Child Abuse #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z
A contented sigh escaped her on seeing the husband appeasing their daughter.
How adorable they look, with him doing monkey tricks and she sitting stoically, she mused.
The doorbell broke her reverie.
She dashed out with a kiss in their direction, oblivious to the panic-stricken child.
“Come to daddy!” he smiled as the door closed.
You can check out my A-Z posts thus far by clicking on a highlighted letter!
April 4, 2017 12:43 am|
How terrifying! How wily of the dad, that even the mom cannot sense this child’s fear. Well done, Shilpa!
April 9, 2017 10:34 pm|
True and how devastating it could be for the child to know that her mom is not able to understand her pain and fear!
Thanks Vidya!
April 4, 2017 12:49 am|
Oh that’s heartbreaking …so many real life stories go this way too 🙁
April 9, 2017 10:34 pm|
Sadly, yes!
April 4, 2017 1:19 am|
Chilling
April 9, 2017 10:34 pm|
🙁
April 4, 2017 2:38 am|
Appalling.
April 9, 2017 10:34 pm|
Totally!
April 4, 2017 6:36 am|
Oh No!!! Poor kid 🙁
April 9, 2017 10:35 pm|
🙁
April 4, 2017 6:48 am|
Chilling. And the Mom unaware and clueless about the “stoic child”.
April 9, 2017 10:35 pm|
How sad is that! 🙁
April 4, 2017 8:21 am|
How terrifying!! And how oblivious the mother, unable to see the child’s terror. Heart-wrenching.
April 9, 2017 10:36 pm|
Sadlu this happens with so many kids! 🙁
April 4, 2017 9:05 am|
Gosh! That Sent chills down my spine….there are so many children in real caught in such monstrous situations….sad!
April 9, 2017 10:36 pm|
Sad indeed!
April 4, 2017 9:24 am|
Holy shit! That was chilling, Shilpa.
April 9, 2017 10:36 pm|
Thanks Sreesha!
April 4, 2017 9:25 am|
What ease you have used to trick the malice into this story, which seems benign on the surface but has such a sinister undertone.
Shilpa I am quite loving your fiction tales – you are truly a mistress of this genre!!!
Theme: Peregrination Chronicles (travel)
C is for ChaiJaai café Srinagar #atozchallenge
April 9, 2017 10:42 pm|
Thank you for your kind words, Shalini!
April 4, 2017 9:43 am|
Thats terrible.. The home.. is supposed to be the safest place.. BUt for many kids it isnt actually so!
April 9, 2017 10:42 pm|
Sadly a home is far from safe for some kids!
April 4, 2017 9:48 am|
It is so difficult to creatively express something so traumatic and sensitive. well done.
April 9, 2017 10:42 pm|
Thanks Pooja!
April 4, 2017 9:49 am|
Child abuse and neglect cases are growing in number due to the changed lifestyle of today.
I had goosebumps while going through the post and even after that.
Heart-wrenching !
April 9, 2017 10:43 pm|
Well said. It is something that is growing at an alarming rate. Thanks Sheela.
April 4, 2017 10:40 am|
Very disturbing…..
April 9, 2017 10:43 pm|
It is, sadly!
April 4, 2017 11:18 am|
Sadly, it’s true with so many girls!! And you’ve put it just perfect!
Cheers
April 9, 2017 10:44 pm|
Yes it a grim reality of our times. Thanks Geetika!
April 4, 2017 11:28 am|
The thought of it makes my skin crawl! Some ugly realities of life these are. I really wish the mother was more vigilant.
April 9, 2017 10:45 pm|
I really wish that too and wish that no child ever goes through this abuse and trauma!
April 4, 2017 12:02 pm|
How can a father do that to his own blood? Something I can never digest.
April 9, 2017 10:46 pm|
Sick and mentally deranged people do that!
April 4, 2017 12:11 pm|
The saddest part is that this is such a reality in today’s world! At times I think that how can moms be so oblivious to this. Honestly, I don’t know whom to blame at times. 🙁
April 9, 2017 10:47 pm|
I know, how can the mothers not know. They are to be blamed too!
April 4, 2017 12:25 pm|
It took me a moment or 3 to realise the reality … I had to re-read and be afraid again …
April 9, 2017 10:47 pm|
It is a terrible and sad reality! 🙁
Thanks for reading, Susan!
April 4, 2017 1:43 pm|
Oh that is so sinister. Well written Shilpa
April 9, 2017 10:48 pm|
Thank you Suzy!
April 4, 2017 1:56 pm|
That seems so normal… Until you add in the ‘child abuse’ factor. And sadly, isn’t that exactly how it is in real life?
April 9, 2017 10:49 pm|
Yeah, the criminal minded are so good at creating facade and appearances!
April 4, 2017 3:05 pm|
Nooooooo!
Sad…but it happens more than people realize.
Great flash fiction!
April 9, 2017 10:54 pm|
Yes, you are absolutely right. Most of the times, such crimes stay undetected and continue to happen for years altogether!
Thanks Michelle!
April 4, 2017 3:40 pm|
Oh dear! That sent a chill down my spine. How terrifying for the child to be with a father like that and what a pity that the mother hasn’t been able to see it yet.
