Journey Towards Truth

The school was in a hustle because of the crowd of students leaving for their home.

A boy with a small lean physique, dark eyes and hair, approaches the old man, "Grandpa, let's go." He is one of the students from the old man's class.

The old man smiled at him, "My son I was hoping that you will ask or reply to my questions in class. But you always remain silent there. No response at all. Why?"

"Grandpaa, we can play question-answer games at home too. Why bother here? I'm just giving others the opportunity to broaden their horizons." The boy replied with a smirk.

4 students, 2 male and 2 female of similar physique to the boy who were near to them heard their conversation. One of them with brown eyes arrogantly taunted at the boy, "giving others the opportunity. Haa! my foot. The only reason he is in the 50 lucky students is because of his grandpa."

The boy's face turned pale. He looked to the ground.

The boy's grandpa put his hand on the boy's head, "kids! Take care. Good bye"

The student group respectfully bid farewell to both of them. But their conversation was still going on.

"He is lucky to have a grandpa like him. At that age, most retire and enjoy their remaining time but instead he is taking care of his grandson."

"Ronnie! Please stop. You always tease Om."One girl from the group replied.

Ronnie without backing down loudly shouted at her, "why stop that spot could have been allotted to my brother not that weak bastard. Everyone knows Om can't even lift his bag properly."

"Just! shut up. Ronnie!" The girl grabbed his hand and took him away.

During the evening.

Om and his grandpa, to have their dinner sitting on the chain and food was on the table. After doing their casual prayer they always started eating but grandpa noticed that Om was eating food slower than always.

He asked, "Are you troubled with Ronnie's words?"

"Grandpa! I'm not troubled by his words but by your silence?" Om slowly murmured.

His grandpa heard his murmuring yet he didn't reply.

After finishing their lunch, both went to their rooms.

Om closed his room's door.

"Why grandpa?

Why don't you ever tell me about myself?

Why am I weak?

Where are my parents?

I tried everything to make you proud yet your silence always made me suffer." Om told himself. The pain in his voice was evident in questions he had but answers were only known to his grandpa, who never answers his questions and remains silent.

On the other hand, outside of Om's room, his grandpa listened to everything….

In the morning.

The sun shone brightly, ice collected on the roofs of houses of town and its ground glimmered like a sea of clouds.

The sunlight entering from his room's window brightened so much that it broke his sleep. Irritated by it he suddenly woke up. "Hummm, why is my room so bright today?"

Suddenly he realised something. "Wait! what time it is". He quickly turned his gaze towards his phone. It was a transparent candy bar like a phone.

"This is not right. I'm getting late.

It's 9 already. Why hasn't grandpa called me yet?."

He ran to his washroom. In a flash, brushed his teeth, took his bath, changed his clothes and ran to the dining table.

There he realised something was a miss. Like always, breakfast was missing. And his grandpa is not to be found anywhere.

His mind went blank. He loudly shouted, "Grandpa, are you in your room?" But no-one answered.

He rapidly ran to his grandpa's room. Nocked few times on the door, found no response at all. In panic, he tried to open it from outside, but it was locked from inside.

He took a few steps back. Ran towards the door trying to break it regardless of the fact that his body is weak and lacks the strength to do basic physical tasks. His efforts resulted in his left shoulder getting dislocated. In pain he fell to the floor.

"No, I have to do something. Help! I need help.

Neighbour's?" He collected his thoughts.

With the help of a nearby wall, he barely stood up. Went outside of his house. From the street in front of his house he shouted "Help! Can somebody help?"

But no one answered. At that time of the day, people either went to their jobs or did their household chores. So the streets were empty.

He ran to his neighbour's house. His weak body couldn't keep up with the stress and fell on the door of his neighbour.

Loud thud!

"Who? Who's there?" male voice responded.

From inside the sound of walking can be heard from outside. Out of breaths Om, trying his best to stand up but not able to.

Click! The door handle twisted.

Creek! It slowly opened.

An older man around 35, wearing square glasses, black t-shirt, grey pants and flip flops came from inside.

"Who knocked the door?"

His eyes turned towards the door. Om was on the floor unable to move.

"Om? Are you alright?"He asked.

"Mr Raj! My grandpa? My grandpa?" And Om fell unconscious.

"What happened to your grandpa? Hey! woke up. Answer me." Raj responded in panic.

He looked around but no one was to be seen. He took Om inside and sprinkled some water drops on Om's face.

Om slowly opened his eyes.

Raj offered water to him,"Hey! have some water".

Om took the glass of water. As he was about to finish it, the glass fell from his hand. He grabbed Raj's hand and tried to pull him.

"Mr Raj! Please come with me."

"Wait! Kid what happened? Why are you panicking?"

"Grandpa's room is locked from inside and he is not responding."

"At this time both of you should be at school?"

Om started crying. His nose was dripping.

"Mr! Everyday grandpa wakes me up before leaving for school but today he did not come and when I went to his room it was locked from inside and he didn't respond. I tried everything but the door didn't open."

"Don't worry. Come with me." Raj lifted Om on his back and ran to Om's house.

There he found that Om was right. None presence can be felt at all. He grabbed the door handle and tried to push it. The door was really locked from inside.

He kicked the door and the door fell. Thud!!

Both Om's and Raj's face became pale. Om's grandpa lying unconscious near his bed.

Both Raj and Om ran to him.

"Mr Shiv! Wake up!"

"Grandpa! please wake up!"

A sudden chill went down Raj's spine. Shiv's body was cold. No breathing and heart.

"Mr Shiv! No! Teacher! Grandpa." Raj shouted and became silent. Tears started to pour out of his eyes.

"Mr Raj! What happened? Why are you crying?"

Raj didn't answer.