Story this Wednesday!-"An experienced Father's Will"

 Story this Wednesday!-"An experienced Father's Will"

An Experienced father's Will

This morning, both sisters-in-law, who usually found it a chore to cook even one meal a day in the kitchen, were cheerfully and vigorously busy preparing various kinds of breakfast. Both elder brothers were meticulously decorating the drawing-room. There was no specific joyous occasion in the house; rather, the lawyer was expected today to read father's will, to give the two brothers their share. Everyone was very concerned about the lawyer's meal, but no one bothered about Mother. Six months had passed since father's demise, and in these six months, Mother had deeply felt and observed many things, which were probably difficult to express in words. The changing demeanour of her own people over time had wounded Mother, but she had no choice but to remain silent. After Father, Mother perhaps felt like a burden to the two brothers and their wives.

They had called the lawyer yesterday and had also summoned me, so that I wouldn't have any doubts in the future. The lawyer was going to read Father's will today, meaning the division of his inheritance was about to take place. So much was running through everyone's minds. Everyone was worried about the lawyer's breakfast and meal—what he would eat, or whether he would like the breakfast or not. No one cared about Mother's breakfast, who had been sitting hungry since morning.

"Elder sister-in-law, if breakfast is ready, please give some to Mother."

"Sister, my hands are dirty. You ask the younger one," the elder sister-in-law neatly excused herself.

I saw that the younger sister-in-law's hands were also busy, so instead of hearing something from her, I myself served Mother her breakfast. Mother's silence, her teary, sad, watery eyes, and trembling hands were saying a lot. In the six months after Father's passing, she had experienced a lot. All the experience of her entire life on one side, and the experience of these six months on the other.

Anyway, the lawyer arrived at the appointed time and was warmly welcomed. The lawyer was less of a lawyer and more of a friend to Father. He had a discerning eye, and seeing the grand welcome and Mother's watery eyes, he understood the whole situation. As soon as the lawyer began to read the will, the colour drained from the faces of both brothers and sisters-in-law. Both brothers were dreaming of being equal heirs to Father's immense wealth, but the opposite happened.

The experienced Father had already sensed the intentions of his sons and their wives; thus, his far-sighted thinking turned the tables. Seeing all of Father's property registered in Mother's name, the ground slipped from under the feet of the two brothers. The brothers had thought that after receiving the property, they would leave Mother in a good, excellent old-age home, but here the story changed. Everything was turned upside down. The Mother whom they considered helpless and vulnerable was herself the sole owner of all the property.

By God's grace, there was no lack of wealth in Father's estate. The house, factory, shop, and bank balance were all now in Mother's name, and in the future, after Mother, i.e., after her death, the entire property was to be divided into three equal shares: one each for the two brothers and one share for me, their daughter. Hearing my share, mixed feelings of anger, surprise, and regret appeared on the faces of both brothers and sisters-in-law. What they had thought and what had happened... the four of them were thinking the same.

Now, even the house was in Mother's name. They were contemplating making Mother homeless, and now they themselves were facing the situation of becoming homeless.

"I have also registered this will in court, and yes, one more thing: according to the will, if the sister-in-law, that is Sushila Devi, does not wish to divide her property among her children in the future, it depends on her will what she wants to do with that property, to whom she wants to give it. There will be no pressure of any kind on her regarding this matter, otherwise, the entire property will go to charity. If anyone has anything to ask about this, please do so. Sister-in-law, you or the children..." the lawyer asked.

"No, sir." Only these two words came out with great difficulty from the mouths of the four.

'Bravo, Father, bravo! What a masterstroke. You have taught them a good lesson. Perhaps you had already seen and understood the intentions of your sons. The disease that was feared to turn into an incurable sore, you destroyed that disease itself. This is called foresight.' Seeing the faces of the four, I was thanking Father in my heart. None of them was in a state to say or hear anything.

The lawyer left, but he had also left Mother with the key to living with self-respect, honour, and happiness. There was contentment and happiness on Mother's face, which gave me satisfaction. The two brothers and their wives were not in a state to say anything, perhaps that is why we call time and experience the strong ones...

Searched and Illustrated by Tejinder Kamboj

     (1940-20??)