Always Dad's Little Girl

It was midnight; the sky was dark, the twinkling stars were hidden by the dark black clouds. The winds roared. I heard thunder; I was a little bit afraid. I tugged under the Blanket and slept. I heard a sound,

"Knock, knock"

Is someone knocking on the door this late-night; it must be my imagination. I cleared my mind and slept; there was no sound for some time. Later I heard a loud sound.

"Bam, bam"

Someone was knocking on the window forcefully; who would it be? A thief, I have no money or a murderer, I have done nothing for someone to murder me, my heart pounded "lubb dubb" I could hear my heartbeat, I was too scared, sweats of fear dripped from my temple, “Do I need to go? Or stay”, I was in confusion; suddenly I heard a rumble of thunder,

“Aaahhh” I cried in fear, and then the rain began to pour.

The raindrops rattled loudly. I slowly got out of my room without making any noise; I stepped down into the hall. It was silent and still. I didn’t hear any more knocking sound. “Oh' it is just my imagination; I relieved with a deep breath, as I turned I saw two human figures standing near the window, my eyes widened.

“Thieves” I trembled in fear, the two figures again knocked on the window, “what to do? Let me call the police”. I took my phone and dialled.

"Sir, there are two thieves in my home"

“Give your location”

I gave my location, and the police told me to stay inside the house. I gazed at the window, two figures stood there. The rain began to pour heavily. I hid behind the sofa and watched the two figures. They spoke something and went away. Did the thieves leave? I wondered, “Okay let’s go to the room”. As I tried to move, I saw one figure, it had a rod and in a crunch, he broke the window. The glass pieces were scattered, I hid behind the sofa, and I took the broom.

I saw the shadow of the thief, moving towards the kitchen, then it shifted in my direction, it was approaching the sofa, near so near,

“Hyah” I jumped up and beat him with the broom,

“You bloody thief”

“Stop it”, I’m the police” he shouted

“What! Police”, I was shocked. I turned on the lights and yes, of course, he was the police. I saw him dressed in a police uniform. I was so ashamed,

“Sir, I’m so sorry”

He didn’t say anything but stared at me

“You are the one who called”

“Yes” I replied

“They aren’t thieves, they are cops”

“What! Cops”

I was unable to say anything, why the cops knocked at this late-night seriously I wondered, he waved me to open the door and I did. I saw three cops standing in front of the door. I was in confusion.

“Why you knocked on my window?”

I asked them, they shared a look, one cop stepped forward and said,

“You know Mr Mathewson”

“Yes, he is my Dad”

“We knocked to inform you that your dad met with an accident”

“What!”

My dad met with an accident, I couldn’t believe it. “Nooo” I cried, how it happened I asked them, they said that a truck hit his moped. They admitted him to the hospital. They got his id and found his address. When they came to inform, I mistook them for thieves and the rest happened. I didn’t hear their voice due to the rattling of raindrops.

I apologized to them, the cop who got beatings from me said,

“I can drop you at the hospital” I nodded in approval. I went to my room took my coat and purse. I went with the cop. Tears continuously dropped from my eyes. I closed my eyes; thoughts of my dad surrounded me.

My Mom passed away when I was three, from that day on my dad was everything to me. He took the position of my mother. He loved me so much more than anything else. He cooked for me, played with me, told night stories, plaited my hair, washed my dresses, and so on. At the same time, he managed his profession as a security guard. I used to do irritating mistakes but He never got angry with me. He always smiled and never scolded or hurt me.

I never felt the loss of my mother. After getting me ready for school, he went to his work. Back in the evening, he would return before me and give me snacks and coffee. He was an amazing chef. He used to do very tasty recipes. I shared all those things that happened in school with him. He found difficulty in managing as a single parent. When my relatives told him to marry another woman, he rejected it. He worked late nights to meet my needs. On seeing his hardships, I strengthened myself. He gave me more inspiration as a single parent.

My Dad’s dedication, his hard work helped me focus on my studies. I decided to help my dad; I didn’t want to burden him. For this many years, he cared about me only. He also encouraged me in my studies. With his support, I secured the highest scores on my boards and got the scholarship for my college studies.

Thus I reduced some burden on his shoulders. I worked hard and got a perfect score in my degree and secured a Teacher job, as my dad wished me to be a teacher. My earnings helped him to clear the debts. He taught me every household works but never allowed me to do it. One day he fell and suffered from a fracture on this knee. It took several months for him to recover. I looked after him and did the household works, on seeing me doing the works he said,

“My little girl has grown”

“Dad, I’m a teacher now”

“But you’ll always be my little girl”

“Yes, dad” I embraced him.

After recovery, I told him to retire from his job. He didn’t listen to me,

“Sweetie I won’t retire now”

“Dad, you’re aged”

“What! Check your eyes I’m still young” he said with glee,

I know that my dad won’t retire, so I didn’t want to start an argument,

“Okay, young man, you can carry on your job” I smilingly replied and hugged him. He was appointed for the night shift recently. I asked him whether he could handle it, he said yes. He went for night shift duty and would return in the morning. I got up early in the morning and welcome him with a cup of coffee. We together did all the house works in the morning, and then I would get ready for my Teacher job. He would sleep after I leave. I returned in the evening, after our dinner, he would ready and go to his work.

“Take care, dad”

“I will, Goodbye, Sweetie”

with a smiling face he used to leave for his job, today also he did the same, but unexpectedly he met with an accident, “Why this is happening?” I moaned. As I drifted in his thoughts,

“Get down; we have arrived at the Hospital”

The cop told me, I got down; I glanced at the cop “Thank you sir” he nodded and went. I ran into the hospital and asked about Mr Mathewson in the reception. They gave the details; I was shocked to know that he was in the ICU. My heart drowned in sadness. I hurried to the ICU unit.

