No idea why Jennifer killed herself, says mother

Jayaseeli, the mother of Jennifer (16) who committed suicide a few days ago in their house in Nerkundram for unknown reasons, says parents are children’s most trustworthy persons, and they should not hesitate to discuss their issues.

Jayaseeli, who works as a housemaid, did not realise the shock awaiting her until she returned home on December 3. Her 16-year-old daughter Jennifer, who was studying Class 12 at a private school in Kodambakkam, hanged herself in the bedroom. “My 13-year-old son Paulraj had gone out to buy lunch and when he came back, Jennifer was hanging from ceiling. He did not even know what to do and was crying, standing on the street. Neighbours came to know what happened after questioning him. They brought Jennifer down before I reached the house and took her to Suriya Hospital. I was told that she was alive, but she wasn’t given the much-needed attention. Later, she was declared dead and sent to Kilpauk Medical College,” recalls Jayaseeli, who has been working as housemaid for about 15 years.

Paulraj , a Class 8 student, who saw his sister hanging, is yet to come out of the trauma. “They were always together. Now that she is gone, he is scared. He wants me to with him always. Currently, I have left him at my mother’s place, so that he would not think about the tragedy often,” she says. What is more traumatising for Jayaseeli is that she has no clue as to why her daughter committed suicide.

“Jennifer was not bad in studies. She had a couple of close friends in school. She behaved normal with me. Though my husband and I separated seven years ago, I never stopped my children from meeting him. But I don’t know what she was going through. I gave her full freedom, but she chose not to discuss her problems with me. Her suicide note says, ‘I love you mummy. You got me everything I wanted, but I’m sorry’. She has also listed all their friends and wished them. But I want to know why she took a decision to end her life, so I’m planning to approach the police. But I would request all the children to trust their parents the most and share whatever they were going through. They should understand that parents will have solution for all their problems,” says Jayaseeli.

Jayaseeli, to whom her children meant the world, has lost one of them, but she does not want to give up. “My son needs utmost care now.

I will do everything to make him grow a stronger person. I will resume my work within a week,” she says.