Vaibhav's father ****

Vaibhav was a pathetic wreck. He was sobbing softly, as he sat at his father’s feet. The scene would have been unimaginable not too long ago. Mahesan hugged his son’s shoulders. “Son, I am here. Everything will be ok. Don’t you worry. I will make sure everything is ok.”

Vishali looked helplessly as her husband groveled at his father’s feet. She felt an indescribable sense of humiliation.

***

It had not been easy for Vaibhav to make it on his own. He had always been under the protectionist care of his father. And his father was no pushover. As the leading business icon in the country, his tentacles extended everywhere. Businessmen, politicians, government – he had everyone in his pockets. But Vaibhav's wife had made her point. She did not want a Vaibhav to succeed under his father’s patronage. She wanted him to succeed on his own steam. “You can do it. Just have faith in yourself,” she had egged Vaibhav on. And Vaibhav too felt a strange stirring within. A hunger he had never felt before.

Mahesan had been devastated to hear his only son’s request. But he did not show it. “My son, if that is what will make you happy, go ahead. Just remember, I am here, anytime you need me.”

So the young couple had set out. They started from scratch. They worked hard, long hours. And in 5 years, Vaibhav was a successful businessman to be reckoned with. And he had not sought his father's help in any way.

And then it happened. Things started to go wrong. A business deal that they had been counting on evaporated, inexplicably. Credit lines were withdrawn, again for no apparent reason. Tragedy struck at uncanny frequency. Vaibhav was at his wits end. He even consulted astrologers and vasthu exponents, to no avail.

Then the last blow. He was faced with a crippling law suit. Bankruptcy and ruin stared him in the face. He had no choice. He went to his father.

***

Mahesan sat alone. He had comforted his son. He had settled the issues. Vaibhav and Vishali were ever grateful. Mahesan felt no remorse. Even though he had brought about the problems on them in the first place. He just had to be Vaibhav’s father. Always.