Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Palak. She had bright, curious eyes and a heart full of love. Her father, Rajendra, was the centre of her world. Palak’s mother had passed away when she was just a newborn, so Rajendra had raised her on his own. He wasn’t just her father— he was also her mother, her teacher, and her best friend.
Rajendra worked as an auto driver in their small town. His job was tough, but his love for Palak made everything worthwhile. Every morning, before heading out to work, he would kiss her forehead and say, “Study hard my little one. One day, you will be a big person, and I’ll be so proud.”
Palak smiled every time her father said this. She loved school and worked hard to make her father proud. She knew he was sacrificing everything for her. Rajendra made sure she went to the best school, even if it meant driving extra hours to pay for her books, uniforms, and tuition. But for Rajendra, none of that mattered. His only dream was to see Palak succeed.
Every evening, after school, Palak would wait eagerly by the window, watching for her father’s auto. The moment she saw him, she would run out and jump into his arms.
“Papa! Papa! Guess what? I got full marks on my math test!” she would exclaim, waving her test paper in the air.
Rajendra’s tired face would light up with joy. “That’s my girl! You’re going to be a great scholar one day, Palak,” he would say, beaming with pride. Then, they would go inside, and Rajendra would help her with her homework, even though he didn’t understand much of it himself.
As the years passed, Palak grew into a beautiful young woman, smart and full of dreams. She studied computer science in college and worked hard, just like she had always promised her father. Eventually, Palak got an incredible job offer from a big company in Canada.
“Papa, I’m going to Canada!” she said one day, excitement bursting in her voice. “Can you believe it? I’ll be working in a huge company, and I’ll earn enough money to take care of us both!”
Rajendra smiled, though his heart ached. He was happy for her, but the thought of her going so far away left him feeling empty. He had always known this day would come, but he wasn’t ready to let her go.
“Go, my child,” he said softly, placing a hand on her head. “You deserve the best. I’ll miss you, but I’m proud of you. Always remember that.”
Palak hugged her father tightly. “I’ll call you every day, Papa. We’ll talk all the time. You’ll never feel alone.”
With that promise, Palak left for Canada. Her life in the new country was exciting and full of new experiences. She made new friends, learned new things, and soon met a man named Rocky. They became friends, and slowly, that friendship turned into love.
Palak began spending more time with Rocky. They would go on long walks, eat at fancy restaurants, and talk for hours. Slowly, without realizing it, Palak started calling her father less and less.
Rajendra, back in India, waited eagerly for her calls every day. At first, they came often, just like she had promised. But as time passed, the calls became shorter, and sometimes, they didn’t come at all.
One evening, Rajendra sat by the window, staring at the phone in his hand. He had been feeling unwell for a few days, but he didn’t want to worry Palak. She had a new life now, and he didn’t want to be a burden. But his heart ached with loneliness. He missed her voice, her laughter, and the way she would jump into his arms when she came home from school.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Rajendra dialed Palak’s number. When she picked up, her voice was hurried.
“Papa, I’m so busy right now. Can we talk later?” she said.
Rajendra’s voice was soft. “I’m not feeling well, daughter! I just wanted to hear your voice.”
Palak felt a twinge of guilt. “I’m sorry, Papa. I’ll call you soon, I promise.”
But the call never came. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Palak got caught up in her work and her new life with Rocky. She kept telling herself she would call her father tomorrow, but tomorrow never seemed to come.
Back in India, Rajendra’s health worsened. He grew weaker, but he didn’t tell anyone. There was no one to tell. He still hoped, every day, that Palak would call. But the phone stayed silent.
One day, Rajendra didn’t wake up. He passed away alone in his small house, the same house where he had raised Palak with all the love in his heart.
It wasn’t until much later that Palak received the news. She was in the middle of a meeting when she got a call from one of her father’s old friends. The words hit her like a storm: her father was gone.
Palak felt her world crumble. She rushed back to India, her heart heavy with guilt and sorrow. When she arrived at her old home, it was empty and quiet. She saw the chair where her father used to sit, the books he had read to her as a child, and the small kitchen where he had made her favorite meals.
Tears streamed down her face as she realized how much her father had suffered in silence. She hadn’t been there for him when he needed her most. All those promises she had made about calling him every day, about taking care of him, seemed meaningless now. It was too late.
At her father’s funeral, Palak knelt by his grave and whispered through her tears, “I’m sorry, Papa. I’m so, so sorry. I should have been there for you. I should have kept my promise.”
She knew that no amount of tears could bring him back. But in her heart, she promised herself that she would never forget the love and sacrifices her father had made for her. She would always carry his memory with her, and she would live her life in a way that would make him proud.
Palak realized that while she had found love in Canada, she had lost the greatest love she had ever known—the love of her father. And no matter what, nothing could fill that void.
From that day on, Palak made sure that she never let anyone or anything come between her and the people she loved. Because love, she learned, was not about words or promises. It was about being there, every day, in the small moments that mattered most.
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