DAUGHTER WITH FATHER

PERCEPTIONS AND RELATIONS;

It was a bright day. I woke up after seeing my dad who was with Raja, getting ready to go to our farm. Raja is our ox who's age was equal to mine. 

Raja and dad were my family. Dad loved me and him very much. We both have spent nearly 12 years of our age with Daddy. 

We had small farm nearby our village which dad had got it from his ancestors. We survived because of that field on which dad farmed. 

Without any late I quickly freshened up and followed Raja and Daddy. I saw dad was ploughing the field after our last crop was harvested. 

I enjoyed this because I used to run in our field and Daddy would run after me asking me to stop doing it. I loved the kind of attention when I was at field. 

Daddy, Shanthi aunty who lived nearby to our field, Chacha, whose field was just beside ours every body enjoyed my naughtiness. 

But Shanthi aunty remained isolated she never smiled, nor laughed. Daddy used to say that she lived alone and she was very brave who had gone through so much in her life. 

Chacha was my favorite he laughed and cracked jokes with me when we were in our field.

So the moment I entered our field I started jumping and running here and there. Daddy started shouting; "Taran no!! come back here don't do this, I cannot run after you every time beta" 

so yeah, my name is Taran meaning freedom.

 Daddy named me so because he gave me all the freedom right from my childhood, selecting my school, selecting my friends, selecting the dresses I want to wear, everything. He should have named me only after thinking that he would give me all I want because I shouldn't be feeling low by seeing others who had their mothers to do everything for them.

I ran for at least 25 mins. Daddy started yelling he was coming closer but the look on his face was suspicious. It was something like he was looking down and following something that was leading me.

I stopped right in the center of our field. Daddy came close to me, he said; "beta lift your gown little bit I want to see your legs. 

The moment I lifted my dress I was frightened, my legs had blood stains. I started shouting,

 "daddy Am bleeding but I don't have any pain, why daddy?, what happened, did I get hurt?

Beta no please stop shouting everyone are looking here please stay calm. Come I'll take you home."

The moment we reached our home dad took me under the tap and washed my legs. I saw my dads hand shiver. After washing my legs he said ''Now go inside the bathroom and wash the rest."

I did not understand anything, I was completely in shock. When I went inside the bathroom I saw my clothes everything stained. I removed, washed, changed and called my dad who was sitting with his hand on his head. 

He was very upset. I went to him and asked what is it dad, what happened to me? 

Daddy replied; "My innocent baby you have now become a women, you have grown big. I didn't realize this coming, it had to come but didn't know this soon".

After an hour Shanthi aunty came to our house. I was confused why she came. Daddy had a quick talk with her and then she came in. Aunty gave me a cloth and guided me few things which I was uncomfortable though. For five days I was kept inside my room.

She visited our house daily and took really good care of me. 

After fifth day I was asked to take head bath and get ready. 

After I did so, when i came out i saw our neighbors, relatives whom I never saw till date were waiting for me. I was searching for my dad, Daddy was pretty happy with all of the people around. 

They wished me, greeted me and congratulated me.

 Everything that was happening since one week crossed over my head. I never wanted all of these. Daddy didn't sleep beside me from that day, he avoided me all these day. He went to the farm and didn't call me to come along. I felt as if he didn't understand how to care for me. 

I did not understand why this aunty was taking so much care for me. I didn't like anything. 

After all of these things happened, One day Daddy came to me and introduced Shanthi aunty again. It crossed over my head again. He said she is going to take care of me for my whole life and he is going to marry her the coming week.

And in no time the week, the day, daddy was going to marry her was very next day. 

I was confused, jealous, irritated, scared, mixed emotions. I couldn't imagine the coming days without my dad's love and living with this neighbor as my mother.

I decided, today night I am going to run away. As planned when dad and Raja were asleep, I sneaked out of our house with some amount of cash that was given to me on the day of my "blood staining occasion". I looked back for the one last time, gave them a flying kiss, thinking that I am Taran known for my freedom which dad was taking it away from me this time.

The next day, Shanti knocking the door; "Keshav, Keshav its late we need to go to the temple, the Pandit is waiting for us". 

Keshav opens the door, in a low voice he calls for help, Shanthi, Shanthi, Taran , Taran. In confused state of mind.

Shanthi; What happened to Taran? Where is she?

Keshav; She is not here, I don't know where she went.

Shanthi; It's okay may be she is waiting for us at the temple to give us surprise.

Keshav; Yeah, might be. My little one knows how to make fool of me. haha. Okay I will get ready and come lets get starting and do this for our little one.

Shanthi; Don't think much Keshav, she loves you. I will take good care of her.

Keshav: Thank you Shanthi,  for all your doings I will be grateful for life.

Shanthi: I am waiting, go get ready.

Keshav and Shanthi look for Taran. Taran is not here too, where has she gone?

villagers and relatives greeting scene; The elder ladies take Keshav and Shanthi inside the temple and start the rituals.

