Meena

Meena got up to do her chores for the day. That was the only work she did the whole day. What did she have? No child, no husband, no support. She was a mere servant, ordered around the whole day. She worked and lived in a house where everyone was wrapped up in their own world. The people of the Kumar house were always competing and fighting. Other times they were busy on their phones. She was insulted in their family, yet she continued to work. That was her only source of income. After her failed marriage, she had stopped working in the other houses. The only person who loved her was the youngest daughter-in-law of the house. With these thoughts, she went to the kitchen and started preparing the breakfast. "Meena! You have been working here for 5 years, right. Don't you know that I have to rush to the office. Bring my berry, banana and grapefruit smoothie double-quick!" shouted a rude voice. "Here she goes" thought Meena. "Coming!" said Meena. The rude voice was of Aaradhya of course. She was the daughter of the elder daughter-in-law of the house. She was a rather self-centered person and looked down upon Meena. She was very arrogant. Spit! "You call this smoothie! How will you, you must have never even heard it. You are just a low-class servant." Aaradhya shouted. This was how she was humiliated right after waking up! Leaving the smoothie on the table, Aaradhya got up and ran to her car.

"You b**ch! You spoiled the mood of my poor daughter right in the morning." Meena quietly went to the kitchen. She was hurt. How could anyone not? If the elder daughter-in-law of the house whom you have been serving for 5 years calls you b**ch, what else can you expect from her daughter?

As she was washing the dishes, Aaradhya's father came. "Bring me bread and butter, fast. Roast it a bit more." As usual, Meena had to make the bread and butter, as the word 'no' didn't exist in her dictionary. When she was going to serve, Aaradhya's father said "Not you! You won't serve me." Meena stopped serving and went back to the kitchen. "You don't need to cook. I'll manage" said a sweet and polite voice. It was the youngest daughter-in-law. Meena smiled and went to the stairs to have her breakfast. What was it? Pakhala, that is leftover rice with water.

The Kumar house was bubbling with excitement. Visitors kept dropping in the house. Why do you wonder? The youngest son of the house was about to visit them. He lived in America. On the D-Day, he came. Everyone was happy. Meena prepared snacks and juices. While opening the suitcases, Aaradhya said "Meena, go to the kitchen. I don't want you to be dazzled by the wealth that is going to be displayed here." "Aaradhya! Stop it! Don't humiliate the poor girl like that. I know her very well. She is not greedy." said the youngest daughter-in-law. Nevertheless, Meena went away. "You will understand the importance of the girl only after she leaves us." said the youngest daughter-in-law sobbing. "Nonsense!" muttered Aaradhya.

The afternoon passed happily for everyone. Except for Meena, of course. In the evening, the elder daughter-in-law instructed Meena to go to the vegetable store nearby. She left. After almost one hour she returned. Noticing her empty hands, Aaradhya asked her "Where are the vegetables?" The whole family saw her but no one bothered. The youngest daughter-in-law came and said, "Maybe she didn't get them." Aaradhya and the youngest daughter-in-law left.

After some time, they got a call. There is an emergency! A person has had an accident!" "So what am I supposed to do!" Aaradhya said.

"We have found a paper in the victim's purse with the number of this house. That's why we called you." By the time, the others had come up. "What happened, why are you shouting!" They asked. "There's a call from the hospital. They say there's an accident and our phone number has been found in the victim's purse." Aaradhya said. "Please come fast." said the person from the hospital and disconnected the phone.

The Kumar family rushed to the hospital. They thought maybe it was one of their relatives. After reaching the hospital though, they found that the victim was none other than Meena! At first, they were shocked. Then the doctor came and said, "the patient is no more."

The youngest daughter-in-law broke down. The others were shocked because the death certificate said that the time of death was 7:00. "How is that possible!" exclaimed Aaradhya. "I saw her at 7:30 at our house. Even the youngest daughter-in-law said the same thing. But the doctor said, "The death certificate clearly shows 7:00." Even the people at the hospital said the same thing. It took the family a while to understand everything.

Meena had been loyal to them from the beginning. She had visited them the last time even after dying. She loved them despite their behavior. That's why she visited them one last time. The family felt ashamed of their behavior. But nothing could be done. They performed her last rites. The youngest daughter-in-law felt as if Meena had just smiled from the heavens above.