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Reward of a Brother's Love
#TheWritingProject
Ravi was getting ready to leave for work. Trina, his sister, arrived at his door at that very moment and stood there. "Hey, do you have anything to say? " he asked, aiming at her.
"Brother, you said you'd buy me a new phone if you get paid on the 5th of this month," she answered. "When I get home in the evening," he replied with a smile, "I'll get you a phone." "You have to get me the phone I told you about," she informed his brother, "but if you give me another phone, I will not take it."
"OK sweetheart, done," he said with a smile. Ravi's mother, who was in the kitchen at the time, had heard everything. She went inside her son's room after Trina had left.
"What kind of phone are you going to get her?" she inquired. "How did you know mom?" he said, a little taken aback by his mother's statements.
"From the kitchen, I heard it all."
"That's nothing, mom; I'll get a cheap phone." She'll need a phone now that she's at college."
"Tell me honestly, how much does the phone she wants cost?"
He had never told his mother a lie before. "Not much," he said, bowing his head. "Whatever she wants is worth 22K."
"You earn 25K a month, but your sister wants a phone worth 22K? Why is that girl so fond of? Wait a minute, I'm going to punish that brat! "
"Mom, you won't tell her anything," he said holding her hand as she walked away. "What kind of big brother am I if I don't fulfil the request of the younger sister?"
"But you..." she began, her face blanched.
"But there's nothing else. I'll figure up a way to manage the funds. But please, for the love of God, don't say anything to her." He then left the house to go to the office after stating this.
As he walked inside the office, his phone rang. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and discovered that his second sister, Riya, had called.
"Hi sister, how are you doing?" he inquired after getting the phone call. On the other end of the line, there was a response "Yes, I'm alright, brother. My rent has actually increased. In addition, I need to purchase some books. So, this time, instead of 5K, you send me 8K."
He calmly said, "Okay, I'll hand 8K to you. You just study well. And please let me know what you require." Then he walked into the office. He sent 8K to his sister Riya from a shop on his way home. He returned home and began calling Trina. Behind him, one of his hands is hidden. She dashed out of her room as soon as she heard her brother's summons. He drew out the hand hidden behind him and handed Trina a bag. When she opened the bag, she discovered that his brother had purchased the phone she wanted. Trina began to bounce with delight. When he saw his sister's smiling face, tears welled up in his eyes. He just glanced at his sister's happy expression.
Trina exited the room, and his mother took his hand in hers and pleaded, "Please don't hide anything from me because I'm your mother. Where did you get so much money, please tell me?"
He smiled and added, in response to his mother's words, "Mom, that's nothing. I sold my cell phone."
Hearing this, the mother began to cry and stated, "Your father has passed away and is at peace. And it has fallen on your shoulders to take care of these two sisters."
"Just pray, mom," he said as he walked out of the room, "that as a big brother, I can properly fulfil my father's responsibilities." His mother walked away, tears in her eyes.
The following morning, the two siblings were eating breakfast together. "Look brother, we're having bread with vegetables here, while Riya is feeding chinese dishes to her pals," Trina stated as she gave her phone to her brother. Ravi was taken aback when he learned of this because he had transferred 8K to her sister yesterday to pay room rent and buy books. How could she afford to take her friends to an exclusive restaurant and serve them Chinese food? He took the phone from Trina's grip and discovered that Riya had shared a photo on Facebook. He was aware of everything but appeared not to be aware. By observing Trina, he noticed that she had become upset.
"If you don't tell your mother about it, I'll also give you money to eat Chinese," Ravi stated.
"Really? Thank you so much, my brother; I love you", she answered. Ravi pulled a 1000 rupee note from his wallet and handed it to her. He discovered a new type of serenity in his mind as he glanced at his sister's happy face once more. He has always done his utmost to satisfy his two sisters' tasks.
He educated his sisters well and married them in a good house, although working for a little wage. He has never thought of himself; he has simply done his job selflessly.
Ravi's residence has been visited by her two sisters and their husbands one day. Everyone was seated in a circle, chatting and joking around. After that he went into his mother's room late at night to give her medicine.
"You provided your sisters a happy marriage and done a lot for the family. Now, at the very least, think about yourself," his mother added, "your age is not less, so get married yourself this time." I don't know how long I'll survive because one of my legs has already reached the grave."
He stayed motionless for a few moments after hearing his mother's words before responding, "I wanted to leave this job and establish my own business, mom. I require 6 lakh rupees for this. But I'm not sure where I'll be able to get such a large sum of money right now."
"Do one thing," his mother said, "sell the property that your father owns in the community."
"My sisters, on the other hand, have rights on those lands. I can only sell if they agree; else, I won't be able to," Ravi responded.
She answered, "You see, the sisters for whom you have done so much will never object."
His mother summoned everyone into the drawing room the next day to inform them about the property's sale. Trina and Riya remarked simultaneously after hearing this, "Why should we relinquish our father's estate? We want the equal and proper shares."
