Written on: Jan 15, 2017

“What’s up with you?” her mom asked, a mix of worry and anger in her voice.

Swati didn’t reply. She just shook her head, hoping it would calm her mother. It didn’t.

Since when does a five-year-old behave like an adult? thought Devaki, frustrated at not being able to read her daughter’s mind. Swati had been acting strangely since yesterday. She wasn’t eating properly and hadn’t spoken openly like she usually did.

Devaki didn’t press her, but she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Deven was locked in his room. It was 4 PM—usually the time he’d be outside playing with friends. But today was different. He lay on his bed, supposedly reading a textbook. On closer look, it was actually a comic book tucked behind the textbook.

Deven loved comic books. His parents supported the hobby and often gifted him new ones. On most days, he didn’t need to lock himself in to enjoy them. But today wasn’t most days.

Surendra parked his scooter in the garage and entered the house carrying a shopping bag. Saturday was his market day. As a bank clerk, weekdays were packed. Most Saturdays, after a half-day of work, he’d buy groceries.

Usually, his children—Swati and Deven—would come running to check what he’d brought. That moment, their eager eyes, always made his day.

But today was different.

“Devaki!” he called out.

Devaki was in the kitchen, lost in the puzzle of Swati’s silence. Hearing her name brought her back to the present. She rushed out and greeted Surendra with a tired smile.

“Where are the kids?” he asked.

“Deven is studying, and Swati… I don’t know where she is,” Devaki replied, distracted.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Surendra snapped. Frustration crept into his voice. “Swati! Deven! Where are you two?”

Surendra loved his kids deeply, but the stress from work and the disciplined mindset passed down from his father made him strict—sometimes too strict. Like the day before.

He had just come back from work and was watching TV when Deven showed him his test paper. It was his math test—graded—and the score was terrible.

In the next room, Devaki was helping Swati study. They both heard Surendra’s roar. Swati clung to her mother in fear.

“Is this what you’ve learned at school?” Surendra yelled.

Deven stood silently, guilty and ashamed. Devaki and Swati stood by the door connecting the hallway. Swati held Devaki’s hand tightly. Devaki didn’t intervene; she knew it wouldn’t help.

“Tell me why you did so poorly in your test?” Surendra demanded, bending down, his face red with anger.

Deven said nothing.

Slap!
Surendra struck him across the face.

Now, in the present, as Surendra recalled the scene, he justified it silently—Maybe it was necessary. Deven needs to learn.

“Good evening, Daddy,” Swati said softly.

“Good evening, dear,” Surendra replied, kneeling to meet her eyes. “Where were you?”

“I was studying in my room,” she answered.

“Isn’t it time for you to play?”

Swati said nothing.

“Good evening, Daddy,” Deven muttered as he entered the room.

“Good evening,” Surendra replied. “Come here.”

Deven walked slowly over.

“Do you know why I punished you yesterday?” Surendra asked, this time calmly.

Deven stayed quiet.

“I punished you because I want you to grow,” Surendra continued. “I don’t want you to be a bank clerk like me. You’ll have to work hard. Very hard.”

He looked him in the eyes. “Will you work hard, my son?”

Deven nodded.

“Good,” Surendra said, standing up. He passed by Swati, who was quietly watching, and pulled two comic books from the shopping bag. He handed them to Deven. “Only during your free time,” he added.

Deven’s face lit up with joy. For a moment, he forgot the sting of yesterday.

It felt like a perfect family moment—Deven, Surendra, and Devaki were all smiling.

But Swati was nowhere to be seen.

Surendra looked around. Just as he was about to call her, she walked in, holding a crumpled piece of paper. Without a word, she handed it to him.

He unfolded it.

It was her test paper: 4/15 (F).

Surendra looked down at her.

Swati looked up, her voice soft but clear:
“After you punish me today, can you get me chocolates tomorrow?”

Last modified on 2017-01-15