“The narrative revolves around the importance of family bonds, depicting Laxmi’s longing to be with her parents and the contrasting dynamics within her extended family.”
Embarking on adventures with parents is every girl’s cherished dream. Riding on the back of a motorcycle, especially with her father, adds an extra layer of thrill and excitement to the journey. The sheer joy derived from even a brief ride feels like unlocking a personal achievement, making each moment unforgettable. Sharing laughter, creating memories, and having a blast with parents isn’t just happiness; it’s a unique sense of accomplishment as if every girl has achieved something extraordinary through these special moments.
“Now, let me share a brief story about how Laxmi returned to her hometown after two months.”
“Oh God, it’s still 2 am; it feels so late. I’m patiently waiting for the sun’s arrival,” expressed Laxmi.
The divine sentiment echoed within, “My dear devotee, don’t be overly excited. I understand your anticipation for the next day. Stay composed and welcome a peaceful sleep.” Laxmi reclines on the bed, cradling her mobile device.
God’s inner feeling: “Beautiful, my dear, you will experience new things. Enjoy it, but you will reach your destination very late.”
At 4:55 am, Laxmi awakens and glances at her mobile. Filled with excitement, she exclaims, “God, I need to go to my hometown. Please hasten the arrival of the sun. After two months, I’m reuniting with my parents. I’m thrilled and eagerly anticipating the taste of my mom’s food. Oh God, when will it be 5:30 am? Alright, I’ll wait for a few more minutes.”
Laxmi gazes towards God’s photo and begins murmuring to herself. At 5:20 am, she awakens, brushes her teeth, and goes through her regular activities.
It’s now 6:10 am, and Laxmi keeps an eye on her mobile to track the time. She prays to God and performs Puja. The Puja concludes at 6:25 am, and she gazes at her uncle.
The uncle says, “Dear Laxmi, wait for some time; we are also coming along with you.”
Laxmi is shocked; her heart is broken into pieces. She retreats inside the room and keeps her eyes on the god, murmuring, “Oh God, what a sudden twist. I had envisioned so much. If I went alone, my dad would come, and we’d ride on his bike. I planned to buy Samosas for my sister, her favorite fast food. But now, all these plans have been canceled.”
She sits on the floor, gazing at the time with every passing second. She sends a message to her parents and looks towards the door. Her initial excitement fades away, replaced by a sense of dullness and disappointment.
The divine sentiment echoes within, “Dear devotee, don’t be disappointed. Every time you go individually, but this time you will go with your uncle’s family. I know every daughter shares her feelings with her parents as well, and she feels more comfortable with her parents than anyone else. But today you will experience a few things and be happy; don’t get disturbed.”
Laxmi keeps a continuous watch on her uncle’s family and the time. As the clock strikes 7 am, she is shocked and feels disheartened, waiting anxiously. Finally, they get ready by 8:30 am. Despite feeling angry, Laxmi manages to control herself. Internally, she expresses, “God, it’s now 8:30 am. If I had gone alone, I would have reached halfway to my destination. By 11 am, I could have been in my hometown. Why this delay? Now, I have to wait again for another uncle and his family to come.”
At 9 am, another uncle’s family finally arrives, and they commence their journey. While traveling, discussions unfold among them. Laxmi’s cousins are engrossed in their mobile phones, avoiding conversation. Laxmi remains silent and eventually falls asleep. Meanwhile, her uncles engage in a conversation, planning to visit various places. As Laxmi overhears their plans, she is shocked. Internally, she expresses, “Oh God, do we have to visit temples? I’m not interested in visiting any temples; I just want to meet my family—my father, mother, and grandparents. You know how excited I am to see them. But, you shouldn’t have allowed this. Please, God, do something.”
The divine sentiment echoes within, “My dear devotee, I understand your eagerness to meet your family. You’ve waited for 2 months, and now, can’t you wait for a few more hours? I wish to test your patience, to see if you can maintain your composure. I am aware that you have managed to control your anger for the past two months.”
As Laxmi gazes through the window, her inner thoughts resonate, “God, I’ve kept silent for two months, adhering to everything they said. You’re aware that I’m not keen on staying here, but I endure it for the sake of my family. Except for my uncle, no one treats me as a human being. They don’t even care about me. At the very least, they don’t bother asking whether I’ve had my food or not. And as for my aunt, she is a very cunning person. Even my cousin won’t speak with me. I don’t even know what I’ve done to them; they perceive me as a worthless entity.
But they assign me various tasks, especially a lot of kitchen work, although she never acknowledges that. Instead, she consistently points out my mistakes, meticulously searching for them as if using a magnifying mirror. Oh God, I yearn to escape from this distress. You’re aware that I can’t even share my true feelings with them.”
Laxmi experiences hunger but refrains from informing anyone. Eventually, they reach the temple, and she accompanies her uncles. Witnessing the divine image, she feels a sense of joy, saying, “God, I am grateful for this encounter, but my heart longs to visit my hometown. I’ve mentioned it before; I prefer to travel to places with my parents. I feel most at ease in their company, not with my uncles. Let it go; what truly matters is everyone’s happiness. Bless me.”
They leave the temple and continue their travels to visit a few more temples. Laxmi feels a sense of dullness as she yearns to meet her parents. Internally, she expresses, “God, what are you doing? I understand this is a test of my patience, but I long to see my parents. I’ll only stay with them for 5 days, and then, I have to return to my uncle’s house when college starts. God, let me tell you one thing—my parents mean everything to me; they are my life. I am not comfortable being away from them, but my circumstances are difficult, so I have to stay. Please, God, try to understand my heartfelt, please. Please.”
She offers prayers to God, and they reach another temple where they have a meal. Resuming their journey, they eventually visit three temples. Finally, at 4 pm, they arrive in her hometown. Although tears well up in her eyes, she conceals them, feeling joyous at the sight of her parents. Despite her happiness, she remains silent due to the presence of her uncles. By 5 pm, her uncles depart, bringing immense relief. Laxmi then opens up, sharing her experiences of the past two months, details about her college, and updates on her exams. At 5:30 pm, she and her father ride into town on a bike. They purchase food items and, finally, reach home.
Laxmi is filled with happiness, expressing, “God, thank you so much. I genuinely feel joyful looking at them. Also, I traveled with my father. Even a short journey with him brings me immense happiness; it feels like a personal achievement.”
