16 Downhearted

" Honey, please go and check if Jason's coming. Dinner is almost over", Clara asked her husband to check on her son's arrival.

And so Chris got down through the speed lift and reached the down floor. He found no signs of his son's arrival, even after waiting for another half an hour. The AI family were the one's who enjoyed the empty streets.

As the clock ticked faster and faster, a sudden fear, arose deep inside the caring father.

He called the classroom teacher and informed that Jason hadn't returned yet. After getting some information from her, that there were no special sessions that day, Chris made several of those calls to Jason's classmates and somewhat found about the punishment.

He rushed to the school with his friend Mark, without informing Clara, as she'll make a huge ruckus.

They both searched Jason throughout the street and all around the school. They sought the assistance of Leader Bot Louis and with the help of it, they tracked down Jason's location, as it was impossible to find him in the huge building.

They reached the exact spot near baseball court and got shocked to see him lying down in a awful condition.

"Jason! Wake up my son! What happened to you?", Chris called his son, tapping and rubbing his face.

But, he still lied down unconscious, with a pale face.

They took him immediately to the hospital and got him admitted in the emergency intelligence ward.

On hearing the news, all his well-wishers and relatives rushed in no time. After a steady medication, doctor got out to report the parents.

" Patient 550, Jason Maddox ", called the nurse. Chris and Clara got up and went straight to the emergency ward.

The doctor got out and spoke to the parents.

" Don't worry! Your Son is alright. He got unconscious because he got hit by a very strong force. So, it might take some time, to get hold of him. And we weren't able to find the weapon that hit him. But the bad thing is...", doctor stammered to say what had happened to Jason.

Clara and Chris took a step closer to him and listened carefully. Their eyes got filled with tears, as they understood that something was not right.

" The heavy blow attacked his head and unfortunately it had affected his optic nerves.The damages caused might result in blurred or abnormal vision. But the worst part is that, we observed some rare changes in his eyes. We'll be able to give you steady result, only after your son wakes up", the doctor explained about Jason's condition to his parents and left right away.

After an hour later, doctor called the close one's to the emergency ward to see Jason. To his luck, he looked good and normal.

But everyone got shocked to see Jason's eye ball. Clara cried aloud and ran outside the room, unable to control her tears.

The blue light from that old man had damaged Jason's right eye, turning his whole eye into pearl blue. Relatives felt odd to look at Jason's new appearance.

They all felt too bad for Jason as he wasn't aware of his eye. Jason was asked to stay at the hospital for two to three days, to observe further more changes in his body.

Ailee and Jimmy felt too sad, as they had never attended school without Jason. They felt bored at school, having no one to joke around them.

As soon as they finished school, they ran to the hospital to see their beloved friend. On their way to the hospital, they bought Jason's favourite snack, inorder to make him happy.

Poor Jason looked tired, 'cause of the sleepless night. He got overwhelmed to see his friends, handful of his hearty favourite snacks.

Jason's mom came often to his room, to check if he was alright. His dad Chris called him often to entertain him. His relatives and well wishers sent him delicious foods and drinks, to make him delighted.

Jimmy noticed everything and became silent for awhile. Not able to control his emotions, his faced turned dull and gloomy. After everyone left, he talked openly to Jason.

" You're too lucky Jason. Having a caring father, loving mom, protecting relatives and missing friends. Not anyone could gain a soothing and pleasant love like you got. To be frank, I feel too jealous looking at your lifestyle", Jimmy said in a compressed voice.

" What happened to you, Jimmy? Jason's not in a good condition, you shouldn't make him worried . Talk to him properly", Ailee whispered to Jimmy, close to his ears.

" It's ok Ailee. Let him speak. Jimmy what happened to you? Why are you speaking gloomy and dull", asked Jason.

" Thank God, I could finally share my feelings with you guys. You know my life. Having a very busy parents, I had to do everything in my life all alone by myself. They only care about my progress in school 'cause it helps me to get more renowned jobs. So far, they had spent some time with me during weekends, mom cooked for me favourite dishes of mine, father played with me sometimes and I always treasure those moments", saying Jimmy wiped his eyes.

" Why are you crying? Did anything happened?", Asked Ailee.

" Yes Ailee! My happiness and peace is gone now, as my parents got a very big project. They are not even coming home sometimes. As soon as I reached home after school, I got used to prepare food by myself. Later I began learning cooking from a great cooking lady who belongs to the Wonder Land. She even visits me and helps me cook, standing besides me. Even though all these days I suffered and someone unknown helped me cook everyday too, I stayed calm and forgave my parents cause I believed and trusted them that they were doing everything for my happiness", Jimmy said his sad story non stop for a prolonged time.

" Then... what happened? Tell us. Does something more worse than these happened?", asked Ailee.

" Mmm. Yesterday, I rushed home happily as my mom promised me that she would make delicious treats, after I return from school. When I went inside the house, I jumped up and down, as the dining table was filled with plenty of delicious and mouthwatering dishes. I happily screamed and ran to the kitchen to hug my mom. But, what I saw in the kitchen screwed me", saying Jimmy put his head down.

" Why? Was that your father or your angry grandma? If not your cousin who always pricks her nose?", Ailee went on teasing him to make him angry.

" I would be happy if these people were there instead of him", said Jimmy.

" Who's that lucky being, to gain your hatred ", asked Jason.

" It's not like I hate him. It was leader bot Louis, who cooked all those dishes. I feel sorry for him 'cause my mom tortured him the whole day. I froze upon seeing him in the kitchen, doing several dishes at a time. I couldn't control my tears and I cried falling on the floor out of disappointment. I don't think my parents care about me nor love me", said Jimmy.

" Is this the sad story you were telling us. You're too sensitive. Cheer up! We'll do something to make your parents understand", Ailee and Jason started laughing at him.

Even though they felt sorry for Jimmy, they continued to tease and laugh at him, to make him happy. They teased him to an extend of making him regret at his own words, his foolish choice of telling them.

Until pretty evening, their lovely conversation filled the whole room, full of laughter and giggle, along with their munching sounds.