Gayatri had daughters whom she reared with love. Yet in India it was an age when having a son was necessary. Hence, she resorted to adopting a son.

Her children grew up and married.

Gayatri's health started slowly to yield to the passage of time. She needed care which her tenant, Mahima gave to her.

One day Gayatri's son-in-law visited her. He told Gayatri's bahu [daughter-in-law] that Gayatri needed to be looked after - not so much by a tenant as by her bahu. The bahu reacted egotistically and prevailed upon Gayatri's son, her husband to feel antagonism. 

He pushed Mahima and attacked her husband. The family phoned the police.

Then Gayatri was asked by her son to tell Mahima and her family to leave. Gayatri thought they had done no wrong. She would not dislodge them.

Gayatri's son's family stopped taking care of their old mother. No help and no food was given.

Fortunately, her daughter lodged in rooms nearby and started sending food to her mother. The cruel treatment given by the family of a son who had been adopted and nurtured caused Gayatri to cry for many days.

Denial of food symbolised indifference to her life.

Will life lose its charm for Gayatri? Each day brings reminders of the presence of people under her roof whom she loves but who keep away from her.  

 

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Names have been changed.