There was once a boy called Sorry Chandra. Well...whatever good karma he had done in his previous birth, he had a loving mother, a protective father and an adjusting sibling. So even though he was born thin, his mother never did forget to feed him...infact she overfed him though it never increased his weight. He was too playful and spent all the energy he got from food playfully, sometimes to the point of angering other kids. He was so competitive in his games that he never thought a win for him meant a loss for his friend. But then, they got the better of him in other ways, like in studies or oratorical competition. Rarely, one or two friends lost cool when he just wanted to win the games and nothing else. And most of the times, he did win thanks again to his previous good karma. He never understood or even noticed or even wondered why once or twice he was put down. He just attributed this to jealousy but then since he also felt jealous, he found this normal. His Father, noticed that His baby, whose birth gave Him much joy as a recognition of His manhood and lineage, was becoming more and more a brat. But then, can a Father expect a kid to say Sorry? So He named Him the Sorry Chandra, because although His son was a brat, he was as pleasant as the moon. A harsh look occasionally, a rare scolding and still rarer threat of beating was all that Sorry Chandra got from His loving and protective parents. No wonder, he got nastier as the days went by. He became the class bully but only till the day he was given a knock out punch by a more nasty kid, someone from the slums. And as he confronted his two bullies laughing mockingly at him, he was smart to call it quits, both from their presence as well as the image of a bully. The only light relief he got was in settling a bit of the old score in a cricket match where he heard with satisfaction the guy who knocked him out giving up bowling to him as he hit 4's and 6's. The Father, a busy man caring for the family, still had great hopes on his son. If he did feel any anger towards Sorry Chandra, he will just lift his hand as if to smack the kid, and the kid knew clearly who was the boss. Sorry Chandra understood what sorry meant in school but then it was another word in the vocabulary. Anyway, why should he say sorry when he was a fun to be around with. if others couldn't understand his idea of fun, too bad...they are dimwits. And so, Sorry Chandra never understood delayed gratification. Studies was a chore but then there were certain things which cannot be changed...perhaps if life had a way of making those things go away if he felt repentant, he would have said sorry. Yes, he would have said it because always knew when to call it quits, like the time he got the sucker punch to his face. Since he didn't get such an offer, he prodded in life and as he grew up, the hormones brought about funny reactions in his body. The spoilt brat suddenly became a lover boy who saw girls as delicate beings bringing about the fine aspects in his life. So he forgot his Father, Mother and Sibling but considered that love was best expressed in a boy-girl relationship. h, yes...he still needed his Mother to cook for him, his Father to pay for his living and Sibling was as good as non-existent. The Father began to see that Sorry Chandra was no good even though he showed smartness. He just wanted to give him a kick in the butt but the parental affection kept stopping him. Even when He was ready to bring about some discipline, the Mother would plead Sorry Chandra's case. Sorry Chandra, the smart-ass he is, always knew that he could count on his Mother. The Mother-Son combination was just too strong for the Father. Moreover, He remembered the times He had held him as a baby, the times they had gone out alone to places and the praises some relatives and friends had for him even though there were an equal number of those who thought otherwise. So Sorry Chandra lived up to what astrology predicted for him...more than a decade of carefree happy life even though he cut a sorry figure in many things, like in studies, some sports, romance etc. But whenever he felt sorry, he bounced back attributing sorry as a part of life. By now his Father had as good as given up on him since the kid was street-smart at best and a pathetic failure at worst. But then, being the good Father he is, He even felt guilty expecting His son to fill up whatever He Himself hadn't yet accomplished in life. And so, He just went abut His life. Except when He lost His temper and shouted at Sorry Chandra when He read his love letter to a girl saying he loved only her and his Mother. Even this prompt Sorry Chandra to say sorry because he was too much in love with a girl whose response was all that mattered to him. By now, by luck or fate, Sorry Chandra became successful and now hi Father wondered if His son was getting to be a better person atleast now. And off they both go on a joint venture of hope of their future. The only problem is Sorry thinks the Father has a vested interest in him rather than true love. As life would have it, Sorry Chandra's success is short-lived and the Father gives up on him and ascends to Heaven leaving His representative here. He looks on from Heaven wondering if Sorry Chandra ever says the magic word. The Father in Heaven does see it one day and even though it isn't perfect, it is atleast a smart move He knew his son will always take. And so, He is pleased. :)
