THREADS OF FATE ~

A Daughter's Sorrow

The day after Gaurhari’s departure, the house felt empty, as if the very life had been drained from it. Radhika sat in her room, staring blankly at the window, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. Her father’s absence was like a deep wound that refused to heal. The sounds of his voice, the warmth of his presence, and the security she had always felt by his side were now gone, leaving a void that seemed unbearable.

Radhika had always been strong, always the light of the household, but today she felt broken, her heart shattered by her father’s decision to leave them all. Despite knowing that Gaurhari had chosen the path of *sannyas* for a higher calling, Radhika could not help but feel abandoned. She could still remember the warmth of his embrace, the sound of him calling her "Maa," and the gentle smile he always had when he spoke to her. And now, all of it was gone.

Vishnupriya Devi, though equally heartbroken, had found a quiet strength in her devotion. She watched her daughter from a distance, her own eyes filled with sadness. She knew that Radhika was struggling to accept what had happened, and it pained her to see her daughter suffering so deeply. She walked over to her, sitting gently beside her on the bed, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Maa,” Vishnupriya said softly, using the same affectionate term Gaurhari always used for Radhika, “I know this is hard, but we must trust in your father’s path. His calling was divine. He may not be with us physically, but his love and guidance are still here.”

Radhika shook her head, her voice trembling with emotion. “*Maa*, how can I accept this? How could he leave us like this? Didn’t he see how much we need him? I feel so lost without him.”

Vishnupriya’s heart ached at her daughter’s words, but she remained composed. “Your *baba* didn’t leave us, Radhika. He chose the path of the Lord, and in doing so, he has ensured that we are always in the Lord’s care. I know it feels like he’s gone, but his spirit is still with us, watching over us.”

Radhika turned to her mother, her eyes filled with tears. “But it’s not the same, *maa*. I miss him so much. I miss hearing him call me ‘Maa.’ I miss seeing him every morning, watching him pray, hearing him speak about the Lord. Now… now there’s just silence.”

Vishnupriya’s own tears threatened to fall, but she held them back. She knew that she had to be strong for Radhika, just as Gaurhari would have wanted. She gently pulled her daughter into her arms, allowing Radhika to cry on her shoulder.

“We will miss him every day, my child,” Vishnupriya whispered, “but we must also remember that this was his destiny, and ours too. He didn’t leave us because he didn’t love us—he loved us so much that he trusted we would be strong enough to endure this. He believed in us, and we must believe in him.”

Sati Mata, Gaurhari’s mother, watched silently from the doorway, her heart heavy with the weight of their shared grief. She had lost her son to the path of renunciation, and though she understood the spiritual importance of his decision, the pain of his absence was undeniable. Sati Mata walked into the room, her presence immediately bringing a sense of calm.

“Radhika,” she said gently, “come here to your *thamaa*.”

Radhika lifted her tear-streaked face and went to her grandmother, wrapping her arms around her tightly. Sati Mata held her close, stroking her hair softly. “My little one, your father has followed the will of the Lord, just as his heart commanded. It is not easy for us, but we must have faith in the path he has chosen.”

Radhika buried her face in her grandmother’s shoulder, sobbing quietly. “I don’t know how to be strong, *thamaa*. I don’t know how to live without him.”

Sati Mata kissed the top of her head, her voice soft but firm. “You will learn, my child. The Lord does not give us more than we can bear. You are stronger than you know, and your father’s spirit will guide you. His love for you is endless, and that love will help you find your way.”

For a long moment, the three women—Vishnupriya, Sati Mata, and Radhika—held each other in a shared embrace of grief and love. The absence of Gaurhari was like a shadow that loomed over them, but in their closeness, they found some comfort.

Later that day, Radhika walked to the temple alone, her heart heavy with sorrow. She knelt before the deity of Lord Jagannath, her hands trembling as she prayed. “Lord, why did you take my father away from me? I don’t understand. Please give me the strength to accept this, to find peace.”

As she sat in silent prayer, she felt a faint warmth in her heart, as though her father’s presence was there with her. She could almost hear his voice, soft and comforting, telling her that everything would be alright, that this was the path he was meant to take, and that she would find the strength to carry on.

Radhika wiped her tears and stood, her heart still heavy but filled with a small sense of peace. She knew the pain would not go away easily, but in time, she would learn to live with it. Her father had chosen the path of *sannyas*, and while it hurt, she had to trust that it was for a greater purpose.

With one last look at the deity, Radhika whispered, “I will try to be strong, *baba*. For you, and for *maa*.”

As she left the temple, the soft evening breeze carried with it a sense of calm, and for the first time since Gaurhari had left, Radhika felt a glimmer of hope that she would one day find peace in his decision.