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Rohit’s parents didn’t consider him anything less than a blessing, he was their miracle after all. He was conceived when his parents had lost all hopes of having a biological baby. They were married for 10 years but were unable to conceive and suddenly they got good news, the pregnancy journey was also very complicated for them, and all through the 8 months they kept on praying for their baby to be healthy and despite what doctors feared Rohit was born healthy and continued to be a healthy, active and playful child.

What else could Anjali and Rahul ask for, they lived in a plush penthouse in one of the poshest localities of Gurugram, they both had their own successful businesses, a lot of staff to take care of their home and a great set of supportive friends and family and bow with their baby on the board their world was just perfect. Rohit also had amazing childhood he always got everything even when he was too small to ask his parents and made sure he had everything he could possibly have. “Who are we earning for after all?” They often replied when someone asked about why a little boy has to have so many things. As Rohit started growing up having everything before anyone in his friend circle had become his habit, he had a laptop when he was 8, an iPad when he was 12, a mobile phone when he was 15 and there wasn’t a count on how many clothes, shoes and watches he had. His birthday parties every year were the talk of town his parents made sure that he had the grandest birthday party and he sure did and all his friends always were envious of how smooth his life was.

“Mumma only two months left for my 17th birthday, aren’t you excited?” Said Rohit while Anjali joined him for evening snacks.

Anjali – “Of course beta like every year we will throw a bash for you but this year you can select a place of your choice and let us know.”

Rohit – “No mom I trust your choice for that but Mumma this year I want something from you and papa.” 

Anjali – “Tell me na beta we always buy you a gift of your choice. Come o,n tell me what my baby wants this year.”

Rohit – “Mumma, (making funny faces) first I am not a baby anymore, second I want a bike, an imported one, I have seen it, it’s a crazy ride.”

Anjali – “(Cuddling Rohit) You will always be my chhotu baby, my bachaa, and which bike are you talking about I don’t know and you don’t even know how to drive a bike.”

Rohit – “No no mumma, I know how to drive a bike I have learned it from Ram he has a bike na which he drives only when he goes somewhere far.”

Ram was there house help.

Anjali – “Ok so now you are such a big bachaa that you have learned riding a bike all by yourself?” (Anjali then calls out for Ram) Ram when did you teach him driving bike and does he really knows how to drive one?”

Ram – “Ma’am he insisted so I couldn’t say no and he is a very fast learner he learned driving my bike in two days Ma’am.”

Anjali – (Beaming with pride) “My intelligent bachaa ok chalo let’s talk to your dad tonight he would definitely know which bike you are talking about.”

Rohit – “Of course he would know.”

Post dinner during their usual chit chat time Rohit brought up the topic of bike and how he has learned driving one and wants his own and he had already selected which one he wants.

Rahul – “Beta I can surely get that bike for you but you aren’t even 18 you don’t have a license and without that you won’t be able to take your bike out on road.”

Anjali – (Laughing) “That is even better na get him a bike which he cannot drive.”

Rohit – “Arre dad I will drive it just inside our colony compound, I will take you and mumma both on ride one by one just by our colony park and lakeside.”

Rahul – “Ok l beta I will book this one for you tomorrow itself but beta just make sure you keep your safety first.”

Rahul – “Done deal dad.”

After two months Rahul’s seventeenth birthday came and so did his most awaited birthday gift which he proudly flaunted in front of all the guests. He even drive that bike inside the resort premises where his birthday party was and his parents proudly got his video shot by the videographer.

A few months passed by Rahul kept his promise and drove the bike outside the gates of their colony. One day one of his friends Akshay who also stayed near him dropped by with his cousin who was visiting them for a few days.

Akshay – “Rohit meet my bhaiya Arjun he studies in DU first year I have brought him here to show your bike.“

Rohit proudly showed Arjun bhaiya his bike.

Arjun – “Chal lets go for a late night drive to cyber hub tonight on our bikes.”

Rohit – “No bhaiya I am not 18 yet and hence don’t have a license and I don’t take this bike outside colony premises.”

Arjun mockingly laughed on Rohit and said “What? Then why do you even have this? To decorate in your home? I started driving when I was 16 and you are few months more than 17 right then why this rule book? There is no police near cyber hub area and we can easily sneak in plus you will be confident of driving on actual roads before you hit 18 and we will be there too dude. So lets go tonight.”

It sounded like a great plan to Rohit, first of all his parents will be staying at some friend’s place tonight, second if he has a grown up boy for company he will be safer, third he too wanted to take his bike out, fourth roads are emptier during night so the risk is less too.

Rohit – “Ok bhaiya, let’s go around 10, we will have a late dinner there.”

Akshay – “That’s super cool. See you at 9:45 then.”

Akshay and Arjun waved him bye and he got busy in planning for the night rendezvous. As planned they guys left at around 10pm from his home and quite surprisingly Rahul was able to drove quite ok for a first timer. This made him a little high on confidence, they all had dinner a beer at a resto bar in cyber hub and chit chatted for a while.

Arjun – “So dude you are not legally allowed to drink also before you are 18 but you still do that then how is driving not right?”

Rohit – “I agree bhaiya and I am 17 plus so almost 18 so what is going to change on the day I am 18?”

Akshay – “Plus dude when you have it why not use it. Chalo lets go for a drive till Manesar from here it will be fun.”

Rohit was confident of his driving by now and immediately agreed. They sat on their bikes and headed out to a popular ice cream place at Manesar. On their way they sang songs, hooted and had a lot of fun. On their way back though Rohit started feeling a little sleepy he had never stayed awake till so late ever but he was too reluctant to admit it after all it was for the first time in his life that he was doing cool dude stuff and didn’t want to be labelled a bacha in front of Arjun bhaiya. While driving back the cold breeze was hitting straight into Rohit’s eyes which made him even more sleepy. He closed his eyes for a couple of second and when he opened them he found himself and his bike lying on one side of a road and a small kids lying a little far away he could see a woman crying rushing towards the kid. Suddenly Rohit realized that his eyes are shutting themselves and while he was thinking this he lost himself. Akshay who has been Rohit’s childhood friends was traumatized seeing his friend faint away and couldn’t gather himself and fell on the ground Arjun then called Rohit’s and Akshay’s parents to the spot. Soon an emergency van from a hospital also came thought they checked both Rohit and that kid lying on the floor they had good news for none. Both had already died. The kid had excessive blood loss after being hit and Rohit’s brain had internal shock and injury which it couldn’t handle. Both the parents were inconsolable.

After a few months Anjali and Rahul get a notice from the court stating that the family of the kid who lost his life that day have filed a case against them. The magistrate had called them on a date. Rahul assumed that the kid’s parents would seek some monetary compensation from them since it was their son whose bike had hit their kid. When they reach there even before any proceedings could start Rahul said he is ready to give them whatever they want as he doesn’t want his deceased son’s name to be dragged any further. The kid’s mother stood up and handed a paper to the magistrate and told him that she has written on it what she wants from them.

The paper said –

JUST ANSWER ME ONE THING – HOW TOUGH IT IS FOR A PARENT TO SAY NO TO THEIR CHILD FOR SOMETHING THAT LAW OF THE LAND THEY LIVE IN DOESN’T ALLOW?”

Rahul and Anjali kept staring at that page realizing their one No could have saved two lives, one of that kid and one of their own miracle baby.

Why some lessons are learned the hardest way?

Dear readers, what do you think about the number of road accidents in our country that involve minors? Would you allow or have you allowed your minor child to drive a vehicle? Please share in comments.