India, March 12 -- It was a Tuesday - Rakshabandhan, August 20, 2013 - when the phone rang at the Rana household.

Ashok Rana, then a chef with a private catering company, picked up the call. On the other end was news about his elder son, Harish Rana, who was studying civil engineering in Chandigarh.

Like many young men his age, Harish was obsessed about fitness and thought of augmenting his income - and pay his tuition fees - by entering bodybuilding competitions. Like many middle-class families, the Ranas looked forward to a bright, healthy future for their elder son.

That was not to be.

The call informed Ashok that his son had fallen from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation.

For the next 13 years, Harish lay in a veg...