Yeah ! that’s how a relationship of a
father and daughter is, in an Indian set up. She’s the Apple of the Eye for her
father. Someone who’ll always be a LITTLE GIRL no matter how much old she grows
up to be.
No matter how scarce the
communication be, but she knows that there is no problem in the world that her father
cannot solve for her. Of course ! Mom is her best friend, someone who’s just
like her, with whom she can share her worries and woes, her dreams and hopes.
She’s someone who loves her by criticising, cares by asking God to solve her
problems and when she can’t do anything she might just be the pillow to cry
aloud!!
But with Dad, it’s different kind of
bond. The channel of communication is always thru Mom. You don’t share a Hug or
a Handshake but the closest you get to see his affection is a playful tap on
your head. And as she grows up, the gap increases somehow, maybe coz of his
workload and reticent nature. He being an invisible provider and Mom being a
constant companion.
It’s weird to share your feelings with
father for a girl…yes, you can do it so easily with your mom, girlfriends or
even male friends. But with dad, God Forbid!!
And then there is a hell of
expectations levied by the society regarding getting his daughter married at
the right age. I guess, the right person never matters. And then the tiff
begins, He sees that the society really doesn’t look up to an independent woman
as they should.
He finds that, an independent woman is suppose to be still dependent on
her Husband no matter how independent she is. Her husband would have the final
say. It’s she who has to adjust to the whims and fancies of the in - laws she
gets …..coz she’s switching houses!
That the society is still
Male dominated and his only daughter is not suppose to support her family, he
makes sure he has enough savings after he gets her married. And along this
struggle, he tries to change this ANGEL into something the world will like.
He wants her to be the ideal
wife, daughter –in – law, mother throughout…so that he can be proud. The Girl
wonders what happened to standing for her own rights and what’s wrong with
being independent and equal to her partner.
Why is she suppose to sacrifice freedom
when the guy isn’t asked to do the same?
And what’s wrong in caring for her own parents who have grown her up?
But then some questions never get answered do they? So the father tries to shut
her up by saying this is how it works and this is how it has been for years !!
And he wonders how will this Daddy’s little angel survive in this Big
Bad World ! But the Angel remembers a little anecdote that happened when she
still was a kid –
The little girl got bruised while playing on the ground, she came
running to her father showing her reddened knee.
“Papa, the world is bad” she cried, “look, how it hurts me, with all
it’s might ! “
The Dad took her in his arms and
bandaged her knee. “ Sure, sweetheart !” he said “ What you say is true, the
world is a bad place, and you have to Pull thru. But, you are “Daddy’s Brave
Girl “and these are lessons you get to learn.
Promise me, to be a SURVIVOR and
you’ll ROCK THE WORLD”.
