Addiction To Wealth

Santosh was the youngest among his three brothers and two sisters. Both of his sisters had been married off. His elder brothers were also well settled in the city. They had set up their own business there and returned to the village only on special occasions.

Santosh being the youngest of all drew the special attention of everyone in the family. He was an apple of everybody's eyes. Kantilal and Saraswati were fond of him. They could not live without him even for a moment. But as ill-luck would have it, one day when Kantilal was sitting with the other members of his family, he had a severe heart stroke and got confined to his bed. One day when he felt that he would not live anymore, he called all his family members and divided his property equally into four parts. Three parts for his sons and one part for his wife, Saraswati Devi. Since Santosh was the youngest of all and was still completing his studies in the college, he took a word from his elder sons that they would take care of their mother after his death and also help Santosh in getting established in his life. He also got some amount deposited in their respective accounts that they might use it in their time of need. At last, he had a word for Santosh that he would never go against their elder brothers and would never leave his mother alone.

After Kantilal's death, everything went well for some days. At times they came to the village, the whole family lived together for some days and then left for their work. But gradually they got busy in expanding their business and forgot the word they had given to their father. They had no time to think of their mother and their younger brother. How they lived and what they did seemed none of their concern. Their business increased by many times, their income multiplied by many folds, and with the increase of wealth, new friends and new relatives were formed. They got busy in their new dazzling life and forgot the old mother and the younger brother whose well being they had pledged to their dying father.

Santosh was staying with his mother and was looking after her. He could not leave her alone as he knew that if he left her, he would not find her alive on his return. Her ill health would take her life. Already her health was deteriorating day by day. He had sacrificed his career for his mother and was always ready to do anything for her. But her failing health was the biggest concern for him. He wanted someone's help in looking after his mother, but who would do that in this selfish world.

One day, leaving his mother in care of his neighbour, Santosh went to the city for apprising his elder brothers about their mother's failing health and need for her special care and treatment. He had little money with him, so he could not afford to hire even a rickshaw. He was walking on the road towards the residence of his elder brothers which was at a little distance from the Railway Station. He had hardly walked some distance when a car stopped behind him. At first, he could not understand what it was, but when the man sitting in it came out, a large smile played on his lips.

"Sunil Bhaiya... You here! "

" Yes, Santosh! I'm here. I was going to attend an urgent meeting, but you...here....at this time?"

" Bhaiya, our mother's condition is not very good. Her health is deteriorating very fast. In the village, I'm not able to give her good treatment. So... "

Before he could complete his sentence, Sunil interrupted him and thrusting a hundred rupee note in his pocket said, "You have done a very good job, Santosh, to have informed me about her falling health. Now, you immediately go back to her and get her ready. I'm coming there behind you. We bting her to the city and will give her the best treatment here. Now you won't have you worry."

Santosh came back to his village and told her mother that he had met Sunil Bhaiya in the city and that he was coming to take her there for her treatment. He also got her ready for the journey. In a bag he put their clothes and other things of their requirement. He would also go with her. He was very happy to think that now his mother would get the best treatment in the city and she would again be able to walk by herself and do her little work by her own.

They waited and waited, but no one came from the city. The sun set, stars came out of their houses and started twinkling, but no one came from the city. The sons had got so addicted to money that they had no time for anybody... not even for their brother and mother.