FICTION | THREE PART STORY

Prodigal Son — To the Vast World

(Part 3) - He struggled along the difficult path before him into an uncertain future.

Photo by Ronan Furuta on Unsplash

Read Part 2, here.

Summary of Part 1 and 2

After forcibly accepting his share of the family fortune, the young man, ignoring the warnings of his relatives and friends, heads for the city. During his short life in the city, he loses all his wealth. He returns home devastated. Unfortunately, he is ostracized and the door of the house is slammed shut in his face.

He stood for a moment looking at the closed door. If his father or mother had taken a look at him, they would not have abandoned him, he grieved.

So he let out a deep breath and turned back in despair.

Although he had thought of the possibility of such a ban at the beginning of his return, he was struck when he encountered it for he had not expected it to be so severe; he hoped that he would at least be allowed to just meet them.

The destitute young man inwardly pitied himself that he did not even have the presence of mind to verbally fight his stubborn brother albeit unsuccessfully. If he had dared to do so, his parents would have come out, probably, anxious to hear the commotion!

Disappointment froze him for a moment.

He looked out. It seemed to him that the path he had to retrace stretched out endlessly in the burning sun before him, a path that diverged into many branches to various destinations.

Before setting out, he remembered that some of his neighbors had seen him from afar at various points on the way while he was coming here; but luckily no one noticed him, because no one recognized him. Likewise, he desperately wanted no one to recognize him on the way back, as he did not want to face anyone's pity or ridicule.

As he trudged away hungry and thirsty in the scorching sun, he was wondering how he could begin life anew with the capital investment of his remaining health and intelligence...

After a short distance, he realized it was futile to return to the place where he had failed. Immediately, a destination came to his mind, though he had no clear idea about it. So he chose a different path that branched off in a different direction.

There were two obvious reasons for him to select such a destination. One: his present shame would not be exposed to anyone because no one in that metropolis knew him personally. Two: he had heard that it was a place where a world of opportunity was always open.

He struggled along the difficult path before him into an uncertain future. Insecurity and helplessness were stressing him out. Yet he bravely went on.

It was a long journey that took many days. During that long walk, long suffering, some kind people he met occasionally gave him faith and hope about life and the world; those who gave him place to rest when he was totally fatigued , and those who gave him a handful of food when he was extremely famished.

That great city did not welcome him warmly.

It amazed him and frightened him at the same time. However, the realization that he was a refugee who had decided to adapt and fight against its different characteristics made him cautious.

Life was always difficult and challenging for him. Nevertheless, even as he moved from crisis to crisis, there was a resolution within him, a firm determination not to fail in front of anyone or anything.

As days, months, and years passed, Ennoor, his birthplace became just a memory for him. Similarly, his relatives, neighbours, and childhood playmates almost forgot him. During his first long and miserable period he spent in that city, his father and mother had left this world forever.

Like everywhere else in the world, a lot of changes have taken place in Ennoor also. Over time, that small bazaar had developed into a town.

One day a luxury car drove slowly down a gravel road on one of the outskirts of the town in search of a small poor house.

It was an undeveloped area not too far from Big Brother's bungalow. The car had first stopped in front of the bungalow but was driven back to this area on the instruction of the current occupants of the house.

Finally, the car stopped on the gravel road about a hundred meters in front of a small, old, and miserable-looking house. There was no other way from the road to the house than a footpath.

A middle aged-man who looked older than that was resting on an easy chair in the veranda of the house, saw the car.

Leaning back in his chair, he was silently cursing his fate. It had become part of his habit nowadays.

This fallen man (in life) was none other than the Big Brother of the prodigal son!

He looked up to see a well-dressed handsome man and a beautiful lady getting out of the car. He viewed them in wonder. He had never seen rich people travel this way.

Seeing them walking towards his house, he sat staring at them. The couple was slowly coming forward, carefully observing not only him but also the surroundings. It was then he became aware of the weeds and wild vines growing here and there in the narrow compound.

Signs of carelessness and lack of cleanliness! He blamed himself for not cleaning them all up.

The thought of the insignificance of his home and living conditions before their signs of wealth disturbed him. He noticed their expression of pity and felt sorry for himself in his uncomfortable situation. A sudden self-loathing prevented him from smiling at them or greeting them.

They stood facing him in the narrow rugged yard. The newcomer broke the other's silence and said, "Shall we come...?"

"Please... come..!" Big Brother welcomed them but in a stuttering voice, because he was ashamed that there were no good chairs to seat them.

His wife, now grey-haired and wrinkled, appeared from inside the house and stood beside him, gazing in wonder at the noble couple. She did't want to take her eyes off them; her eyes filled with awe at seeing a man in an expensive suit and a woman in a stunning sari in their yard.

"Please tell me, who... you... and where are you from...?" Big Brother asked in a broken voice with utmost politeness.

The newcomer was surprised that this man did not recognize him. For a moment, he hesitated to introduce himself directly.

"We come from over a thousand kilometers away; one thousand and forty-eight kilometers to be exact!" he said as a little joke.

Big Brother could not imagine even such a long distance or such an arduous journey because he had never traveled that far.

"Oh? What place is that?"

"Bombay."

He had heard a lot about that big city. He knew that many young people from here had gone there to seek employment at that time.

"What are you doing there?"

"Running a sugar factory."

Big Brother did not know much about such a venture. But he simply asked, "Is it a large enterprise?"

"Yes, almost a large enterprise..."

"You said you are running it. In other words, do you own it?"

"Yes, of course!"

His face reflected an innocent curiosity as to why such a person had come here.

To which the newcomer replied, "This is my birthplace!"

He looked at the newcomer with wide-eyed wonder. But, even as he delved into the darkness of his oblivion, the past image of such a person did not emerge.

The newcomer realized that since his arrival was unexpected, it would take time for this man to figure out him. Now, he was aware of the changes that time had brought on his appearance.

"We came here all the way to meet you!" he said.

"Oh?" it surprised Big Brother beyond measure as well as puzzled him. Many thoughts ran wildly in his mind.

"You know me well, but can't identify..." said the man with a smile.

"Tell me!" he said with unbridled curiosity.

"Prodigal Son...!" uttered the man with the same smile.

A revelation that Big Brother and his wife never dreamed of. For a few seconds, the two stood stupefied and dumbfounded.

"This is my wife. We have come here to invite you to our daughter's wedding next week," said the Prodigal Son, holding out the invitation.