The Power of Restraint: Karan’s Journey to Justice

Karan was a bank employee living in the peaceful city of Mangalore with his loving wife and daughter. Their family was known for their kindness and willingness to help those in need. They lived harmoniously in their rented house, and Karan, despite not having a lavish income, was content with his job as an executive manager at the bank.

Each morning, Karan would drop his daughter off at school on his two-wheeler before heading to work. One day, as they were about to set off, Karan received a call from an old friend asking for help with hacking a website. Karan politely declined, as he had left his hacking skills behind in his college days. He urged his daughter to hurry, knowing they were running late.

However, in the rush, his daughter forgot her lunchbox and had to run back to retrieve it. Karan gently reminded her to be more careful with her belongings, emphasizing the importance of discipline. With a smile, they said goodbye to Karan’s wife and headed to school.

Their day took an unexpected turn when they encountered heavy traffic, an unusual sight for that early hour. Karan, curious about the cause of the delay, noticed two young men engaged in a senseless fight. One of them was the owner of a grocery shop near Kankarnadi Circle, a local landmark.

Karan intervened, urging them to stop the fight and consider the inconvenience they were causing to everyone stuck in traffic. However, instead of heeding his advice, one of the fighters suddenly struck Karan, leaving him shocked and in pain. He managed to protect his daughter, but tears welled up in his eyes. This was the first time a grown man had attacked him, and it was difficult to accept.

As he contemplated retaliating, he closed his eyes for a moment, reflecting on the consequences. He realized that many of the people waiting in the traffic were parents of his daughter’s schoolmates or colleagues from work. How would they perceive him if he resorted to violence in the street?

Furthermore, if he fought back and something happened to him, who would protect his wife and daughter in the future? These thoughts weighed heavily on his mind. Raised with values of non-violence and restraint by his father, Karan struggled with his emotions. He collected his dropped wallet and, ensuring his daughter was okay, left the scene.

His daughter, still in shock, asked, “Dad, if you won’t fight back, who will protect us?” Karan, with a heavy heart, replied, “Darling, it’s up to God to punish this person. Don’t worry.” His daughter accepted his answer, and they continued to school.

That evening, when they returned home, their daughter shared the entire story with Karan’s wife, leaving her in tears and feeling vulnerable. Karan, burdened by the incident, declined to eat. After ensuring his daughter was asleep, he locked himself in his room, where he used to work.

The next morning, Karan woke his daughter up, and they went to school as usual. As they reached the same circle, they saw a surprising sight. The man who had attacked Karan the previous day was now being apprehended by the police. They were treating him roughly, dragging him to a police vehicle.

Confused, Karan’s daughter asked, “Dad, is this God punishing him, like you said?” Karan nodded and, when pressed, cryptically answered, “My God is my skills.” The daughter couldn’t comprehend this response, but Karan refused to explain further.

What Karan didn’t reveal was what transpired the night he locked himself in his room. He used his hacking skills to track down the aggressor, remembered his face and the name of the grocery shop he owned. Karan hacked into the man’s Facebook account and sent vulgar messages to the police commissioner’s wife.

Next day, the police arrived to arrest the shop owner, who remained unaware of why he was being detained. Karan had skillfully orchestrated justice without resorting to violence.