Thicker Than Blood

"Take your medicines, papa," Shyamlal's elder daughter-in-law Shanti said as her eyes shone with affection for her father-in-law.

"I'll bring you a glass of milk." His younger daughter-in-law, Veena, rushed to the kitchen and instantly came back holding a glass of milk. "You've grown so frail, papa, I think you should take some rest."

As Shyamlal stretched himself on the bed and closed his eyes, both the ladies walked back to their rooms.

"Your younger brother and wife are trying their best to entrap your father in the web of their pretentious affection." Shanti snorted as she saw her husband Rajbir getting dressed for the office.

"Why won't they?" Rajbir looked at himself in the mirror with an air of satisfaction and adjusted his tie. "Today is the final verdict of papa's case for the ancestral property against the uncle. And Rishi knows very well that papa is going to win for sure."

As soon as those words fell out of Rajbir's mouth, the phone rang. Their servant Mohan, was silently witnessing the drama that was being enacted by Shyamlal's sons, Rajbir and Rishikesh and their wives, from the kitchen. As he heard the phone ringing, he ran to answer the call.

"Babuji," he called out to his master, "it's for you."

"Who's it?" Shyamlal asked as he got up from the bed.

"It's your lawyer," Mohan said quite loudly, for other members of the family to listen.

As expected, the four of them gathered around the phone even before the old Shyamlal could reach. They all held their breaths as Shyamlal talked over the phone. Then he placed the receiver down and thumped himself down on the chair.

"What happened, papa?" The four of them asked in unison.

"We've lost everything," a heart-broken Shyamlal said, "now the whole property is your uncle's."

The four of them vanished into their rooms within a split second. Only Mohan was there to console Shyamlal.

"I think we should leave the house at the earliest," Veena said packing their things. "We are not going to get even a single penny from papa and on top of it, we have to take care of him too. Don't you know how costly his medicines are? We can't afford to spend our hard-earned money on him. Let Raj bhaiyya and Shanti bhabhi take care of him. After all, they are the elder ones."

"Yes, you are right," Rishikesh nodded as he helped his wife with the packing.

"As an elder son you've done so much for the family for all these years," Shanti scoffed as she carefully placed her silk sarees in the suitcase. "Now it's Rishi's turn to take care of papa. Let them stay here with papa while we move out to our new bungalow."

"Yes, you are right," Rajbir pulled out yet another suitcase and started stuffing his things into it.

"We are leaving, papa." The four of them again said in unison as they all walked towards the old man seated in the parlor.

"But how could you leave your old father on his own?" Mohan protested.

"Let it be, Mohan," Shyamlal raised his hand in the air, "you all are free to go."

"You don't have to worry, babuji," Mohan said after everyone had left. "I'll be always there for you. I was an orphan. I'd have died of hunger if you haven't given me food and shelter. And not only that, you've always loved me like your own son. I'm indebted towards you for life. Now it's my turn to take care of you. I'll work in the factory to make a living and take care of you for the rest of my life."

"You're my sole heir, Mohan," Shyamlal said proudly as tears gleamed in his eyes.

"Heir?" Mohan was dazed.

"Yes," Shyamlal smiled, "I've won the case. I had lied to my children only to test their sincerity. But they all failed me. And it was only you who had stood by me when I was in need. Your love for me is true, sincere and unconditional. You've taught me that love is thicker than blood."