At the age of fifteen, Fahim always believed that his father was the only strict man alive in the world.
Fahim's father always told him, “You must arrive home before 7 pm and do not roam around while on the way.” This made Fahim feel that his father was very controlling.
His father always pressured him for studying hard, “Focus on your studies. Otherwise, you won't get a good job.” Not only that his father had restricted him from making friends, “Who are these friends? You shouldn’t be with them, they are not good for you.”
For Fahim, every day felt like he was in jail.
On the other hand, Fahim saw his friends living as they wanted and having freedom for everything. His friends usually stayed outside till 12 am, as they have school in the morning and in the day coaching, they do not get enough time to play the whole day so they used to play cricket from 9pm to 12 am. But Fahim could not play with them because it was during the night time. Also, he was not allowed to stay outside after 7 pm.
Fahim always envied his friends.
When his birthday arrived, he felt it the most on that day.
His friends made a plan that they were all going out to an arcade, having fast food, and hanging out on the rooftop of the restaurant nearby.
Everyone already agreed to go.
But the moment Fahim told his father about it, his father’s answer was, "No."
Fahim being furious asked, "Why not?"
His father replied, “Because it’s far away from home, and you will be late”
“So what? It's my birthday. I have already promised my friends.”
His father replied “You have test exams in next week, and you have missed classes a few times. And you came home late five times this week already.”
Fahim, with anger, replied, “It’s my life! I can do what I want at least for one day!”
His father kept rejecting his approach.
Fahim felt anger stirring inside of him. He raised his voice at his father, and it was the first time he did something like that. Fahim shouted and said, “You never let me do anything! I HATE YOU!”
Fahim's mother came between and stopped Fahim “Why are you behaving like this with your father? lower your voice.”
But Fahim was too upset to realize his mistake.
Fahim father looked like he was in pain. After some time, Fahim's father said “You are not going anywhere until your test exam ends.”
That should have been the end of it, but Fahim was still not mature enough to understand his mistake, and he was being stubborn.
So Fahim planned to wait till his father went out to work at the pharmacy. His father left in a while at 6 pm, Fahim quietly changed clothes and secretly went out of the apartment. Fahim did something daring and felt proud. For the first time, he felt freedom. Everything went well as planned he was enjoying his time with his friends. Two hours later, his phone was ringing. It was a call from his father.
Fahim did not want to pick up the call as he was still mad at his father, so he ignored multiple calls from his father.
After an hour, another call came it was from Fahim's mother. And it was almost 10 pm.
He was in fear, he thought she was going to taunt him. He picked the call, "Yes, mother?”
But instead of anger, he heard her crying.
“Fahim... come at the hospital.”
Fahim's chest tightened he could already feel something was wrong.
Fahim's mother told him that his father had an accident and passed away after reaching the hospital. In the last moment, his father wanted to see him.
Fahim looked back at his phone he could see ten missed calls from his father.
When he reached the hospital, his mother told him everything. He realized his father was conscious for some time after the accident, and it was enough time to ask for his son. But Fahim did not pick up the call.
Many years passed, and Fahim grew up. He became a family man. But the weight of guilt followed him. Fahim had a son of his own. He realized how he has always misunderstood his father. It was his father's way of caring.
The weight of guilt never felt less. Fahim held his sleeping child to his chest and whispered, “I’m sorry, Father.”
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