Living to Her Fate

The afternoon sun shone brightly on their new rented house in Bhubaneswar. Aayushi was full of excitement. She ran across the big living room and shouted,
“Wow! The house is so big, with three bedrooms!”

Her mother, Leela, smiled while arranging things in the kitchen. The family was happy. Their earlier house had been too small and crowded. Here, the school was nearby, and there was plenty of space. After a tasty lunch ordered from a restaurant, Aayushi quickly started arranging her toys, books, and clothes. That night, the whole family slept peacefully, relieved after the tiring move.

But the next morning, a loud sound filled the house. It was the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra, but the volume was so high that it felt disturbing. Aayushi, who had a holiday, opened her books to study but soon got irritated.
“Mom, this is too loud. I can’t focus!” she complained.

Later that day, their neighbor Aunt Ruby visited. She had helped them get this house and often came by with groceries. Leela asked her, “Who is playing such loud music every morning?”
Ruby replied sharply, “Oh, that old lady next door. She lives alone and always plays loud music to trouble others. She’s sarcastic and unpleasant. Better stay away from her.”

Leela nodded and later told Aayushi, “Close the windows whenever she plays music. Don’t go near her.”
But Aayushi whispered, “Mom, shouldn’t we just talk politely to her and ask her to lower the volume? We also have a right to peace.”
Leela stayed quiet, afraid of upsetting the old woman.

Days passed. The family avoided the old lady. Aayushi grew sad—such a spacious house, yet she couldn’t keep her windows open.

One morning, while drying clothes, Aayushi suddenly heard a voice from the next window.
“Hey young girl! Can you please come here?”
Startled, she turned. It was the old lady. Nervous but curious, she stepped closer.
“What is your name?” the woman asked kindly.
“My name is Aayushi,” she replied softly.
“You must be new here, right?”
“Yes, aunty,” she answered.
The lady smiled and held out a coconut. “I went to the temple today. I don’t have a coconut grater, and I won’t be able to use it. If your mother has one, you can keep this.”
“Okay, aunty. Thank you,” said Aayushi. She carried the coconut home carefully.

She told her mother everything. Leela, still doubtful because of Ruby’s words, inspected the coconut. But it was fresh and sweet. She used it for cooking and silently wondered if Ruby had misjudged the woman.

A week later, Aayushi’s father Vivek went to pay rent. Over tea, he mentioned the loud music to the landlord. The landlord sighed.
“Please don’t be angry with her. Life has been very hard on her. She lost her only daughter to illness, then her husband in an accident. She is all alone now. She works as a Reader and also gives donations to orphanages in memory of her family. Playing loud music is just her way of escaping loneliness. If you ask kindly, she will understand. Still I will talk to her regarding this.”

When Vivek came home and shared this, both Leela and Aayushi felt guilty. They realized how quickly they had believed Ruby’s words.

That evening, Leela cooked payasam and carried a bowl to the old lady’s house. The lady opened the door slowly but greeted her with a gentle smile.
“Ma’am, thank you for the coconut you gave my daughter,” said Leela.
“Oh, it was nothing. I live alone. I don’t use such things,” the old lady replied softly.

They sat together over coffee. The lady looked down for a moment, then said, “I once had everything—my husband, my daughter. But fate took them away. To avoid hearing my own cries, I play music loudly. That is my only company. But do not worry, I will lower it for your sake.”

Leela’s heart grew heavy. She didn’t know whether to comfort her or apologize. From that day, however, the family treated the old lady with warmth. Slowly, a bond grew between them. Leela even stopped talking to Ruby, who had misled her.

After a year, the old lady invited them to a restaurant for a lunch in memory of her late husband. They were surprised to see so many guests. Leela whispered, “It’s amazing to see such a large gathering. You must have kept strong ties with people.”
The old lady smiled. “No, this is all because of my husband. He touched many lives. People still come forward because of him.”

A few weeks later, a truck appeared outside. Movers were packing her furniture. Surprised, the family asked why. She explained gently, “My rental agreement is over. I stayed here only to finish some of my husband’s debts and his death anniversary feast. Now I will return to my hometown, Kolkata, to live the rest of my life in the house where I first stepped after marriage. That is where I will spend my days—living to my fate.”

With folded hands, she bid them goodbye. Her eyes were moist, yet her face carried quiet strength. The family stood silently, watching her leave, realizing that sometimes the loudest sounds come from the deepest silences of the heart.