Last Friday afternoon, I had to make a visit to Pemagatshel town which
is about 5 kilometres away from where I live. I had an important errand at the
town. While at the town I dropped by to a friend’s place and one thing led to
another and took quite sometime before I could finally head home. A contractor
was in a desperate situation having been asked to provide rate analysis for a
work where he bided unreasonably low. I was in a hurry but, he was virtually imploring
me and my friend to help him out and the worst thing was it happened to be the
deadline day for him.
Immediately after that, I headed home. I would have taken some more time
at the market if I did not make a hasty retreat because some of my closest
friends were found talking in one of the restaurant.
Back at the last shop, another friend, an official of a corporation was
outside the shop talking with the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper invited us
profusely for a cup of tea. I reluctantly accepted the invitation on the
insistence of the other friend.
Outside the shop, there were many young men. One was visibly drunk. And
he is, a school dropout son of a businessman in Pemagatshel. Although he stays with
his parents at Pemagatshel market, he said he was heading to a village claiming
to have got married there. Someone dropped him till the shop. He wanted to go
with me till the point where I will be taking diversion. I agreed but, he found
this official and wanted to go with him as he will be travelling further. The
official also agreed to take him and asked him to wait for some time.
After the tea, we stepped outside to resume our journey home. Just then
one of the young men stepped forward to inform me that the drunken boy had my
car’s windshield broken. He was about take a hasty retreat by hopping in that
officer’s car. I stopped him and confronted him.
There was guilt in his face but he refused to accept his doing. I was
momentarily furious because of his denial and even dialed police number. The
shopkeeper intervened and said it would make better sense talking to the boy’s
parents or guardian. The boy’s brother-in-law responded and agreed to come to
the scene of the crime. Meanwhile, the boy kept denying it was his cowardly act
even in the face of at least half a dozen eyewitnesses who were all his
friends.
The eye witnesses confided that, although the culprit was their friend,
they have no choice but testify what they saw. Someone even admitted that
although they contemplated making exit, they know that they will be called to
record what they saw because I know them all and there was no escape.
The brother-in-law came after few minutes and witnesses told him what
they saw with their eyes. I told the boy’s brother-in-law in no uncertain term
that if he believes in the boy’s denial, police will have to be called. The
boy’s brother-in-law accepted responsibility and assured to redeem the damages
without the need of going through police after witnesses proved beyond a fickle
of doubt about what happened. The boy acted despicably, he could hardly stand
on his feet but kept denying the charges and began acting hysterically refusing
to go back home along with his brother-in-law. Finally, the shopkeeper had to
drive the car while the brother in-law kept hold of the drunken boy.
It was disappointing. Disappointing not because the way-ward boy
sabotaged my car, there was no way he could deny it to escape redeeming the
damage as there was enough eye witnesses. It was his attitude that was
unbelievably disappointing that, despite so many eye witnesses he was in a state
of denial. He also lacked manners and this was an ample evidence to show just
how badly spoilt he proved to be.
I felt sad and worried that, people like him are becoming a nuisance in
the society. He is not spoiling his life
which he already did after the last school he studied chucked him out for
multiple reasons. He has become a liability to his family, society and the
nation. But, of all the people, it is the parents who have failed in their primary
responsibilities of parenthood.
That evening, he could be at the receiving end of everything. I had to
exercise utmost restraint and thought it only sensible to call his guardian,
fix responsibilities of his action and hand over the intemperate delinquent to
his kith.
Dear readers do you agree with my action that evening? What would have
been the most appropriate action? I thought he deserved another chance after
his guardian took responsibilities of his action. Please share your thoughts in
comments.
Wish my readers a good day ahead. Until next time take good care and be
alert at all times!!!
Gyembo Namgyal
October 28, 2014 8.40 am
