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I’m not a perfect parent. But as I get older, I continue to work hard to become the best version of myself for my kids.
This is a short story about losing my daughter.
I opened the door, there was my neighbor standing . I could feel the worst fear even before he told me.
“What” I replied.
When she didn’t come through the door at the expected time from school, I was about to call the school authorities. That was the time he told me.
I started calling all her friends, my family members until I got exhausted.
Around 10 p.m. I had to call the police. My daughter’s missing was reported to the newspapers, our local residential association, shared on social media but no luck. It’s been 7 days. I got exhausted. Sometimes I cried emotionally, sometimes uncontrollably.
I am telling you this because I need you to know that I deeply love and care for my children. They are well taken care of, and all their needs and most of their wants are fulfilled.
I kept my breathing steady and checked her usual haunts.
My bed, where she liked to relax and watch cartoons. No, she is not there.
Her sister’s room, where she loves to irritate and torture her with endless questions. No, nowhere to be found.
I took a glance throughout the kitchen and living room. The bathroom. All was quiet, on the home front, no she was nowhere sometimes I kept imagining she is hidden in a room.
The tears of “how did I let this happen?” were threatening me. I thought of my sweet five year old, locked up in a room, wondering what is happening and the image was almost too much to bear. The thought of her tiny fingers reaching out to me…”Mama please help” was echoing… “Mama open your eyes”
“Was it a dream?”
My daughter in front of me, her gleaming eyes, her innocent smile woke me up in the morning. I saw the worst fear. I told my morning prayers with her and thanked God.
I still feel awful, guilty and ashamed that it all happened as though this incident happened in real life. I can tell you that after this experience, I made sure to keep a closer eye on my children at all times.
Image Source: Still from the Netflix Movie Ta Ra Rum Pum
A post graduate with certificaton in Content writing and Journalism. Fascinated in the world of inspirational and motivational books, a galaxy of knowledge out there inspired me into an avid reader since childhood. It gave read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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