In today’s era, the number of couples, especially women, who do not want children is increasing. As women are moving out of the confines of their homes and making their careers in different fields, this trend is gaining momentum. But it is true that no matter how busy a woman is, if her family relations are good, she can become a good person to the children. On the other hand, if the married life is not going well, it is better not to have children. Because of such parents, many children are growing up frustrated in today’s time. Such children cannot be expected to take over the reins of the country. Such children cannot stand up as good human beings. Because it is difficult for children to grow up with positive thinking due to fights between parents since childhood, neglectful behavior, and lack of love. Let me tell you a true story. Which happened in my neighborhood a few days ago.

When Nidhi got ready for school at 7:30 in the morning, she quietly went upstairs to her mother’s bedroom. She slowly opened the door and saw that all the things were scattered. She came down to the drawing room.dad was sleeping on the sofa. Coming to her room, she took out fifty rupees from her piggy bank and kept it in her pocket. She picked up her bag and started to leave to catch the school bus when the maid came. She said – “Nidhi , I have made potato paratha, eat it.” Nidhi looked at aunty with disappointed eyes and said – “No aunty, I am not hungry.” The maid forcibly put the tiffin in her bag. Nidhi left for school. The maid started thinking – ‘Poor little girl! She has grown so much in this thirteen year old age due to the daily fights between mom and dad. She has been working with Neha and Naresh for the last ten years. Both are working in high positions in a multinational company. Nidhi is their only daughter. There is no dearth of anything. But both keep fighting with each other all the time.  Naresh has been wanting a divorce from Neha for some time now and wants Neha to take the responsibility of Nidhi and Neha wants a share in the property along with giving the responsibility of Nidhi to Naresh. Due to this, both of them keep fighting. No one wants to take the responsibility of the child. Therefore, both of them use abusive language for each other. Poor Nidhi comes home from school and hides in her room. She only talks to aunty. Like every day, Neha and Naresh had breakfast in their respective rooms and left for the office. At around 12, a call came from the school that reach the hospital quickly as Nidhi is hurt. After reaching the hospital, it was found that Nidhi had fallen from a very high height. She was kept in the ICU. Preparations were being made for the operation.

There was a very deep injury on the head. The operation started. But life lost to death. Neha and Naresh were stunned. They were so shocked that they lost their senses. Nidhi’s grandmother also came. Seeing her son and daughter-in-law, she turned her face away in disgust. There was an inquiry, statements of teachers and students were taken, it was revealed that she fell down due to loss of balance. After completing the thirteenth day ritual, Naresh tried to stop his mother but she said with tears in her eyes- ‘You both’s selfishness and stubbornness ate up my granddaughter. I wanted to take her with you but you both made her a pawn of your ego and took her life. I will not be able to forgive you both’, saying this the mother left.

The maid was in shock since then, but somehow she regained her senses. She told Naresh and Neha that Mam, I will not be able to live here anymore. The walls of this house are filled with the sobs of my Nidhi. I have seen her crying sometimes in my lap and sometimes hiding. At times, I felt like running away with her, but I was a coward and could not do so. If I had left, perhaps she would have been alive today.

Naresh and Neha probably had nothing to say now. As the days passed, their fights had turned into a strange snow. All their emotions had taken a silent form inside. It was a Sunday. With great difficulty Neha had gathered the courage to go to Nidhi’s room. Both of them did not step into her room for months. What kind of parents were they? Her room, her bed, pillow, her books, her pencils, pens, school bag, everything was kept as it was. When they opened the cupboard, her clothes fell down, her light blue night suit which she used to wear often. Neha started taking things out of the cupboard while crying. Then she found a blue colored diary in her hands. She opened it with trembling hands, some of the front pages were torn. Page after page, the story of a broken heart was recorded in small pieces- Mummy Papa, I will not write dear to you. Because dear means lovely. Papa, you call mummy your daughter. And mummy, you call papa your daughter. Why don’t you both say our daughter.

On the next page it was- You know, when I go to my uncle’s house, my uncle and aunt love me a lot. When aunt lovingly calls Anu her child, I feel that am I not a cute child? Mamma, I obey everything you say, yet you never called me a cute child.

On the next page it was written- Mummy, when I go to Bua’s house, Bua loves me a lot. But she cooks food of Naksh’s choice. Mummy, I also like Rajma beans very much. I told you to cook it but you said don’t bother me. Whatever you want to eat, tell aunty. You know Mummy, I have stopped eating Rajma beans. Now I don’t feel like eating it.

Papa I wanted to go with you to eat ice cream but you said that you don’t have time for useless things. Papa when my sister in law and Uncle can take Vipul and me to eat ice cream then why don’t they say that all these are useless things. You know mummy I want to go away from my house where I don’t have to hear that I will not keep Nidhi. Where I don’t hear papa’s shouting. Papa if I were older then I would never have troubled you both, I would have gone away on my own. I love you both very much. Papa mummy why don’t you both love me.

On one page it was written- I love you aunty, for loving me. For making me sleep with you when I am scared. For listening to everything I say. And on the last page it was written- Grandma I love you, please take me away from here, I promise I won’t trouble you anymore.

Neha hugged the diary to her chest and started crying loudly. Naresh also came after hearing her crying. Neha gave him the diary. While turning page after page, the expressions on his face kept changing. He could not control himself and sat down on the ground. Neha said while crying- “Naresh, that was not an accident, it was suicide. Our Nidhi freed us from the relationship which we considered a burden. Naresh, we both killed our daughter.” Naresh started crying bitterly.

This is the story of every household where parents fight in front of the children or the family breaks apart and the children bear the brunt of it. If you cannot give a good upbringing then you have no right to give birth to a child. Good upbringing is not achieved by money or luxuries. It means how close you are to your child at the time of his emotional need.