Party for champion

CHAPTER 2

Party for champion

Auditorium was fully decorated. There was a sign board on the wall which said, “Welcome to the Junior Chess Champion”. Children were dressed for a dance. Many people had come to attend the function. The cake was kept on a table. Children were talking and laughing happily. But Anand was standing at the door looking at the road. Anand looked at his watch anxiously. It was 8pm. He was waiting for his father. He took his mother’s cell and tried to call his father. But his father’s cell was switched off. He was very disappointed. He looked at his mother with disappointment.

Seeing Anand’s sadness, Rekha tried to console him saying, “Anand, you know your father very well. No use waiting for him to arrive. People are waiting for you. Come and cut the cake.”

Anand looked at the road for one more time and then went into the auditorium with his mother sadly. Children cheered as he approached the table with the cake. Anand cut the cake. Everyone clapped. He gave one piece of cake to Sindu, then to Avinash and then to others. Avinash came forward to make an announcement.

At the mike, Avinash said, “Our hero Anand has won the junior chess championship trophy. Today we are celebrating the occasion. Let us all clap for him.”

Everyone clapped. Anand and friends sing and dance on the stage. After party, all go to their houses. 

That night at 12pm, Anand’s father, Vimal came home drunk and knocked on the door. Rekha was sleeping on the bed with Anand. She heard the sound of knocking and got up. Going to the hall, she opened the door. Vimal came in with unsteady legs for he was fully drunk.  He fell down on the sofa. Rekha shook her head looking at him in desperation and went to remove his shoes. After removing his shoes, she looked at the statue of Jesus and folded her hands. Then she entered the bedroom and brought a blanket. She covered her husband with the blanket and then switched off the light. Then she went into the bedroom.

As the sun rose, Vimal got up. He scratched his head thinking for a while. Then he entered his son’s bedroom. Anand was praying to Jesus. Vimal caressed his head lovingly. Anand opened his eyes. Seeing his father, he got very angry and stared at him without smiling. He remembered that his father had not attended the party. Vimal looked at the serious face of his son and understood everything.

Vimal tried to give excuse for not coming yesterday saying, “Ah, I know that you are angry with me. I am sorry; I could not come to the party yesterday. I had too much work at the office.”

Anand cooled down on hearing this and forgave his father immediately. He remembered the party with excitement and started describing everything. “You know we enjoyed so much yesterday.”

Anand went to the cupboard and brought the trophy. He showed the trophy to his father proudly. “Look, I won the trophy.”

Vimal took the trophy in his hand and admired it. Then he looked at his son proudly and patted his head. “I am so happy that in such a small age, you have become the district chess champion.”

Vimal caressed his son’s head. Anand was very happy. He went to the cupboard and kept the trophy back in its place. Suddenly he saw the cover kept there. Taking out a cover, he showed it to his father proudly. “I also got Rs. 5,000/- as prize money.”

Vimal was surprised and excited on seeing so much money. He took the cash in his hand. “Very good. I am so happy.”

He kissed Anand on his forehead and kept the money in his pocket without the knowledge of the boy. Then he kept the empty cover in the cupboard pretending to keep the money back.

Vimal looked at the happy face of his son and said, “In the evening, I will bring a gift for you.”

Anand looked up at his father excited and happy. He loved his father so much.