“Mike, his name is Mike and he is wearing a red T-shirt that has an amercing flag on it,” his mother said. Her voice was heavy.
It was around seven in the morning when Mike got disappeared from his backyard. His parent asked everyone but no one really knew what happened to him.
” How old is he? A cop asked the mother.
“He is twenty five,” the father replied in a mild tone.
The cop was surprised. He thought a twenty five year old boy could take care of himself. “Why are you worried about a twenty five year old boy? He must have gone somewhere with his girl friend. Let him live his life for god’ sake,” he said in a harsh tone.
“No, he can’t take care of himself. That’s what we are worried about,” the father replied.
The cop got annoyed this time and said, “Would you give me one reason why your son is not able to take care of himself. He is an adult. Why don’t you just go back home and wait for him?”
“Sir, he is an adult who can’t take care of himself. He is a physically challenged boy who had no idea about the harsh realities of the world outside. Help us find him. He must be hungry,” his mother said and started crying.
The cop offered a seat to Mike’s father and went outside to fetch a glass of water. He came back a few minutes later and offered the glass of water to Mike’s mother. Mike’s mother hardly took a sip when she said, “Please help us. He needs us.”
“Don’t worry we’ll find him. Give us a photograph and all the details,” the cop said.
Mike’s parents left the police station after two hours. His father felt that his hands were shaking as he was driving back home. His mother could hardly stop crying.
Mike’s father loved his son dearly. He would always feed him with his own hands and try to teach him how to get back from the supermarket where they would go almost each day. It was at half past seven in the evening when the phone rang. It was from the police station, they had just found a dead body of a young boy. They wanted the couple to come and had a look at it. Mike’s father skipped a beat when he heard them talking about the dead body. He could not gather the strength to tell his wife until she started crying again.
They had constant visitors at their home who tried to console them. Every single person told them that Mike would come back home but no one really meant it. “How could it be possible for a mentally challenged boy to find his way back home,” one of the neighbors made a comment.”
Everyone left at around twelve at night and the old couple had lost their hope.
“I want my son at any cost. Go and find him,” Mike’s mother yelled at the old man.
He was speechless.
Every Sunday Mike used to go to the nearby church with his parents. His mother would hold his hands together and would ask him to close his eyes and pray.
“I don’t want to live anymore. What will I do without my son? Even god does not reply my prayers now,” the old woman said.
A six o’clock in the morning someone knocked on the door. “It’s my son,” Mike’s mother got on her feet at once thought his father was worried as they had to go to the police station.
The moment she unbolted the door, Mike came running and grabbed her as if he was still a four-year-old child. His father came outside when he heard Mike yelling at the top of his voice. A few minutes later, they realized that Melisa who lived just around the corner was standing a few steps away. She had found Mike at nearby rail station when she was heading for work that morning.
“Let me get you something to eat,” his mother said as she wiped off her tears. Mike was still staring at his father who could not take his eyes off him.
God finally replied his mother’s prayers and brought Mike home. When you do not find a way out of your troubles, have faith in the ways of universe.
