My name is Manjunath a 48 year old widower from India. I was leading a decent middle class life until my wife expired few years ago. This is my real life story. Though I am totally ashamed of myself and my actions, I have only written this to make other widowers aware of the dangers of loneliness and also the dangers of staying alone with their daughters during such times of life.
My wife and I have only one daughter. Her name is Madhura. Since she was our only daughter we loved her very much. She too loved us a lot. We got her married very early when she was just 20 years of age.
She had a happy married life and gave birth to two children within the next 5 years.Tragedy stuck this year as her husband passed away in an accident.My daughter became a widow in her early age of 25 years.
My daughter stayed with her in-laws and I lived alone.Her in-laws suggested that Madhura and her children should come and live with me. As this may keep the loneliness of both away, and also a good environment to grow for the children. I also agreed. For few years there was no woman in my house, was depressed and frustrated at my loneliness and hence this creates a great happiness in me.
When my daughter and her children came to live with me, I was overjoyed to have their company. I had a small house with one living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, and the usual bathroom.Since the rooms were very small, each bed-room had space for only one bed. Madhura and her children occupied one bedroom and I slept in the other.
My daughter took charge of all the needs of the house in terms of cooking, cleaning, washing etc. She kept the house clean and made sure that, I was served coffee, milk, breakfast, lunch and dinner on time.
For one month things were fine,one day during the cold winter,I found my daughter sleeping on a mat in the living room early in the morning! I woke her up to ask”Madhu…What happened? Why are you sleeping here? Why are you not sleeping on the bed in your room? ”
She replied, “Oh Papa! There is almost no place on the bed. Your grandchildren toss and turn and kick their legs while sleeping. It was so disturbing and that’s why I came here and slept”
I said “You should have woken me up. I would have come and slept on this mat in the living room and you could have slept on my bed in my bedroom ”
She replied, “No Papa. That is your and my late mummy’s bed. I did not wish to be a nuisance ”
I said, ” Madhu, what is this? You are my daughter. Though you have become a mother of two children,you are still my child. So don’t talk nonsense. From tonight, let your children use the bed in your bed-room.You sleep on my bed and I shall come and sleep here.”
She said, “No Papa. I dont want you to sleep on the floor,so let me sleep here. It’s not a problem for me. You can have your own bed ”
I firmly said, ” No Madhu! you should sleep on my bed and I will sleep on the floor here. That is final.Now,no arguments ”
She said, “OK Papa. But I dont want you to sleep on the floor. If you insist that I should sleep on your bed, then I have an idea. Look Papa, is it okay with you if I come and sleep on your bed along side with you?….Afterall I am your daughter and have slept on your bed along side you so many times during my childhood. ”
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