The Harsh Reality of Being a Daughter in an Indian Family
So my phone just died. Blank screen, not turning on. And when I told my mom, guess what my *so-called* father had to say?
“It’s because you charge it all night. It must be your fault.”
Yeah. Blame me for a phone dying. Classic.
Then he says, *“Ask your grandfather for the money. I can’t buy you a new phone.”*
Mind you — he’s very much alive, fully capable, and **very loaded with money.**
Still, I felt **humiliated** having to ask my grandfather (his father) for help, as if I’m some orphan being passed around for charity. Grandpa “loves me” but says he can only give ₹15k. Fine.
I find a phone for ₹25k. Reasonable, especially since I literally need it for college. But my father — the man who bought **two ₹30k phones** for himself and my brother (who hasn’t even started college) — says:
“I can't afford ₹10k more for your phone. I have to pay both your and your brother’s college fees, which will cost ₹2.5 lakhs.”
Suddenly, **my basic need becomes a burden.**
Then he comes up with this brilliant offer:
**“If you give your laptop to your brother and use my old one, I’ll buy the new phone.”**
Oh, you mean the *same laptops* that were bought using the ₹1 lakh that my grandfather promised **me** for scoring **97% in Inter**?
Let that sink in. My **own reward money** — spent on laptops for others. Now I’m being told to hand over mine and adjust. Again.
And then grandpa calls: *“Why did you say no to the ₹15k phone? You have to adjust, right? Your father doesn’t have money...”*
Lies. He has money. He just won’t spend it on me. Because **daughters are expected to “adjust.”**