Vadodara: A 16-year-old girl from the city left home after her parents allegedly refused to allow her to attend a friend’s birthday celebration. She was found wandering on the streets late at night by local residents, who alerted the 181 Abhayam helpline.A team from Abhayam reached the spot and counselled the girl. During the session, she said her friend’s brother had invited her to his birthday celebration at their residence. However, her parents refused to let her attend the party and warned that they would stop her education and not pay her fees if she insisted on going.Upset by the situation, the girl left home without informing her parents. She wandered outside until around midnight, while her parents began searching for her.The Abhayam team took the girl back to her home after counselling. Neighbours informed the team that her parents had also gone out looking for her.The girl’s parents told the counsellors that she was their only daughter and that they were worried about her safety. Her mother said they had never met the girl’s friend. The parents had asked their daughter to share her friend’s phone number and other details, but she refused, following which they stopped her from going out.The Abhayam team explained to the girl that her parents’ restrictions stemmed from concerns about her safety and advised her to share relevant details about her friends with them. The team also counselled the parents, pointing out that their daughter was academically bright and encouraged them to support her education.The girl later apologised to her parents and promised that she would not leave home or go anywhere without informing them.
