Page 178 - Musings 2020

then Akio’s phone rang up. Yuri’s name flashed on the screen. Akio sprang up in amazement
and cried out “It’s Yuri!”. Yoko stood up immediately and snapped at him “Pick it up! Put it
on the speaker”. “Dad,” a soft voice spoke from the other side. “Yuri! How are you, honey?
Where are you now?” he replied. “I am in my hostel room and I’m perfectly fine. The
epicenter was quite far enough from our campus and our hostels being two-storied weren’t
affected much thankfully!” I have been trying to call you and Mom since last morning but the
networks had failed. It gives me such a relief to speak to you now.” They felt as if a thousand
kilos were lifted off their shoulders. Yoko immediately retorted, “What about the message
that you sent me earlier on my phone?” There was a moment of silence on the line. “Mom, I
had just received my semester grade report that night and I failed miserably. I let you both
down this time and I promise that I won’t repeat it in the future. I love you, Mom, please
forgive me...” cutting her short, Yoko asked, “and what about the shivering ground you
mentioned?” “Oh Mom! That was just a metaphor that I used to reflect my emotions at that
moment. I had no clue that there would be an Earthquake a few hours later. I had sent that
message at 12 A.M., 4 hours before it began.”

178