1 Chapter 1. HOPE

It all starts with a hope, everything. But what amount of hope can extend life of a 71 year old man like me who already lived more than half of his life as a handicap. My name is Eito. I am short of my right arm, I lost it when I was 50 I guess, well that's not the matter of anyone's concern. It's pretty great here in Oshima, breaking woods making chairs and stuff, actually it's been years I changed my profession. Everyone loves me here. They listen to me, I'm

considered as senior. I am a carpenter, I hated this at first but now its all good. I have to, actually I had to do it for him. Akio, my 20 year old grandson. The journey of my life has been pretty much interesting I must say, the good things

happened to me and that I have done and the bad ones ofcourse that can give nightmares to anyone.

Akio's parents, my son Daisuke and his wife Katsuki died long ago when he was a year old. Which lead up to him living a harsh life, till date. I raised him at my best, looking after him all the time. Afterall he is the last

reason for me to live. We shared a bond beyond of a grandfather and a grandson. He used to tell me everything, like what's going on in his high school or even if his girlfriend is mad at him. Kaori, Akio's girlfriend, she met me yesterday to tell me that Akio has stopped talking to her and she also asked me that why she is not able to see him in the school since two weeks. I was just numb for some time. I had all the answers to her questions but I didn't feel like answering them as if that may end up hurting her feelings.

I think Akio is in some sort of trauma after everything happened that day. He rarely talks to me and if I raised some questions, he answers them in a word or just nods his head in yes or no. I wonder what is he tensed about. It's almost 3 months to that incident. It was last week of december 2009 when everything happened. I told him to start off the things with new vision this new year.

Actually its all my fault. I shouldn't have told him the things that were not meant him to be known. But still the fate had same in store for him. He always had some anger issues, he is a hot headed guy. His blood boils in no time. I am

always afraid that he may do anything in his rage and end up regretting it later on.

Regrets makes a human weak with every passing minute and there is no cure to it and who will be the better example for it other than me. I am tired of everything. Each and every minor thing that barely exists irritates me. I am done always being reason for everyone's tears now. Akio does not even sleeps properly neither manages his diet. He has stopped going to his high school since three weeks and he justs stays home, sits alone all day and when it gets dark he just waits for sunlight to fall on his face so he may continue wasting his time. I don't know for how long it may go like this. He always used to do one thing, sharpen the axe that we have at our home. But since that incident, he hasn't even cleaned the blood stains on it. Well it's handle is also broken from the middle. It is just there fallen.

I think I should talk to Akio, he is just sitting outside the gate of our house. I should call him -

Eito - (in excitement) hey my lion.

Akio - (turns back) what?

Eito - what you doing son?

Akio- why does it bother you.

Eito- (tensed) Is everything okay?

Akio - (irritated) seriously, how could you even think of asking me that.

Eito - I care for you my child.

Akio- (laughs sarcastically) I know it very well.

Eito- whatever happened....

Akio - (cutting Eito's words) don't try to dig and take out the hate I am trying to bury, okay!

Eito - But you have to get over it someday my child, like I did.

Akio - (continues sarcastic laugh) It was always easy for you grandpa since that day you started it all. No wonder you lost it all.

(Eito tries to slap Akio but stops)

Akio - what the hell is stopping you from even slapping me grandpa, are you non violent now all of a sudden?

Eito - try to understand my child. I am not defending myself and neither trying to correct you.

Akio - I don't even think that I am wrong at the first place.

Eito - (sighs) that's what I was going to say.

Akio - you better don't utter a word now.

Eito - okay, but I just wanted to make you feel secure and protected.

Akio- ( losing his temper) that's why you forced me to fight. Okay agreed, I fought but not because I wanted to finish what you started years ago, I did that in my rage, my anger. I was holding that fucking axe and it just happened and

next thing you say right after I did that was "the revenge is not done yet". Like seriously, I could have died grandpa. I lost everything. What else do you wanna take away from me. See, that broken axe is fallen right there, pick that up and chop my head off, if it gives you peace.

( Akio walks away from Eito)

Huhhhh this stubborn kid. You may never understand what it takes to finish it all that started as a mistake, my child. Basically I didn't knew that some seeds sown in the past will become trees to fall on us rather than giving us the

shadow, I would have chopped it from the roots long ago. I tried and failed. But as we all know, one can't run away from his fate.