Daddy! Help Me - By Sheruya Perera

Written By: Sheruya Perera

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Sheruya Perera presents "Daddy! Help Me," a gripping entry in the Short Story category for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 hosted by Hashtag Kalakar. This compelling narrative delves into themes of resilience, family dynamics, and the courage to confront adversity. Perera's storytelling draws readers into a world of emotional turmoil and survival, offering a powerful exploration of human tenacity.

About the Work

"Daddy! Help Me" is a tense, emotionally charged tale that captures the reader's attention with its vivid imagery and urgent narrative pace. Sheruya Perera crafts a poignant story that explores themes of desperation, familial relationships, and the struggle for freedom. The mood is intense, with evocative descriptions that bring the protagonist's harrowing experiences to life. This short story leaves a lasting impact, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of family and the quest for personal liberation.

Daddy! Help Me

Original Submission by Sheruya Perera

Daddy! Help me

By: Sheruya Perera

Name: Ranaweera Arachchige Sheruya Nimshi Perera

Title of the work: “Daddy! Help me!” (Short Story Submission)

No of pages: 6 (including the cover page)

Address: 414, Bathalahena Watta, Gonawala, Kelaniya

Telephone number: 070 267 8909

Email Address: psheruya@gmail.com

Note: I confirm that this is my own work

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The vision was foggy. It’s as if everything was painted white. Nothing was clear. I blinked yet all was blurry. I could not rub my eyes as my hands were tied together at the back of me. Lifting my shoulders desperately and bending my face I wiped my eyes. Slowly my vision returned. Three men were standing in front of me. One had the cloth that they removed which I believe covered my eyes. Struggling to remove the knots on my hands and legs I began to cry. I could not shout since my mouth was taped. All I could do was cry. I struggled and I struggled. It only made it worse. I noticed that my legs were bleeding due to the tight knots. I gave up!

“Too hard to remove huh sweetie? Well if you give us what we want we will set you free. Will you cooperate?” I nodded. “You agree without knowing what it is? See man, she is so brave”. Saying this he removed the tape from my mouth. The second it was removed I started to shout.

“HELP! HEEEEEELLLLP!!!”

“No one’s here to help you beside us sweetie.” Answered the man in the white t-shirt coming closer and closer to me. “If you want us to let you go you should give us one million rupees. That’s it! Just a simple favor for us! You give and we let you go” I trembled as he walked closer to me.

“One million?? I don’t even have one thousand on me!!”

“You can take one phone call. Say what we say to whoever you want who can pay us. If you say anything else that’s the end of you sweetie. You got it?”

I nodded. But wait! Who should I ask money from? Who is there to save me? Can I ask my dad for money? He doesn’t have this much money.

“Say us the number and who are you going to call?”

“My dad.” The phone was ringing. I was starting to get tensed. Dad will be so upset if he gets to know that I am kidnapped! But will he really? Finally the call was connected.

“Hey dad! I was wondering if you could give me one million rupees since I am having an emergency.”

“Are you insane? One million? Who do you think you are? You left and you said you would never come back! And now you want money? Are you stupid? You won’t get a penny from us.” The line was hung up. The phone was not picked up by my dad. It was my step mother. As soon as I looked at the man he slapped me very hard across the face.

“We need the money! Who was this woman you spoke to? You said you would call your dad!”

“I did, but it was my step mother who answered and I, I left home and said I won’t come back so now they won’t give me any money. Please let me go. I beg you. Please!! Let me go!” The man slapped me once more. I fell down to the side. I had no energy to get myself up again. Leaving me tied up, fallen to the side, they walked out of the room. I can see the frustration in their faces.

The room was dark with a yellow dimmed light. A bed and chair was there in the corner of the room. I was all alone and I didn’t know how I can escape. Maybe this was a punishment for running away. Looking around I thought of the ways I can escape. First thing I have to do is to remove these knots. Pushing myself towards the corner of the bed, I tried to cut the knots by scraping it in the metal piece. Doing it over and over again for quite some time I managed to cut through a little. I heard footsteps approaching the room I was in, so I stopped. Two of the three men walked inside and sat on the bed.

“We need the money! Or you die here!” said one man wearing a long black coat with a brown hat.

“I’m helpless! Please let me go. I have no one! I won’t say a word about you all to anyone, I swear! Please just let me go. Please …….”

One man approached me and threw a parcel at me while the other removed the knots from my hand. Will they notice that I have cut through a little? Nervously I let him remove the knots. Removing it they took my left hand and tied it to the corner of the bed.

“Eat!” shouted the man in the coat. I was starving! My hand was numb. I couldn’t move it. Struggling to open the parcel with the hand I managed to eat, little by little. It was plain rice. That’s it! I was super hungry so I started to gulp the food down without worrying about it. They didn’t give me any water. I had no clue on the time. I felt drained. The rice was the only food I had for the past 2 days.

After sometime the other man walked inside the room with three beer bottles. Removing the knot from bed, they again tied me up and pushed me to the corner of the room. They sat on the bed and began to drink. Smiling, they lifted their bottles, clinked them together, and cheered. The three men were drinking endlessly. Bringing in bottles one by one, they drank for hours. They were knocked out. This was my chance to escape. I again pushed myself to the corner of the bed. Trying my best not to shake the bed, I scraped the knot little by little making sure no noise were made, I cut it off entirely. Quickly removing the knots on the legs, I slowly stood up. My legs were wobbly. Felt so hard to stand upright. Both my legs were in pain. The bruises in my hands and feet was burning. I had no time to focus on my pain. I tiptoed and slowly opened the door. I was careful enough not to make any noise.

