She gave a weak chuckle that rattles her frail body, there were many tubes and wires attached to her body and with the strain the body took, she looked weak and small in the large white bed. Gone was the proud and loud Durga Devi and in place was a frail and an old woman beaten up by the time and situations and the world.

"We all will be gone one day Phoolan. Nothing could prevent that with happening. But I assures you..that my time will only come after seeing all of my children settled and happy in their life. "

Adjusting the bed sheet around her for the lack of not having anything to do Phoolan Chaudhary looked at her stroking his mother's head. "Then you have a long time here on the Earth. "

"I think so too." They both remain silent after that, the doctor has told them that with her age the body will take a long time to heal. Exerting her strength will only be futile when they both had so many days together to discuss any of the important topic.

"Phoolon.."

"Amma.."he said at once looking at her in alarm. Phoolon Chaudhary has never feared anyone in his life, no situation or people or the time has made his feet quiver in his shoes like today and the day when he lost Mala.

"I'm getting weaker day by day. And with the surgery it would be impossible for me to gain my previous strength back and then who really knows when the call from the lord-"

"Amma.."

"No listen. You know I hate sugarcoating and prefers to be straightforward. With the time running away so fast..no one knows how many days are left in their hands with their dear ones. You saw Meena..I have always thought that her dislikes towards Achintya might subsidies one day, that she will finally see the worth in the boy and treat him with care. But I have been proven wrong. Again. She is too engrossed in her own mind and scenerio that she refuses to see anything after that."

"Vijay's dislike pumped by her now has turned in the hatred visible in his eyes. I'm not saying he is totally wrong when it is his upbringing to be blamed. Meena took him away from us at such tender age when both him and Achintya were just understanding the fragile bond of the brotherhood, fuelled his hatred and made him what he is today. Achintya is wrong too...for when it comes to Vijay he always let his temper take over his rational side."

No one can blame truly the one party only. With Meena's hatred, Vijay's dislike and Achintya's temper the things only worsen with time. So much so..that even today when the two of them stood in the same room there was a clear disdain between the two of them despite both feeling the similar sympathy for her.

"Amma, I'm aware. I'm aware but I couldn't do anything because the days when punishing those two helps the situation has passed long before. They are not the same children who showed their appreciation through minuscule bullying neither is Meena's partiality remains only to only exchanging the milk glass of theirs or deliberately reminding Achintya of his mother's loss. "

"True. It has increased to much more. More than we both know. Are aware."

"Hm..but my hands are tied Amma, I have to ignore the obvious because bringing them to the light will also means hurting Lokesh. But after her raising her hand on my son..that will be something I couldn't ignore. There is also a rumor going that she demanded a hefty dowry and land and a separate house from the Tripathis for Vijay."

Sighing heavily "Phoolan given the current circumstances..I think it would be advisable that you prepare a will. Declare Mithilesh as the heir while giving Lokesh's position to the Vijay and handing the rein of the legal business to the Achintya. Name equal part of the property on the Guddi's name. "

"I will Amma. Whatever you have said will be done. Don't worry. Now sleep."

"I will. But one more thing..find a suitable girl for Achintya and marry him off before the declaration of the will. Make sure it is of a family worthy of their name and values in the society, they can lack in the wealth but not in the virtue. Find someone from that kind of the family."

BegusaraiWhere stories live. Discover now