter a word, completely blank, just stared at him.

He began saying finally, after a deep silence of his laugh. He said he was forty years old when he lost his own twenty years son in a water accident. His son had drowned in the huge waterfall, he didn't know how to swim. I asked if he didn't know how to swim then why did he go near the waterfall? He never went by his own will. His friends took him forcefully. I was unaware of this. I was at the police station and my duty was that of a deputy commissioner. I got a phone call that there's one boy who had drowned in the waterfall.

I rushed to do my duty as I was unaware it was my own son.

Reaching the scene, I saw the dead body of my son and fell on the ground, surprised.

I cried, yelling this can't happen, he's my only son. The other officers tried to console me. I couldn't bear his bloody face in front of my eyes. His face was ruined with cuts and blood was pouring out of it. I asked his friends about how he came here. They said they bought him here. I slapped one of his friends in anger and shouted saying, don't you know he can't swim. One boy said yes that he knows.

Then how can you bring him here, I shouted, devastated. One of the boys uttered that they didn't know that this would happen and he's very sorry, but said that my son Kartik had only insisted them on bringing him here. He wants to play in the water and all.

I slapped another boy and said what kind of friends they are, couldn't they stop him. I was shattered. Broken into pieces. Years before I lost my wife. Five years ago I lost my parents and now this. I was alone in this world.

Later I learnt that, because of my scolding, Kartik went to the waterfall to enjoy, while I strictly prohibited him from going out with his friends for a picnic at a hill station. My reason for not sending him to the picnic was that I cared too much for him. After losing everything in life I didn't want to lose my boy. But there he was all gone, leaving me alone.

**

I was teary-eyed hearing sir's story. Sir stood up from his seat, all smiles, even if he just told me his sad truth. Keeping his hand on my shoulder, he looked towards me lovingly saying that he sees me as his lost, dead son. When he first saw me, I reminded him of his son. And he told me that, he scolded his son and saw what happened, no matter what I can't scold you and lose you. Seeing me, he had hoped, he dreamt of his son. I finally understood the exact reason for him giving me the bias treatment. I didn't object at all. That's why he calls me son sometimes, instead of calling me professionally by my name.

I also looked at him like a father more than a senior. Seeing him always trusting me in all ways and not trusting now was a bit of a crushing feeling in my chest. It was obvious for me to feel that way.

Snapping me away from my thoughts I looked either side, I saw commissioner sir coming my way. He had become old. And remembering the feeling that he will retire in a few years, broke my heart completely. I was standing at this position only because of him. He was by my side all the time. I'll never ever forget him.

"Sir," I threw a salute at him standing straight.

"Come sit in the van."

"Where are we going sir?," I asked, surprised.

"Oh ho! You ask so many questions. Come sit, I'll tell you in the van."

"Okay."

The van had just me and him along with a driver, within a fraction of second the van rode swiftly. My expression was confusing. I didn't know what was happening or where we were going.