The Pihu Stories #2: When a Child Is Afraid at Home

Part of the series {The Pihu Stories: The Verdict at Home}

This is the story of Pihu. This story will make you think if relations and kindness have come to an end. Pihu was in the 6th class and was around 11 years old. Like everybody dreams of building their own home, her father also dreamt of it. So, for the construction work, they called Pihu's maternal grandfather (nana). It took almost 2 to 3 months to construct the whole house. So, for those months, Pihu's nana stayed at her old house, where they also lived.

When the construction was in progress, almost everyone was busy. Some were helping in supplying bricks to the workers, and kids were playing in the small water pond constructed especially for the construction. But a cute little girl was standing beside the pond, gazing at the other kids playing. The girl was sad, alone, depressed, and scared. Who was that girl? And from whom was she scared, at the place where she should feel the safest?

That girl was Pihu. She was scared of her nana. Why? Because in the early morning, when her nana went to the construction site from the home where she lived, she had to accompany him. Those 15 to 20 minutes of walking felt like a horror movie for her. He used to scratch her face with his dirty, terrifying fingers. He used to kiss and bite her lips with his filthy lips. She used to run, but how far could she run from that monster? She used to cry and resist him, but he was a beast and never listened to that little kid.

Because of those incidents happening daily, she became quiet. She always denied visiting her maternal home. And her family started calling her rude, ill-mannered, and disrespectful.

What can we learn from this story?

1. If something similar happens to anyone, report the incident to a trusted person. The trusted person can be anyone — your parents, sister, brother, friends, or anyone you trust. Don't be scared. Go and tell a trusted person.

2. If you see any child becoming silent suddenly, talk to the child very politely. Like Pihu, she became silent, but her family did not notice her, and she fell into depression. If her parents had noticed her, she would never have felt alone.

3. If a child is resisting doing something or going somewhere, do not scold the child. Ask politely, what happened? Why is the child denying?

“Believe the child. Silence is often a sign of pain.”