HARASSMENT IN INTER CITY BUS - TERMINAL
B.Sc. degree final exams were fast approaching. Even though the main subject chemistry was hard, God's grace through prayer enabled him to study for exam. Before final exam they had model exams and at that time Omar got a letter from his dad stating that dad asked mom, Saleem and Ayub to meet him at Madurai intricate bus terminal Saturday evening around 5 o'clock and he also wanted Omar to meet there. Hearing this news Omar was glad, because it's quite some time since he saw them. Before the final exams he might not be able to visit them at Vadugapatti and so it was good opportunity. He planned to meet them on Saturday evening and to continue preparation for model exams afterwards. Model exams would be on Monday morning.
On Saturday around 4 p.m. Omar went to Madurai inter city bus terminal which was overflowing with people. He saw dad sitting on a bench all by himself waiting for them. Omar went to him and asked how grandma was doing. At once angrily he asked, "Who are you to inquire about grandma?" Shocked Omar stood silently. Dad said, "Are you putting on a good act?". In a split moment, he got up and grabbed Omar's throat and said "I'll strangle you to death now". Omar's throat was in the firm grip of dad's muscular right hand. People ran to this sight and gathered around asking from many directions, "Sir...what happened?... leave the boy alone" and they stopped dad. As people gathered around, dad threw him away. His eyes were red with anger. Omar stood four or five feet away from him staggering. He started yelling, "I sent you to college only to study. You are studying on my expense..... but you go to Christian church. Are you trying to put a double act?.......If you are born to a muslim..be a Muslim. Have your mom got a new Christian husband?.........Have you changed your name? Is it... John?..or Peter?". Now crowd joined dad. "Yes..what your dad says is correct! If he sent you to college...better you concentrate on your studies. Don't join with other boys and get spoiled, see how much your dad is hurt. When your parents educate you with great difficulty... . don't hurt your dad's feelings. Parents are...god our eyes can see. Even with this much education you have gone blindfold". Like this many in the crowd made comments. Omar stood in the middle of crowd just like a convict. His throat was hurting badly. He looked down with shame as tears rolled down his cheeks. Jesus crucifixion scene came to his mind. Many thoughts crossed his mind, "God hung on the cross in broad day light...Every body ridiculed him. It was great shame. If Jesus suffered so much for me..an unworthy person...should not I bear this much for his sake?. Bible says, count it a joy if you are persecuted for his sake. Accordingly it happened to me today and it is a great privilege"(Matt 5: 10-12). He thanked God for it. At once in the midst of this persecution, God's peace surrounded him`. Dad continued to scold him. People watched it.