Dirt

“Ennanga, come quick. Jagan is hurt.”

Eswaran jumped up and rushed over to the front of the house. Valli had her arm around Jagan. Jagan’s clothes were torn and dirty. His left eye was swollen and blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

“What happened? Who did this?” Eswaran was incensed.

Jagan sobbed softly. “It’s nothing pa.”

“Ennada nothing? Your whole face is swollen. Come let’s go to the clinic.”

“Appa, its nothing.”

Valli hugged Jagan closer. “Come on Jagan. You got to see the doctor. Maybe get a jab.”

Later Jagan sat on the sofa, sandwiched between his parents.

“Tell me. What happened?” Eswaran was softly insistent.

Jagan shook his head.

His father squeezed his shoulders. “It’s ok. You can tell me.”

Jagan looked up for a moment. Then he looked down. “He… he insulted you.” He choked on his sobs.

“Who? What did he say?”

“Samuel. He taunted me. He said you are cheap and corrupted. How can he say that? Especially of you. I warned him. He kept repeating it. He even said his father had been paying you to get things done at your office.”

Eswaran swallowed. “Who is Samuel?”

“Samuel’s father is a big time developer. Robert Lam. You once said you know him.”

Eswaran gently took his arm from around his son. “OK, son, it’s over. Just forget it. Go take rest.”

Jagan walked to his room.

Valli looked at Eswaran. She didn’t say a word. Eswaran got up and walked to his room. He went into the shower and stood under the cold stream of water. In his clothes. But the dirt was stuck fast. It would not come off that easily.