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‘After years of wait, I spoke to my family on Durga Ashtami this year’

This Daan Utsav, We Are Listening. And today, bank manager Prateek Singh from Ahmedabad shares his story of building bridges with his family after years of distress.

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Ihave stayed away from home since Class 4. Whether it was due to my job or my studies, I wasn’t able to speak to my family at all for a long time. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to them, I really wanted to speak, and share my life with them. But the pressure of scoring well in school exams, achieving targets at workplace, and keeping up with clients’ demands always kept me engrossed. Kabhi board exams mein itna zyada stuck tha aur kabhi itna busy raha. During this span, difference­s crept in my relationsh­ip with my family — with my mother and father. Kuch narazgi bhi ho gayi thi, and I stopped talking to them. My excuse was, ‘Kaam hai, kaam hai’. In reality now, I realised that work was just an excuse for me being upset with them. The disappoint­ments kept building up for various reasons, but during every festival — whether it’s Diwali, or Durga Puja — the desire to talk to them knew no bounds. I wanted to speak to them and take their blessings, but dil maanta hi nahin tha. After years of wait, I finally spoke to my family on Durga Ashtami this year. I called my dad, spoke to him for a long span and took his blessings. Hamari bahut lambi baat chali, jo ki iss zindagi mein kahin kho si gayi thi. I was thinking that they’d initiate talking, but I was wrong. And as their child, I thought I should call and speak to them. I will only suggest that don’t wait to say whatever you want — any feelings or disappoint­ments — to your loved ones. Intezaar mat kijiye, apno se baat kijiye.

We believe that in this fastpaced world, one of the most precious gifts is the gift of your time you can give to hear out someone’s life stories. So, dear readers, we’d love to listen to you, and share your stories with other readers, even anonymousl­y if that’s what you want. Write to us on meandmydel­hi@gmail.com.

 ?? PHOTO: ISTOCK ??
PHOTO: ISTOCK

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