In a cramped alley of old Kolkata lived Abinash Babu, a man nearing seventy. Since his retirement, his days were spent reading books and watching the world go by from his window. To the neighborhood, he was seen as a "stubborn" and "reclusive" man who rarely spoke to anyone.
However, beneath that stern exterior lay a soft spot no one knew about. For the past ten years, Abinash Babu had written one letter every month to his only son, Ayon, who had left home years ago after a bitter argument and moved abroad. The twist? He never posted them. Those letters sat in a dusty drawer, a silent testament to a father's pride and pain.
An Unusual Afternoon
One rainy afternoon, the doorbell rang. Opening the door, Abinash Babu found a young boy of about 10 or 12 standing there, holding a damp envelope.
The boy said, "Grandpa, I think this letter belongs to you. The mailman dropped it at our house by mistake."
Abinash Babu was stunned. No one ever wrote to him. He opened the envelope and realized it was from Ayon. The letter read:
"Dad, I know I've made many mistakes. We can stay away out of pride, but we cannot forget. I am coming to Kolkata with my family next month. Will you ever forgive me?"
The Turning Point
Tears welled up in Abinash Babu's eyes. But suddenly, he noticed something strange—the envelope looked incredibly old. He checked the postmark; the date was from five years ago! Abinash Babu sat down, paralyzed. This meant Ayon had asked for forgiveness five years ago, but due to a postal error or negligence, the letter never arrived. All those years, Abinash had lived in resentment, believing his son had forgotten him, while Ayon likely thought his father had ignored his plea.
The Conclusion
He didn't waste another second. That night, he pulled out every single "unfinished" letter from his drawer. He realized that time waits for no one. The next morning, he dialed Ayon's old international number. After a few rings, a trembling voice answered— "Dad? Is that you?"
Ayon had never gained the courage to visit Kolkata because he feared his father still hated him. Two people had spent years in loneliness simply because of a lack of communication.
The Moral of the Story:
Communication is vital in human relationships. Often, minor misunderstandings or ego create a distance that poisons our lives without us even realizing it.