April 9, 2017 11:04 pm|
In all it is a pathetic situation for a child. And how devastating and scarring that is!
April 4, 2017 4:19 pm|
Such a sad story and unfortunately, all too real
Debbie
April 9, 2017 11:04 pm|
Yes, it a sad and grim reality. Thanks Debbie.
April 4, 2017 4:45 pm|
So distributing, yet it presents a reality that we cannot shy away with! Gave me the chills, Shilps!
April 9, 2017 11:04 pm|
Thanks Aditi.
April 4, 2017 6:25 pm|
🙁
April 9, 2017 11:04 pm|
🙁
April 4, 2017 6:37 pm|
home is the most secured placed for kids, how fearful is that
Beautifully penned
Thanks for sharing
Care for!! What to expect during the First trimester of Pregnancy Part 2
April 9, 2017 11:05 pm|
Yeah, imagine your own home is not safe for you. Thanks Bushra!
April 4, 2017 6:51 pm|
Sad that even the mother cannot see this! 🙁
April 9, 2017 11:06 pm|
Truly tragic and sad for the child.
April 4, 2017 7:12 pm|
Oh, Shilpa! That was SO well done! Gave me a chill. The poor little girl. I felt so much for her. I’m sure this kind of thing happens more than we want to even think about.
April 9, 2017 11:07 pm|
Yeah, CSA is more hidden than known.
Thanks Cathy.
April 4, 2017 7:54 pm|
This sent a chill down my spine! A sad truth, well written.
Mayuri
April 9, 2017 11:07 pm|
Thank you Mayuri.
April 4, 2017 7:58 pm|
Chilling. Hope no child has to suffer, Shilpa.
April 9, 2017 11:07 pm|
Amen to that!
April 4, 2017 8:21 pm|
I remember reading this book by Jodi Picoult titled Change of Heart. In the end, it is shown that the convicted criminal was trying to save the victim from her father, and not abusing her himself! It was such a stunning book! Do read it, (even though I have spoiled the surprise for you )
10/10 for the subtle way in which you described the situation, and for the effective use of the title.
April 9, 2017 11:08 pm|
I will check that out. Thanks for the recommendation.
Glad you liked this attempt, Mithila.
April 4, 2017 8:39 pm|
Bleh. That tale gives me the shudders!
~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
April 9, 2017 11:08 pm|
It is shocking and a sad reality 🙁
April 4, 2017 10:11 pm|
Chilling! And that’s how it happens.
April 9, 2017 11:08 pm|
Yes, sadly!
April 4, 2017 10:13 pm|
And that’s how it happens! Chilling indeed.
April 9, 2017 11:52 pm|
True that!! 🙁
April 4, 2017 10:18 pm|
That’s such a scary thing that the Mum isn’t able to see what’s going on. Well done, Shilpa.
April 9, 2017 11:10 pm|
That’s truly scary indeed. And how sad it is for the child that she is not able to confide in her mother. Thanks Parul.
April 4, 2017 10:28 pm|
Very sad and disturbing. This is a reality for many and its just horrifying.
April 9, 2017 11:10 pm|
Agree completely!
April 4, 2017 10:32 pm|
Heartbreaking story told in so few words! Some children have such terrible secrets and the other parent is oblivious. Good one, Shilpa.
April 9, 2017 11:11 pm|
Yes, it happens with so many children. The poor kids have to bear all the pain and trauma all by themselves, sometimes for years!! Thanks Debbie.
April 4, 2017 10:49 pm|
Oh I wish the mum had noticed the daughter’s stoic face. This is chillingly heartbreaking.
April 9, 2017 11:12 pm|
Wish she had! 🙁
April 4, 2017 11:27 pm|
This one gave me the chills, Shilpa. Child abuse is one thing that always terrifies me too much. The world is getting darker.
April 9, 2017 11:13 pm|
Oh, it is truly terrifying. Imagine your protectors becoming your predators!
April 4, 2017 11:52 pm|
Oh my god, I can;t even think the trauma on the child. People like that should rot in hell.
April 9, 2017 11:13 pm|
You bet!
April 5, 2017 12:16 am|
Oh God!A horrible nightmare.Please God keep all children safe.Very accurately potrayed in such few words.
April 9, 2017 11:13 pm|
Amen to that.
Thanks Amrita!
April 5, 2017 1:14 am|
Gosh! That was scary! Terrifying! Heartbreaking. Child abuse is one thing that scares me the most.
April 9, 2017 11:15 pm|
It is indeed a scary and terrible thing to happen to any child.
April 6, 2017 2:25 pm|
something unbearable shilpa….. brought to my mind a case wherein the father abused his daughter, and the girl ran away from home to be rescued by an NGO which I was part of … very pathetic and traumatic for the child… not easy to deal with too… very relevant post shilpa.
April 9, 2017 11:17 pm|
Oh that’s so sad. I wonder if the scars of pain and trauma ever heal for such kids!
April 17, 2017 1:57 pm|
That’s so sad when the very people who are meant to protect change sides and become the ones to harm the child.
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