"My little girl, ah, she's the smartest person I know, truly. Right from her school days, such a good student, always studying hard and never giving us any troubles. Always behaved nicely, no silly matters with boys or anything. Now she's all our family's big hope. My sons, they all married and busy feeding their own families. But my baby girl, she's in America now, sending money back to her appa and me every month. That's how we manage our meals now, all because of her. Truly, she is the best person I know." Said her mother. Her father was a drunk, found sprawled out on the couch, a bottle clutched in his hand as if it were a precious lifeline.
Lani appeared to be the archetype of perfection throughout her school years, blossoming from an average student in grade school into a standout by middle school, and she never looked back. Admired for her intellect and grace, she was the quintessential headgirl, excelling across disciplines—from music and languages to mathematics. To her peers and teachers, Lani was a paragon, wielding her talents not just in academics but also as a mediator resolving school disputes. She seemed to have it all: a supportive family with loving parents and three protective brothers, beauty, brains, and a seemingly idyllic life. But beneath this veneer of perfection lay hidden pains and nightly tears. Unknown to those who admired her, Lani's father would stagger home drunk, his presence bringing a storm of discord that shattered the peace of their home nightly.
As Lani grew, the familial conflicts worsened, fueled by her father's extramarital affair. Her parents, entrenched in a turbulent relationship, were embroiled in constant conflict, adhering to the social norms of their time which dictated that divorce was not an option. Instead, they stayed married, their domestic battles a continual backdrop to Lani's home life. One by one, her brothers escaped—their paths to independence and escape through work, college, or boarding school were accepted in their community, but such options did not extend to daughters. Lani felt abandoned, left to bear the brunt of her crumbling family environment alone. Even during critical exam periods, the tumult at home was unrelenting. Though her parents loved her, their mutual resentment overshadowed their ability to nurture. At just twelve years old, Lani understood that the most effective way to protect herself was silence; to never reveal the embarrassing secret of her home life to anyone, not friends, not teachers, forever guarding the truth behind a facade of perfection.
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Starlight Over the Shore
Tiểu Thuyết ChungIn the gentle folds of a story where ambition meets opportunity, we find Lani-a beacon of hope and aspiration from a quaint village along the southern coast of India. As our tale unfolds, Lani steps onto the verdant, sprawling grounds of the Univers...
