Real Love 1

My wife called, “How long will you be with that newspaper? Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?”

I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter, Sindu, looked frightened; tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with curd rice. Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age.

I cleared my throat and picked up the bowl.
“Sindu darling, why don't you take a few mouthful of this curd rice? Just for Dad's sake, dear.”
Sindu softened a bit and wiped her tears with the back of her hands.
“Ok, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this. But, you should...”
Sindu hesitated.
“Dad, if I eat this entire curd Rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?”
“Promise.”

I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine and clinched the deal. Now I became a bit anxious.

“Sindu dear, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money right now. Ok?”
“No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive.”

Slowly and painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity. I was silently angry with my wife and my mother for forcing my child to eat something that she detested. After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with expectation. All our attention was on her.

“Dad, I want to have my head shaved off this Sunday!” was her demand.
“Atrocious!” shouted my wife,
“A girl child having her head shaved off? Impossible!”
“Never in our family!” My mother rasped.
“She has been watching too much of television. Our culture is getting totally spoiled with these TV programs!”
“Sindu darling, why don't you ask for something else? We will be sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head.”
“Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?”
I tried to plead with her.