JOIN US It was also on the same day (June 8) Vighnesh, the second son of the couple left home for exams, only not to return.
The family had been waiting for Vighnesh, ready with dishes prepared for the ceremony — vade, payasa, sukkinunde (sweet) among others. But, the wait turned futile, when they learnt that he had gone missing around 5.30 pm.
The family had returned just two hours ago, after immersing the ashes of the 20-year-old youth, in Sangama (confluence of rivers) at Srirangapatna on Tuesday, when Deccan Herald met them. Srinath’s eyes welled up, when he spoke about his son — a soft-spoken, friendly and loving kid.
Aversion
“He had an aversion towards gold. But he was wearing my gold chain and finger ring. I had forced him to wear them as I had to perform my mother’s last rites,” Srinath told this paper.
According to his mother, Vighnesh was not like other young people of his age. He knew his limits. Apart from college and temple, he rarely ventured out. Whenever his friends, including Sudheendra who was allegedly kidnapped and murdered, came home, he spoke a few words. He loved silence more than anything else, said a relative of Vighnesh.
Obviously shell-shocked over the turn of events, the couple said even now they are in a daze.
“Our elder son Ganesh works in Wipro in Mysore. Our younger son was named Vighnesh, after the same god. So many people were amused. We named him (Vighnesh) hoping that he would be free from all obstacles (Vighna in Kannada),” says Shobha in a choked tone.
Srinath’s aunt, who was visibly upset over the media blowing up the incident out of proportion, vent her ire against this reporter.
She said if the media had maintained restraint, the boys would have returned home.
We can’t trust khaki (police), khadi (politicians) and ‘kari kotu’ (advocates in black coat). The only dress we believe in is khavi (ochre).
Even if the accused are brought to book, they would come out on bail. Nothing can bring the boys back to life, she said. Incidentally, this woman lost her husband several years ago in a similar case. He was done to death in KRS and his body was found some days later.
Students suffer from GAD
According to a psychologist, the students whose names have cropped up linking to the very incident after being absent for the exams will be experiencing ‘General Anxiety Disorder’ referred to as GAD.
There will be two extremes in their behaviour- either they become aggressive or submissive depending on the circumstances. The fear starts building within them and there are chances of slipping into depression. Naturally youths of this age, on the cusp of adulthood suffer from these kinds of disorders. They may also take any extreme step.