A Short Story
THE SMILE BEHIND THE SCREEN
Mother is always watching her teenage daughter with curiosity. She hardly ever gets an opportunity to see her beloved daughter without a mobile phone in her hand, usually connected to an earphone. The daughter is always in a jubilant mood with her phone. She speaks over the phone privately and laughs to herself without any circumspection.
One day, her mother asked her, “With whom do you speak and laugh so much?”
Hearing this, the daughter smiled and told her mother in a mild tone:
“Mother…! I am a teenager. I belong to the Gen-Z sphere of the world. I have so many relationships through social media groups. I chat with them every day about various issues and happenings taking place in our society. These are quite natural activities among us.”
The daughter narrated all this in a harmonious tone to her mother.
“That might be so, as you have explained it. But being constantly engaged with your mobile phone without caring about your home and parents cannot be considered a good habit. I will never accept this, even if you claim that it is the fashion and lifestyle of Gen-Z society.”
With a nervous mind, the daughter told her mother impatiently:
“Mother…! You are old-fashioned, with rusty thoughts in your mind. You don’t know about the present world. We like to live like free birds with strong wings. We never want to be slaves to our homes and family members. We are always inclined to mingle with those who travel with us in the same boat and beat to the same rhythm.”
The mother patiently listened to her daughter and responded with an outburst of grief:
“Daughter…! You are a teenage girl who is still learning how to survive in this superficial world. Now, you are not standing on your own legs; you are living under the care and protection of your parents and relatives.
“In my simple understanding, I know that life in this digital world moves very fast, with many unanticipated and unexpected dangers to individuals, especially to innocent girls.
“Nasty and hasty vultures are flying around us, ready to hurt our hearts through digital devices, disguised as seekers of love and friendship.
“But I honestly acknowledge the progressive thoughts and activities of the new generation like you. They are, perhaps, the necessity of the times.
“What I intend to say, in brief, is that your generation should try to formulate an easy and safe way of life in this digital world, amalgamating modern freedom with moral obligations towards the family.”
The mother’s simple but morality-oriented words showered enlightenment upon the daughter.
The daughter remained silent for a moment. Then, with a gentle smile, she put down her mobile phone and embraced her mother with a newly emerging bond of love.
For the first time in a long while, the mother saw her daughter’s smile—not from behind the mobile screen, but from her heart.
