I am Sorry

“I am sorry ”

“You got only 5 out of 20,” Chani’s mother was shouting.
“Mummy, I… I knew the answers but couldn’t write them,” Chani gave his excuse.
“He’ll manage, you don’t need to worry,” the father tried to save the child from his angry mother. But he was late, as the victim had already been attacked.
“Go to your room,” his mother ordered.

Chani went into his room, lay on the bed, and began sobbing. He was thinking, “If I die before the next morning, mummy would be disappointed and realize her mistakes.” Another thought struck his growing mind: “Maybe I should run away tonight and go somewhere no one can find me. I could work in a factory and earn lots of money. I’d also take tuition from my English teacher, and then she’d give me good marks even if I don’t write a word in the exam. But since I got low marks, I won’t get a job anyway.”

Chani looked out of the window. It was dark enough to break the courage of a young boy. He went to his parents’ room, took their mobile, and returned to his room. He called his uncle.
“Uncle, please take me with you,” Chani pleaded over the phone.
“Beta, what happened? Why are you calling at midnight?” Ayush, his uncle, asked.
“Mummy scolds me a lot, I don’t want to stay here,” Chani replied.

—

**The Next Morning**

Ayush rang the doorbell.
Chani’s mother opened the door, surprised. To calm the storm of her surprise, Ayush explained, “I got some passes for the amusement park and came here to bring Chani along.” Ayush continued while sipping tea.

Chani’s mother said, “Chani is not doing well in his studies, so it’s not good to allow him to go.” Before she could give more reasons, Chani’s father appeared and allowed Chani to go with his uncle to enjoy the day.

Within an hour, Chani was ready. At the door, Chani’s father said to Ayush, “Last night, my wife scolded Chani too much. It disappointed the child, and that’s why he called you in the middle of the night.”
Ayush smiled and left with Chani.

“Hey, Chani, I’ve got my own mobile! Let me show you,” said Ayush’s son.
“Your mother is too kind. My mother doesn’t even allow me to touch her phone,” Chani told him.
“Chani, don’t say that. Your mother loves you so much,” Ayush explained.
“Okay, both of you best friends, come to the dinner table!” said Ayush’s wife, a lady with a sweet voice.

At the dinner table, everyone enjoyed the delicious food. Ayush’s son, Vicky, said, “Now you won’t go anywhere. Stay with me. We’ll play together, sleep together, and study together.”
“Chachu, I won’t go,” Chani said.
“Yes, sure, I appreciate that,” Ayush agreed.

Suddenly, a shrill scream echoed from outside the window. Chani, terrified, cried loudly.
“Calm down, Chani,” Ayush’s wife held Chani close, offering him comfort. Chani felt a sense of motherhood in her embrace. Ayush’s wife took both boys to their room. She kissed Chani on the forehead and assured him not to worry. Vicky, waiting for his turn, was disappointed.

“Your mother is quite humble,” Chani said to Vicky.
“Mummy loves you, not me,” Vicky replied.
“Whose voice was that?” Chani asked, still shaken.
“It was Miku,” Vicky explained. “He was very naughty, so his mother locked him in that building. Every night, he screams like that.”
“We should help him,” Chani said, feeling sad.
“Let’s go,” Vicky agreed.

Both boys sneaked out of the house using the emergency exit the maid showed Vicky for when she wasn’t around to pick him up from school. Ayush was unaware of this.

The boys entered the ruined building.
“Miku, where are you?” they called out.

A shrill scream echoed again from deep inside the building.
“Don’t worry, we’re coming!”

They entered deeper into the ruins and saw her—a woman with a blackened mouth, towering at 20 meters, her mouth bleeding.
“Come, children. Miku wants to talk to you,” she said.

Both cousins screamed. They turned to run, but a small boy appeared in front of them, screaming too. His clothes were dusty, and his face was burnt and bleeding. Chani and Vicky screamed in terror and ran out of the building. The neighbors, hearing the commotion, came rushing.

Ayush and his wife, frantic, were looking for their children.
“Vicky!” both husband and wife screamed.

“Mother!” both cousins cried as they ran toward safety.

Ayush and his wife grabbed Vicky. Ayush ordered the maid to take care of Chani.
“Please, mummy! I won’t leave you again. Please, mummy!” Chani cried, clinging to the maid.

Ayush kept weeping, and Chani continued apologizing, still trembling from the fright.

Bindesh Kumar jha