Can’t forgive myself: Woman on helmet decision after son’s death

Kolkata: Sitting on a chair outside her Netaji Nagar home opposite EM Bypass, Noorjahan was continuously lamenting as she cried: "I can never forgive myself." She kept blaming herself for a basic safety protocol she disregarded on Tuesday that claimed her 11-year-old son's life — a helmet.Class IV student Ayush Paik was returning home from school on a scooterette with his mother and two-year-old cousin. He died after sustaining fatal injuries when his body bumped against one of two racing buses passing by in Salt Lake on Tuesday morning. All three two-wheeler riders were flung onto the road while the mother was trying to negotiate an uneven stretch. While the mother, Noorjahan, wore a helmet, the other two weren't wearing them."My son grew out of the helmet he used to wear and complained of discomfort when strapped. His father was supposed to get a new helmet on Wednesday. That is why he was without a helmet on Tuesday. I wish I was more careful. I can never forgive myself for the mistake," cried Noorjahan (35) as her sister tried to console her.Noorjahan said she used to always insist that Ayush wear the helmet and disregard his complaints of discomfort till recently. "It was an old helmet that wore out, and I realised my son grew out of it. So, I asked my husband to replace it. He promised to buy a new one on Wednesday. But the accident happened just before that. I can never forgive myself for the wrong decision. I pray my son forgives me," she rued.Ayush was a student of Vaishno Devi Academy High School in Kestopur. His elder brother (15) also studies in the same school and was attending the school when Tuesday's accident happened.According to Noorjahan, Ayush loved maths and took a keen interest in Taekwondo. "He progressed to the brown belt in a short time and even won a championship recently. We as parents always tried to raise him in the best possible manner despite our financial troubles. One small mistake and our family has been shattered," Noorjahan said.The two-year-old Afroza Khatun, who was with Noorjahan at the time of the accident, suffered bruises on her head and arms. But what saved her from a fatal injury was the fact that she was belted to Noorjahan with a harness strap. When Noorjahan got disbalanced and fell on the left side of the road, she could protect Afroza but couldn't save Ayush, who fell on the other side. CCTV footage showed Ayush's spine rammed into the footboard of the bus before he slumped on the road. He had died of internal bleeding after a rib had broken and ruptured his liver."It's a tragic accident, and I don't know when our family can recover from it. I am thankful to my sister for saving my child, but I don't have the words to console her as she lost her son," said Md Hossain, Noorjahan's brother.
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