Today Eashwaramma told me that her daughter-in-law had come
home after seven long years to see her children ... and a village madhyastham
(panchyat) had been called. my heart went out to her ...
Seven years back, when eashwaramma's son and daughter-in-law had had some differences, the daughter-in-law had got him beaten up and he died. The son had left home in the morning, and his corpse returned to the village in the evening. The village was shatterred. Eashwaramma was convulsed and her non-blind eye went dimmer after that day.
But she pulled herself together because the two orphaned children (the mother absconded that day) were left to her care. Assetless and healthless she struggled ... while the village wondered how a mother could abandon her children ...
The children grew up unscarred because of the goodness of their grandmother who slaved to bring them up, and who taught them virtue through her daily acts of generosity to those in greater need. And because of the goodness of a village community where all children are everyone's children ...
Seven years back, when eashwaramma's son and daughter-in-law had had some differences, the daughter-in-law had got him beaten up and he died. The son had left home in the morning, and his corpse returned to the village in the evening. The village was shatterred. Eashwaramma was convulsed and her non-blind eye went dimmer after that day.
But she pulled herself together because the two orphaned children (the mother absconded that day) were left to her care. Assetless and healthless she struggled ... while the village wondered how a mother could abandon her children ...
The children grew up unscarred because of the goodness of their grandmother who slaved to bring them up, and who taught them virtue through her daily acts of generosity to those in greater need. And because of the goodness of a village community where all children are everyone's children ...
One Sunday, seven years later, the mother came to ask for her children back ... the children did not want to see
her ... and the saga will go on.
What some are destined to face ... apart from their utter poverty where assets are a one-roomed house and a cow.
What some are destined to face ... apart from their utter poverty where assets are a one-roomed house and a cow.
...
Now the daughter in law says she wants to start living again the the house. Eashwaramma is torn ... between living with the murderer of her son, and between thinking of the children who need some support after she herself dies.
She tells me, "I have given up anger and pride ... what can I do ? How long will my strength hold out to guarentee these children anything ... if she comes ler her come." There was a village panchayat, where the daughter-in-law was made to state her case ... and where, taking the interests of the children as paramount, she was given rights to come to the village and see the children but not stay here. With that chink the mother will move back slowly ...
The children were counselled by Varalu and others to talk politely to the mother, and move with her ... everyone in the village now has the children's future in mind. But the children know that she had got their father killed ... and my heart tightens when i wonder what emotions must be struggling in their hearts ... which maybe even they do not fathom. They must also be yearning for a parent's touch and care ...
The burdens some have to carry ...
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