The Lost Pages
Chapter 4: The Father and Daughter
We inherit our parents’ hopes, along with their silence
Seated at a modest table near the center of the restaurant are Karthik and his daughter Ananya. Their conversation is cordial, polite even, but the air between them is thick with the weight of unspoken expectations. Karthik, a man of few words, is in his mid-50s, his hair peppered with gray and his eyes etched with the quiet concern of a parent whose child is no longer a child. Ananya, in her late 20s, is ambitious and independent, her career at the forefront of her mind, even as her father’s subtle worries about her personal life float beneath the surface of their conversation.
Karthik (thinking): She’s doing so well in her career, but… what about the rest? She never talks about anyone. Maybe she’s too focused. But is that enough?
They exchange small talk over dinner — how work is going, her latest project, upcoming meetings — but neither of them touches the real topic looming between them: her future. Karthik tries to hint at it, asking about her personal life in a roundabout way.
Karthik (aloud): So, are you still busy with all those conferences? Must be meeting a lot of new people, huh?
Ananya nods, understanding the underlying question but brushing it off.
“Yeah, it’s all work stuff. I don’t really have time to think about anything else these days.”
Karthik looks around the restaurant, trying to gauge how to continue. His eyes land on Yazhini and Naveen at the corner table, their ambiguous relationship drawing his attention. He wonders if Ananya will ever find herself sitting across from someone like that — unsure, navigating the complicated emotions of adulthood. He watches them briefly, imagining a future where his daughter might be in a similar situation, balancing career and love, and feels a pang of worry.
Karthik (thinking): She’s so focused on her work. But life isn’t just about achievements. What about companionship? What about love?
He thinks about how different things were when he was her age. His own marriage had been arranged, but it had worked out well. He and his wife had found companionship, understanding, and even love over time. But the world has changed, and he knows Ananya doesn’t want the same for herself.
Ananya, meanwhile, is oblivious to her father’s concerns, or at least, she pretends to be. She’s been through this conversation many times before, always steering it back to her career, her achievements, the things that make her feel in control. For her, the idea of settling down feels distant, not a priority in a life filled with deadlines and goals.
Ananya (thinking): He’s worried again. I can see it. But I’m doing fine. There’s no rush for all that. I just wish he could see that.
She takes a bite of her food, then looks at her father, her voice gentle but firm.
“Dad, I’m really happy with how things are going. Work is fulfilling, and I’m not in a hurry. When the time is right, everything else will fall into place.”
Karthik smiles faintly, nodding, but the concern in his eyes doesn’t fade. He’s proud of her, of course he is, but he can’t help but think about the years passing, about the things that are left unsaid between them. He wants to see her happy in all aspects of her life, not just professionally. But how does one have that conversation without sounding like they’re pushing too hard?
As they continue their meal, Karthik watches the arranged marriage couple at another table, still in the early stages of their relationship, and compares it to his own experience. He knows Ananya doesn’t want an arranged marriage, and he respects that, but it leaves him wondering how her story will unfold.
Karthik (thinking): If not an arranged marriage, then what? Will she choose someone herself? Will it be like what those two have — Yazhini and Naveen? Complicated, uncertain, but perhaps more real?
The silence stretches between them again, both lost in their own thoughts. Ananya knows her father worries, but she’s determined to live her life on her terms. She doesn’t want to be defined by marriage or societal expectations. Still, part of her wonders if she’s being too stubborn, too focused on her career at the expense of everything else. The question lingers at the back of her mind, though she never lets it rise to the surface.
The waiter comes by to refill their glasses, breaking the silence. Karthik takes the opportunity to ask one last question, his voice light but carrying the weight of his hopes.
“Do you ever think about… what’s next? Beyond work, I mean?”
Ananya smiles softly, appreciating his concern but holding her ground.
“I do, Dad. But right now, work is what matters most to me. Everything else… it’ll come when the time is right. Trust me.”
Karthik nods again, but his heart remains heavy. He trusts her, of course he does. But the future is uncertain, and as a father, he can’t help but worry. He hopes that one day she’ll find someone who makes her as happy as her work does — or perhaps even more so.
As they finish their meal and prepare to leave, Karthik glances one last time at Yazhini and Naveen, still engaged in their quiet, complex conversation. He wonders what their story is, and whether his daughter will ever sit across from someone like that — navigating the twists and turns of a relationship, finding her own path to happiness. He hopes that, whatever her journey, she’ll find what she’s looking for, even if it’s not what he had envisioned.
Parents worry not because they doubt us, but because they see in us the dreams we don’t yet understand