A Short Story

ONLY DAUGHTER

She was the only daughter of her parents. Yes, the middle-aged couple had only one daughter, born thirteen years after their marriage. So, they loved her very much.

She was a beautiful and smart girl, and a talented student in both studies and extracurricular activities. Her teachers liked and loved her very much. Moreover, her behaviour and demeanour towards others were praiseworthy and enviable. Her parents watched her growth with silent attention.

Now she was a mature girl studying for her postgraduate degree. She also loved her parents and was obedient to them. Her positive activities always brought happiness to her parents.

She was active on social media. Recently, she had formed a bond of love with a boy on Instagram. Their love blossomed day by day, with increasing fragrance.

Of late, she had not been punctual in returning home after college hours. Her mother noticed this and one day asked her about her late arrival.

The daughter smiled and replied,

“I had combined study sessions with some of my classmates for a few hours. That is why I was late, Mother. Don’t be afraid.”

Her mother believed her in good faith.

But the fact was that she was finding time to meet and chat with her lover. She did not know his actual identity or whereabouts, but she loved him blindly.

He was a trickster who intended to exploit her in any manner. One day, while chatting with her, he sweetly expressed his ever-growing wish to marry her.

She was reluctant to do so because she knew that her parents would never allow such a marriage.

But the chap sternly told her,

“If that is so, you must leave your home and register our marriage according to law. I can’t wait any longer. You should come out of your home tomorrow with this sole aim. Otherwise, I will make your life miserable. I will, no doubt, come to your home and meet your parents to tell them about our love and proposed marriage.”

He spoke in a threatening tone.

His words filled her mind with panic.

She feared that if everything came to the notice of her parents, they would certainly be frustrated and fall into deep depression. So, she took a decision in her disturbed mind.

One day, she did not return home from college even after college hours. Her aged parents became extremely anxious and wept in nervousness. They contacted her classmates for information.

One of her friends told them that she had been absent from class that day and that they did not know where she was.

Some well-wishers advised them to lodge a complaint with the police. They promptly did so.

The police immediately enquired into the matter and detected the girl along with her so-called Instagram lover in a nearby lodge. As required by law, they produced both of them before the jurisdictional Magistrate’s court.

The police also informed her parents about the matter. They hurried to the court with overwhelming agony and anguish.

In the vicinity of the court, the parents saw their beloved daughter standing with her lover. She did not even look towards her aged and sorrowing parents.

Her broken-hearted mother called her daughter, crying, and tried to move towards her to embrace her. But the court officials prevented her and reminded her of the discipline to be maintained there.

The Magistrate was present and asked the daughter about her decision:

“Whom do you wish to go with — your lover or your parents who are present here?”

The girl respectfully submitted:

“Sir, I have attained maturity, and I would like to go with my lover. Moreover, we have mutually agreed to marry through a legally registered marriage and live together in the future.”

She said so because she felt that she had no other option but to obey her lover, who had already trapped her in the name of love.

The Hon’ble Court allowed her request, as required by law.

Seeing this, her mother became nervous and fell unconscious. Her husband and others present there tried to support and nurse her.

Meanwhile, the daughter and her lover, rejoicing over the court’s verdict, went away together without even looking back at her aged parents.

After a few minutes, the mother regained consciousness and immediately asked about her daughter.

She could not see her there.

In panic, she cried aloud:

“My dear daughter… you are everything to us, dear! We have no other son or daughter. You are the only light in our lives. We are nearing the inevitable end of our lives, and we have no one else to help us.

Don’t go with that unknown and unfamiliar chap, leaving us in this miserable condition. If you do so, no doubt, I will end my life here itself.

Daughter… daughter… your mother is calling you!

Where have you flown, leaving us both behind, dear?”

The mother cried and cried, broken-hearted.

Her husband also wept. At last, he managed to console his wife, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Who was there to witness their pain?

Which love is divine here?

Is it the everlasting and evergreen love of the parents, who loved their only daughter throughout her life?

Or is it the incidental love that was shaped and developed through Instagram chats?

……….