I saw through the glass on the door of the ICU unit, my Dad lying was unconscious, his head was covered with many bandages, some wires were attached over his chest, IV fluids were also injected into him, the monitor beeped. On seeing him in this condition, pain arrows pierced my heart.

I cried, the Doctors came out of the ICU unit. I asked them about my Dad’s condition, they shared a worried look.

“Doctors please tell me” I pleaded, they told me about his condition, on hearing that I collapsed and cried, the doctors tried to comfort me, but I couldn’t control myself. I couldn’t bear that pain. My Dad had fallen into Coma. He suffered a severe head injury in the accident. The Doctors tried their best but they couldn’t save him and he fell into Coma. The Doctors told me that he could recover. But no one could predict it. It might be in days, weeks, months, even years.

The Doctors allowed me to see my Dad. He was lying still. I sat near him and took his hand, he couldn’t feel me,

“Dad, can you hear me?

I’m your Liya, talk to me

Dad, please wake up

I need you, please wake up, wake up”

I wept in agony, the one who held my tiny fingers and brought me up in this world was lying still, and he wasn’t responding to me.

“Come back to me, Dad please”

I wept, but there was no response. The nurses asked me to leave, I wasn’t able to speak, only my tears answered. When I got up, I saw a tear rolling down from his eyes, I knew even though my dad couldn’t hear me, he could hear my heart. He couldn’t bear if I cry; I watched it and left the ICU unit. Until he recovers, Dad would be at the Hospital. I signed all the formality papers and paid the fees.

Back home I stumbled on the floor. My Dad’s memories filled my home. My Dad was my hero; he carried me on his shoulders in all steps of my life. He never let me go. He broke all the barriers. He saved me when I was in trouble. Now, I felt like a worthless soulless being.

“Liya, don’t lose hope, you can go through this” I heard his voice, when I turned, I saw him sitting in his armchair,

“Dad!” I cried, then he was gone, it’s my imagination again but his words echoed in my ears. I regained my hope. I believed he would come back soon. I visited the hospital days after my work. I spoke with him about my childhood memories.

“Dad, do you remember when I was six, I ran away from the beach with fear on seeing a little turtle,”

“Dad do you remember when I tried to make coffee, I added salt instead of sugar, you then never allowed to make coffee”

“Dad, do you remember, when I put a whole packet of detergent in the washing machine and our whole house was filled with foams”

I told him about all the memories but there wasn’t any reaction. It has been a month, still, he didn’t recover. It was nearly six months. When I was in need, my father was there was me. When I cried, he wiped away all my tears. When I failed, he succoured me to pass. He was more than a father. Right now, he is in need, but he can’t say it or wave it. I understood that and I assured him,

“Dad, I’ll be there always for you”

I still didn’t lose hope. I had strong faith that he would be back soon. I couldn’t sleep well. I imagined that my Dad was near me and lived a fantasy life. His birthday arrived. Normally I used to bake his favourite Chocolate cake, also bought him his favourite drink, Champagne on his birthdays. On this birthday I did the same things and went to the hospital, I kept them aside and took his hands and pressed them firmly,

“Happy Birthday Dad, I brought your favourite Chocolate cake and Champagne, but you can’t have them..”

Tears rolled on my cheek, suddenly I felt my Dad’s hand holding mine firmly, I couldn’t believe it, I tried to loosen the grip but it was firm,

“Dad, can you hear me?”

In response the grip tightened, I was on cloud nine, my dad began to respond. He can feel now, still, his eyes are closed. I told the Doctors about it, they checked his vitals and told me that he would recover soon. The nine months of hardship and grief were coming to end. I kissed his knuckles. He loosened the grip. I know my dad will be back soon.

Days passed, his condition was improving. The doctors monitored him continuously. One day when I was teaching, I received a phone call; I took a break and attended the call. It was from the Hospital. On hearing what the Doctors said, I was shocked, tears rolled from my eyes,

“What happened?” my colleagues asked me, I cried and rushed to the hospital, I wasn’t able to say anything. I saw the Doctors standing,

When I approached,

“Doctor is he…” I trembled.

“We didn’t expect this,

His condition was improving slowly, but all of a sudden..”

“Liya!” I heard my Dad’s voice after thirteen months; he was sitting on the wheel sir,

“Dad” I ran and hugged him. The nurses reported to the Doctors, they said that he was normal and it was a Medical Miracle as he recovered soon. The Doctors were amazed. I was so happy, my Dad was back. Now, tears of joy welled from our eyes.

“Liya, how are you, my little girl?”

“Fine Dad” I embraced him,

“You’re back dad” I cried.

“I’m back sweetie, I won’t leave you again"

My father came back. My Dad couldn’t believe how he stayed in Coma for thirteen months. I narrated to him the whole incident, especially mistaking police for thieves and beating him with a broom, my dad laughed, “ha ha ha”

I was excited to see him laugh again,

“You are my brave little girl” he appreciated me. All those thirteen months were like thorns to me, now flowers have replaced the thorns. My dad accompanied me my life and the journey didn’t end; he will accompany me again in the future,

“Thank you, dad, No one can replace you not even my mother” I hugged him, he was so happy to hear that,

“Liya, again you made a salty coffee”

“What!”

I tasted that and of course, I added salt instead of sugar,

“I was in a hurry dad” I blinked

“You’re still my little girl” he laughed. Happiness was filled again in my life.