Being a girl in an orthodox, old school thoughts prevailing family is one of the toughest ways of adulting. She is caged with the golden chain of restrictions and then expected to take the family’s name to the seventh sky. Ironic enough!!

In this generation, conflicts between the thoughts of a child and parents are very common. Parents who have old-school thinking tend to keep their girls as close to the house as they can. Because obviously, this society is not safe for girls and if something WRONG happens, their image in the society will be spoiled. Instead of teaching a girl how to face this world and fight against all the wrong, she is asked or forced to stay inside the house perimeters and under the strict observation of her parents whereas their daughter wants to be a free and independent bird. Every orthodox parent expects their daughters to be their pride but by remaining in the cell walls of their rooms. A girl is expected to stay away from boys in school and then that same girl is expected to marry a stranger man and spend the rest of her life with him. A girl is not allowed to go alone to the nearest shop but is expected to become an IAS officer in the future.

The restrictions have been imposed on girls since childhood. She is asked not to wear short dresses, not to argue with the family members, laugh appropriately and whatnot. She is always scolded and beaten if caught talking to a boy. She is restricted from hanging out with friends after tuition and moreover, she is dropped off by any of the parents even to the tuition classes at a 10-step distance. She is asked to wear loose-fitted clothes after attaining puberty to avoid attention from the boys. And if that girl asks, “Why is she so much restricted” in irritation; She is rebutted by arguments like “Our protection is seeming restrictions to you.” A girl is misunderstood if caught talking to a boy and laughing with a boy. Since her birth, she has been tied to unknown societal norms.

Parents often scold their daughters when they ask for a hangout or meet up with their friends by terming it as vagrancy. They have a common mindset about how they are treating their daughter. According to them, restriction on every small action is protection and it's her duty to follow them quietly as her parents are working hard each day to fulfil every wish of Her’s. They are keeping up with all her expenses, providing her with the best kind of education and fulfilling all her necessities and in return they expect her to follow every word they speak without any argument and understand her parents’ struggle to provide her with a better lifestyle. But does she yearn for those materialistic luxuries?

The answer is obviously NO!! Growing up in a house with emotionally unavailable parents and restrictions, all that girl wants is a little freedom, supportive parents and someone to hear her thoughts. Even though her every wish is fulfilled without being asked, she always wishes to be free to do things her way. Here is a self-composed poem to give a precise and interesting view of this scenario:

“A bird is caged though set free,
Her voice is forever stilled,
Yet she dreams of soaring high,
Each day her hope is killed.
Her song remains unsung,
Though she’s fed with a golden spoon,
Lavish comforts do not move her,
She longs to reach the moon.
Fate has played its cunning hand,
She is blessed with life’s finest,
But freedom is the one thing she craves,
Though she has given all the rest.”

Parents usually think that restricting their daughters is a way to bring them up as civilized and ethical women for society but what they don’t realize is the psychological effect all these things have on a child. Since childhood, girls are rebutted for arguing and by the time they are ready to step out of the house shell, they lose the confidence to speak in public and raise their voices against the odds. Such girls get mature before the age and end up being feared of speaking. They often develop social anxiety and avoid going out of their rooms. Even if they attend a public gathering, they are the least interested in talking to anyone. They have the fear of being misunderstood and lack in the ability to explain their exact thoughts. They cave up to their rooms and cut off from the world.

Parents think that it's better that their daughter is not interested in going out or meeting everyone and is focusing on her studies. But what they don’t notice is the loneliness that comes up within her. They are seldom unaware of the fact that the daughter whom they have tried to preserve from the evil eyes of this society is now getting reserved from everyone.

By being caged, a girl might grow up in a perfect societal image but her inner personality, her inner child dies with age. She might be the best daughter to her parents who have been an academic topper and she might be the best girl in society who has no name in any type of “unethical” affair too. But she couldn’t be the little, happy and carefree girl she was. Self-doubt, lack of confidence and disappointment are all that she owns now. The girl who is laughing in front of the world mocks her every action. She tries to seek home by being available for everyone and giving everyone a comfortable environment - the environment she always lacked. Parents neglected the changing behavior of their child and restrictions and strictness killed the person she was. 

Here is the poetic summary of this entire article:

“Her wings turned heavy, her voice was stolen,
Her halo tarnished, no longer golden.
Between heaven’s harsh hiss and hell’s sweet bliss,
She whispers secrets into an abyss.
Laughter echoes like scream,
Life turned to nothing but a failed dream.
Cursed by the rage-filled within,
She is now a walking sin.
Now she sinks deeper into the abyss
And gives this cruel world a final kiss.
Her eyes tired, her wings are cold,
She joins the rest of now stories untold.”

.    .    .