Late confession

It was raining heavily when Akash entered his house. He has got bail after the court couldnt find substantial proof of his crime. He hated his house now that his mother is no longer alive and with his father he has hardly spoken since birth.

Akash slowly entered the drawing room and was utterly pained to see a big garland on the picture of his mother hanging on the wall. It was hard to believe that she still awaits his son's homecoming just as before but this time it is her picture and not the real person. Akash loved his mom too dearly and she was the only source of love. Never in his life has he got that love and care from anyone. He had been teased and taunted by all and specially by the girl Rupali. It enraged him to such extent that he had to commit the crime. The crime was done on one but it was as if he was answering everyone. He didnot feel any remorse for that because he felt it to be worth his sufferings. He wanted people to know that he too can be dangerous if not treated properly. His actions will now instil fear in people's heart and they would at least let him live in peace. And thus the crime was committed. He was clever enough to leave no evidences and thus prove himself innocent in front of the court. It was easy to cook up a story saying the duo were in love and whatever happened was on mutual consent. Akash's mother who was present on the trial knew the very truth and couldnt bear his son's actions. She committed suicide. Thats where Akash felt he has lost again.

Akash was thinking all when suddenly a sound from the other room disturbed his tranquillity. He slowly walked towards the room only to find his dad sitting by the window side and crying. He had never seen his father drop a single tear in all his life and now this old man was shedding tears and that too for whom? He didnt have a healthy relationship with his mother. Both hardly talked, hardly socialised together and hardly slept with each other. But somehow Akash's heart melt at the scene. After all he was his father.

Akash sat beside him and slowly asked "dad, are you ok?" His father looked towards him with moist eyes. He heaved a sigh and said " I wish beta I had been convicted then your mother would have been alive today. All these years we have been together, I never needed her presence and now when she is gone I am dying to get her back. I wish to bring her back at least for 1 day, for few hours. I have so much to tell her. I have to apologise for everything- for her, for you, for us" and he cried again.

Akash was bewildered. "What is he talking about? Is he mad or drunk?" His father continued "You know beta years ago when I met your mother in our village, she was one of the prettiest girl I have seen. I instantly fall for her. But she rejected me. I couldnt take that and couldnt bear her to be someone else's wife. I committed the same crime as you did today. Her parents quickly got us married in fear of shame. She gave birth to you. But we were never in talking terms. She had done all her duty and raised you with all her might. She shielded you from me, from anyone who tried to harm you. She wanted you to be different, to be successful in life. The one person who ever could make her smile and forget everything was you. She kept  no relations with her parents, sisters. She never believed in our marriage and I couldnt force her anymore. All these years I thought I have done the right thing as I have got the girl I wanted. How could she say no to me when I loved her so much? How could she be so audacious? But in reality I never got her. Her soul, her spirit was beyond my touch. And on the day she found out that you have repeated the history she couldnt take it anymore. The next morning I found her hanging. I recovered her diary where she had written that she has failed in life as a daughter, as a wife and now as a mother. You turned out to be me - the person whom she had hated all her life. You know beta today I want to tell her that it wasnt she, it was me who is the failure. I failed as a person, as a man, as a husband, as a father. I failed to give her respect, love . I failed to love you, teach you how to be a worthy man. I know beta what you did was out of anguish. And that was because of me. Before I die I wish to confess my crime to your mother and take the punishment whatever she grants. I want her back" and he kept crying inconsolably.

Akash was aghast. It was as if someone has pulled off the ground from underneath. Never even in his wildest dream could he imagine his mother to be such. He had seen her pain, her gloomy face but she never ever told him the reason.

The next morning Akash was found dead in his bedroom, sleeping peacefully clutching his mother's picture. On the suicide note it was written " Dad, I am going to meet mother and tell her about your apology. Dont worry she will forgive you and we can unite again in heaven. I dont want Rupali to be like mother. I am convicting myself guilty of the crime and thus leaving this earth for good."