Whole time Keshav and Shanthi look for Taran. They cannot inform anyone of this that their little has gone missing. They get married in Hindu ritual exchanging garlands and walking those seven steps.

I spent the whole night by the side of a pan shop on the highway. Early morning when I woke up I saw huge personality aunty was standing in front of me. She offered me tea. I was confused whether to accept it from a stranger or not. I looked at pan shop uncle, he was looking at me I felt as if he wanted to tell me something. 

As it was cold the other night I wanted something hot so I drank the tea given by her. She looked very much interested in me. She tried to please me and I could sense that. She asked me; beta where are you from ? Why are you here? I didn't wanted to tell the whole story, I said I ran away from my house to make my living. 

she replied; Very good beta, we need to make our own living and stand on our own legs. You are very smart and intelligent". Taran smiling; Yes aunty. You seem to be independent too. 

She asked me; Would you like to become independent like me? Would you like to join me? I felt her genuine, she was very nice. She talked me through. After sleeping the whole night here I felt it will be fine if I go with her. 

And so I replied; yes aunty sure. She smiled and  accepted me as if she was waiting for it. 

I felt happy too.

Then after sometime she went to the tea shop, she started clapping her hands asking for biscuit and money. She was asking the men too standing over there for money. 

When I saw this I understood the whole scene; "she was not she, not that, she could hurt me in any way because she is not he".

Little did I know in what kind of trap that I am falling in, I would never have left my house.

Their came a truck where many like her were sitting she came close to me held my hand and took me inside the truck. I started shouting, the tea man couldn't help me either. They got hold on me, closed my mouth and surrounded me. It was suffocating. The truck started moving. 

Little did I know the protective embrace of my daddy, I would have never left the house.

I didn't know where they were taking me. They were singing, dancing and laughing on each other. There were men who came close to me tried to hold my hand. I could sense their bad touch. 

Little did I know why daddy stopped sleeping beside me after that day, I would have never left my house.

The truck stopped, They took me inside a building and made me sit in a corner. All I could do was cry. I was doing it since long time now. But this time crying over the big mistake that I have committed. 

Keshav and Shanthi who were now happily married ever after, rushed home. Keshav started crying over her little girl. Shanthi consoling him.

Keshav; Shanthi what did i do wrong that my girl has ran away i dont know where is she and why she did this to me.

Shanthi; Keshav this is not the time to cry, before this word spreads in our village we should find our daughter first.

Keshav: Yes, the only way out to the city she knows is the highway. she must have taken that route. come on lets get changed and bring her home.

 

Keshav, and chacha arrive at the pan shop.

The tea man briefs everything to Keshav.

Keshav after listening this gets idea of what has happened and rushes to his friend who has friend in police.

Three of them, Keshav, Chacha, and Police man ,for three days search for the truck and the gang that took Taran along with them.

Three days passed, many men came to see me, touched me here, there everywhere. There were negotiations happening with the "She" who took me with her here. But at last nobody took me with them but was left here in this room itself.

Fourth day;

I was sleeping on my back with hand close to my chest, legs folded, turned towards the wall. I heard footsteps approaching me. Somebody tapped me on my back asking me to turn. I didn't turn, they grab hold on me and turned me. i kept my eyes closed. I heard somebody crying. The voices looked familiar as I could hear known language. I was scared to open my eyes, but I had to thinking I could get help.

I opened my eyes. The person who was standing in front of me was none other than my daddy. 

I rushed towards him, I jumped over him. I cried and cried asking him to forgive me. 

He hugged me so tight that all that I had gone through just vanished. The first thing he spoke was Taran, I am proud of you, come lets go home.

After few months everything got normal. Shanthi amma took very good care of me. That time I called her aunty thinking she took away my dad from me. But what I didn't understand was daddy brought her to me so that I had somebody who could make things in coming future great for me.

Now after an year, we are family of five and happily lived ever after. I got a baby sister to whom I could set examples for.

What would have Keshav done if it was not for his daughter?

What else would have a father done to her child with no mother? 

Keshav should have spoken freely whatever it is to his child and explaining things to her. 

But what if she was very young to understand that?

What would had Taran done if she had not have felt that jealous and avoided?

What if Taran thought twice, What if father is trying to make himself and her more happy?

 Why shouldn't father give life to another independent and widow women who is trying hard ?

Keshav thought Taran would love if he choose to care her even more by any means. 

Taran thought her father would leave her and is choosing Shanthi over her. 

Little did Taran speak to her father about her feelings, little did Keshav spoke about the future outcomes, things would have been different.

If they had perceived about one another, no doubt things would have been different. 

It is not the same way you think, that others might be thinking too. The way you look into things and they way their attitude makes things understandable are not in our hands. But loving each other is in our hands no matter what. 

 

Your personality is because of your perceptions and perspectives. 

So make your perceptions and relations clear enough.