ABOLITION OF RELATIONSHIP DOCUMENT
When Omar was wondering as to what will happen next, dad asked him to get into bus at once to go to Melur. Omar with much hesitance said, "I am having my model exams on Monday and I have to study for it". He thought atleast this way he can escape this danger. Dad reproved him that life's problem was much more important than exams. He threatened, "Are you going to get into bus or should I ask few gangsters to throw you in the bus?" Frightened ...Omar agreed to go with him. Omar thought that some unfortunate thing was about to happen; but he had no way to escape; so he followed dad. Both of them got into the bus and dad didn't talk anything. After reaching Melur, dad got out of the bus and walked ahead while Omar followed him. He stopped in front of a shop where they sold stamped document papers. He bought a stamped document paper for five rupees. Vendor asked, "Sir! Is this your eldest son? Is he studying in the college?" Dad mockingly said, "Yes ...he is doing great study in the college"; he got the paper and started walking. He gave same reply to everyone who asked him on the way. Omar understood the implied meaning. Omar at first thought that dad was taking him to his grandma's house in Melur; instead dad brought him to bus stop. They took a bus to Thiruvadavur. In Thiruvadavur the house was located at the back of the clinic which dad had. He opened the clinic and sat in a chair. Omar sat on the right hand side of his table. Dad started writing in that stamped paper and there was pin drop silence. Omar sat silently looking at the floor. After fifteen minutes dad stopped writing. Dad asked, "When somebody asks who you are, you say that you are Thangam's son. But...you go to Christian church. If you are born to Thangam, then you must be a Muslim. If you don't want to be a Muslim and rather a Christian. ...let me know. Tell me now.....do you want to be a Christian?" Omar stood silently looking at the floor. He threw the paper on the table and said, "If you want to be a Christian, be one, then you sign this paper. Don't ever say that you are Thangam's son". Omar took the paper and read it. The heading was written as "Freedom Document". It stated that since Omar had become a Christian, he was no more the son of Thangam and had no right to claim any of his property. It was written as though the document was written by Omar to his dad. After reading it Omar was stunned and didn't know what to speak. Sorrow gripped his throat. If he didn't sign the paper he would undergo persecution; if he sign the paper....the dad-son relationship will be broken; it was too terrible to think. Now he faced another problem because of his faith in Jesus. With trembling hands, he said, "Dad! I would check with mom before I sign the paper". After hearing it he hissed like a wounded snake. He got up from the chair at once and said, "Did you become a Christian after asking your mom? Are you going to sign the paper or beaten to death?" He went inside the house and took a big bamboo pole which was five feet long and very thick one. With it he hit him repeatedly on his leg. Omar was shriveling in pain and cried; dad continued hitting. Omar thought whether his leg would break. Suddenly he felt the grace of God removing his pain. God gave him strength to bear the beatings. At that moment a friend came into the clinic. Friend was shocked and asked, "Sir! Why are you beating your son?" Dad stopped beating and said, "I sent him to college for further study... but he became a Christian and brought shame to the family". He sat in the chair saying, "Being the eldest son, I bore him on my shoulder and brought him up... and in the night he slept on my chest. I looked after his needs day and night...in the end he destroyed my family prestige...and became a traitor; he is not faithful and has no gratitude. When he went to college...I bought him a nice watch from Malaysia".
He took a watch from table drawer and threw it on the table. It was a new Seiko square watch with a black dial. When dad narrated how much he loved him, his throat started choking; there were teardrops in his eyes. Omar hung his head down and silently wept. On one side his throat and legs were painful; on the other side his faith in Jesus tore dad's heart. There were many problems happening in the family. The friend comforted him saying, "Sir! Whatever it is....will the relationship of your son go away? So leave him for some time and he will come back on his own". The friend was a well-respected gentleman in the community. After talking for some time he left the place. Omar wished him to stay longer to avoid further beating to death. Dad was silent for some time, put the document inside the table drawer and locked it. He said, "Here after stop putting this double act. When you come here you act like a Muslim and when you go back to college you become a Christian. If I hear once more that you are involved in some Christian activities...even if you go to the other end of the world you can't escape from me..I'll kill you". After few minutes he asked, "Will you go to church hereafter?" Omar said, "No! I won't go to church". Dad asked him to go to college, write exam and return to Thiruvadavur without going to Vadugapatti to his mom any more. He agreed and got up from the chair. He didn't even dare to lift up his face and look at dad. With his head down he waited for next order. Dad threw some money on the floor for his bus fare. Omar picked up money, said bye and walked to the door. Soon a bus came which he took to Madurai. Prayer group surrounded him with many questions. Omar explained everything. They were sorry for him and prayed for him and his family. They prayed that God should somehow change his dad's heart so that he should also believe in Jesus. They thanked the Lord for protecting Omar when he was facing the tribulation all alone. Even though the throat pain was for many days, his faith in Jesus became stronger. He went forward in Christian life affirming Jesus is his life and death a victory.