They were fast asleep. I was lucky. Perfect timing. However it was pitch black. I could not find the light switches. I forgot to get my phone. It was in the pocket of the man wearing the long black coat. I sneaked back into the room and went closer to him. Holding my breath I slowly put my hand in his pocket. Suddenly the man opened his eyes.

Dead! I am done! I froze and shut my eyes tight. Closing my eyes for seconds, I did not feel anything move. I peeked through, woof! He has gone back to sleep. Stepping out of the room slowly I switched on the flashlight of the phone. It was a small house with just two bed rooms, a kitchen and bathroom. I approached towards the main door which was locked.

When I took the phone from the pocket of the man, I saw there were two keys. At that time I did not think of it much. I did not want to go back to the room. I went around the house looking if there was a window that I could escape from. I found one in the kitchen which was a bit higher than I could climb. The only way I could was to find something to climb the window. To do anything I did not have any strength. I pushed myself! I need to escape! The only option I had was to push the table. With all the strength I had, I pushed the table towards the window. The floor started to scrape and made a loud noise. Hurrying myself, I got on the top of the table and jumped out of the window.

I was in the middle of nowhere. There were very few houses around. The roads were dark and empty. I ran and I ran! I could not go any further, but I ran!

“Oh honey! Wake up.” I was woken up. I was in shock! It was my dad…..

I thought I was dreaming. I sat and looked around. I was not familiar of the surrounding. I closed my eyes and opened them again. Is this a dream? No! It really was my dad.

“I am so sorry honey! Here drink some water please”

I drank a sip and asked “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital honey. The police found you on the floor beside the café. Why did you run away? Why? I was so scared honey!” saying this my dad started to cry.

The nurse walked in and yelled at my dad. “Please leave her alone. She woke up just now and she need plenty of rest. You can’t tire her. You can talk about these later. I hope you understand me.”

My dad nodded. “Rest up honey! I will be outside. Call me if you need me.”

My mind was in shock. I was still panicking from the dream I saw. I am glad that it was a dream. I am glad that I am okay, I have my dad near me. But, but I can’t go back to that hell hole! I can’t go back to living with my step mother and step sister. Should I say my dad how they treated me? Or should I just let them live peacefully together and maybe move out? I don’t know what I should do. I am confused. Who should I speak to? Who should I ask from?

It was later in the evening. I heard someone opening the door. It was my step mother and step sister, Jane.

“Oh dear dear! You thought of running away? Look what happened to you. You had to come right back at us huh? In vain all your drama.” Saying this they mocked and laughed at me. I had no energy to fight back. I turned the other way. The door opened again. It was my dad.

As soon as he stepped in, my step mother and Jane started to cry.

“Oh darling, see what happened to Lisa. Why would she run away? We treated her like a princess. Like a child of my own. Look what she has done to herself now.” My dad walked near her and hugged her from the side.

“I know darling. Let’s give her some time. She needs time to recover.”

“Sure darling. We wanted to come and see if she is okay. Take her back home. We even prepared her room nicely. I asked Jane to sleep in the guest room for now.”

“Aw, you have done so much for her.”

I was feeling really frustrated. I wanted to shout and say my dad the truth. I want to explain to him how I was treated. Since he is not home always, he doesn’t know the truth. He is rarely home. Tears started to come down from my eyes.

“Oh honey! Don’t cry. You can go back home soon” said my dad.

It was time for the doctor visit. So my step mother and Jane had to leave and they went back home. My dad stayed beside me. The doctor said I can go home tomorrow morning. As soon as the doctor left, I thought of saying my dad the truth. It’s time for me to think about myself now.

“Daddy, I want to say you something.”

“Yes go ahead sweetie, I am listening.”

“I honestly can’t go home daddy. You don’t know what really happens there. I don’t know if you would believe me or you believe Jane and my step mother. But what I am saying is the truth.”

“Well, what is it?” he started to get tensed.

“When you are home, they treat me perfectly. But the second you leave, everything turns upside down. They make me do all the work at home. The cooking, the cleaning. They make me sleep in the basement without a bed. But when you are there they make me sleep with Jane. I ran away because I am tired of being treated like this. Ever since mom passed away I am living in a hell. I am only happy when you are home, only then I am treated well.”

He was shocked.

“I don’t know what to say honey. I am just completely in shock. I, I am so sorry. I didn’t know that all this happened honey.”

“Oh so you believe me right daddy?”

“Of course honey. Who else would I believe? You’re my little girl. I know you would never lie to me. I am very sorry. I am sorry that this happened to you. I will not let this continue.”

“Thanks daddy! I love you. Thank you for believing me.”

“I love you too honey!”1

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event that celebrates exceptional literary talent worldwide. This competition provides a platform for writers to showcase their creativity across various categories, including poetry, short stories, and essays. Participants are invited to share their unique voices and narratives, contributing to a rich tapestry of global literature.

Thank you, Sheruya Perera, for sharing your captivating short story "Daddy! Help Me" with us. Your participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 enriches the literary landscape and offers readers a powerful narrative of courage and resilience. We appreciate your contribution and look forward to seeing more of your creative work in the future.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.