My daughter loved to eat chicken.

My daughter loved to eat chicken. Every Friday, I used to work extra hours so I could get the money to buy chicken. I have never told this to my family. Sometimes I cannot sleep because of leg pain during night. My work demands great stamina, which I had a lot of even a year ago. But now, all the time, I feel that I am a failed person. My daughter flew away with a boy who does nothing. I had a lot of dreams for my daughter; that’s why I wanted her to be educated. That’s why I poured all my energy into educating my children, specially my only daughter. The day she left me; she did not inform us of anything.

I searched for her like a dog; I cried all the way and vulnerably asked people to help me. When I found out that she was in love and got married the day after her disappearance, I was traumatized for months. Then I started hearing that the boy cannot provide her food. I have also heard that he repeatedly beats my daughter. One day a neighbor told me that my daughter had gone through a miscarriage due to the torture of her husband. My wife asked me to forget about our daughter; she begged me not to think about her as she felt our daughter never cared about us.

My daughter’s name is Alo. I named her Alo (light), because she brought light into our life when she was born. After ten years of waiting I finally became a father. I remained awake many nights when she was a tiny baby. On the first day of her school she held me in her classroom and would not let me to go. I cannot take a bite of food without remembering; my Alo is starving at her husband’s house. Without telling anything to anyone, I went to meet with her. When she came in front of me, I felt shattered; a skeleton was sitting beside me but when she called me dad, I felt how desperately my ears were waiting for that word. I was well prepared to bring back my child. I asked her to come back with me. I asked her to restart her life and assured her that I will be there for her like always. My Alo remained silent and then refused to come with me. She said she loves her husband and she does not want to cause any trouble in my life anymore. She explained how much she loved her new life and we should only give her our blessings. When I was returning home I realised how a father’s love had failed miserably.

- Amzad Ali