Page 17 - My FlipBook

Payal went and put her arm around him. She felt so sad. How could she
have ever been scared of this man she wondered. "You don't have to go on.
It's okay." She said patting him gently. "Would you like some more tea?"
She got him some tea from the same flask he had poured himself a cup
earlier.

"Thank you." He said looking up at Payal and drank a few sips of tea. The
warm liquid seemed to steady him.

"You see he went chasing after the ball."

"Really uncle. You don't have to go on if it makes you so sad." Mahesh said
uncomfortable with the situation.

"Please let me. I need to know what you think of me when you have heard
the full story. It was my fault. I should never have forced him to play. He
suddenly ran out of the back yard trying to get to the ball which was on the
yard across the road. He did not even see the car that ran him over. He was
dead in an instant. It was so quick, I couldn't even hold his hand, while it
happened. He was only 8 years old. Such a lovable little boy. If only I never
made him play soccer. If only..." Uh-Oh was crying now but no one stopped
him.

Nidhi and Suresh squeezed his hands, but no one spoke. They waited for
him to cry it out.

Finally Nidhi declared "I have heard the full story now, and I don't think it
was your fault."

The other kids nodded in agreement.

Uh-Oh looked up at them hopefully. "You really think so? You think my
grand son would have said the same?"

"I do." Suresh said. "All our parents badger us to play outside and what's
more, we love it. Your grandson seemed to have been thrilled to be playing
outside. Was it an unusual experience for him?"

"He was shy and rarely played with other kids. He was too involved in
Lego and a few other indoor games, and had little time for outdoor

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