Ravi's mother was taken aback when she heard her daughters' statements and exclaimed, "You can't do this much for your big brother who has worked so hard for you since your father died? In addition, your spouses's financial condition is good. You will not lose anything for this minor asset."
Trina remarked, "Which one was it that he made such a big deal about? We grew up with a shortage of resources. Besides, he has only performed our elder brother's duties. Why are we required to give up the entire property for this?"
"My brother did not pay me more than my expenditures when I was in the hostel. I will repay all of the money spent on me if necessary, but I will not abandon my father's property " Riya remarked. Ravi sat and silently cried as he listened to all of her sisters' statements. He reflected to himself, "Alas! Was it true that I did nothing for my sisters?"
Then he sobbed to his mother and said, "They are correct, mom; I have merely carried out my responsibilities as an older brother. I can't deprive them of their property because of this. I'll provide them with everything they deserve."
Trina and Riya, as well as their spouses, departed the room once the conversation was finished. "What did you get for doing so much for the sisters?" the mother inquired of her son.
He grinned and said, tears in his eyes, "I did nothing to obtain anything. I was simply fulfilling my older brother's obligation out of love."
Over time, people change. When things are tough, individuals and relationships change. Human beings loose their humanity and conscience. Everyone is aware of their own personal interests. However, there are some people in the world, like Ravi, who are interested in the well-being of others.
© Dr. Tulika Sarkar
Ravi was getting ready to leave for work. Trina, his sister, arrived at his door at that very moment and stood there. "Hey, do you have anything to say? " he asked, aiming at her.
"Brother, you said you'd buy me a new phone if you get paid on the 5th of this month," she answered. "When I get home in the evening," he replied with a smile, "I'll get you a phone." "You have to get me the phone I told you about," she informed his brother, "but if you give me another phone, I will not take it."
"OK sweetheart, done," he said with a smile. Ravi's mother, who was in the kitchen at the time, had heard everything. She went inside her son's room after Trina had left.
"What kind of phone are you going to get her?" she inquired. "How did you know mom?" he said, a little taken aback by his mother's statements.
"From the kitchen, I heard it all."
"That's nothing, mom; I'll get a cheap phone." She'll need a phone now that she's at college."
"Tell me honestly, how much does the phone she wants cost?"
He had never told his mother a lie before. "Not much," he said, bowing his head. "Whatever she wants is worth 22K."
"You earn 25K a month, but your sister wants a phone worth 22K? Why is that girl so fond of? Wait a minute, I'm going to punish that brat! "
"Mom, you won't tell her anything," he said holding her hand as she walked away. "What kind of big brother am I if I don't fulfil the request of the younger sister?"
"But you..." she began, her face blanched.
"But there's nothing else. I'll figure up a way to manage the funds. But please, for the love of God, don't say anything to her." He then left the house to go to the office after stating this.
As he walked inside the office, his phone rang. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and discovered that his second sister, Riya, had called.
"Hi sister, how are you doing?" he inquired after getting the phone call. On the other end of the line, there was a response "Yes, I'm alright, brother. My rent has actually increased. In addition, I need to purchase some books. So, this time, instead of 5K, you send me 8K."
He calmly said, "Okay, I'll hand 8K to you. You just study well. And please let me know what you require." Then he walked into the office. He sent 8K to his sister Riya from a shop on his way home. He returned home and began calling Trina. Behind him, one of his hands is hidden. She dashed out of her room as soon as she heard her brother's summons. He drew out the hand hidden behind him and handed Trina a bag. When she opened the bag, she discovered that his brother had purchased the phone she wanted. Trina began to bounce with delight. When he saw his sister's smiling face, tears welled up in his eyes. He just glanced at his sister's happy expression.
Trina exited the room, and his mother took his hand in hers and pleaded, "Please don't hide anything from me because I'm your mother. Where did you get so much money, please tell me?"
He smiled and added, in response to his mother's words, "Mom, that's nothing. I sold my cell phone."
Hearing this, the mother began to cry and stated, "Your father has passed away and is at peace. And it has fallen on your shoulders to take care of these two sisters."
"Just pray, mom," he said as he walked out of the room, "that as a big brother, I can properly fulfil my father's responsibilities." His mother walked away, tears in her eyes.
The following morning, the two siblings were eating breakfast together. "Look brother, we're having bread with vegetables here, while Riya is feeding chinese dishes to her pals," Trina stated as she gave her phone to her brother. Ravi was taken aback when he learned of this because he had transferred 8K to her sister yesterday to pay room rent and buy books. How could she afford to take her friends to an exclusive restaurant and serve them Chinese food? He took the phone from Trina's grip and discovered that Riya had shared a photo on Facebook. He was aware of everything but appeared not to be aware. By observing Trina, he noticed that she had become upset.
"If you don't tell your mother about it, I'll also give you money to eat Chinese," Ravi stated.
"Really? Thank you so much, my brother; I love you", she answered. Ravi pulled a 1000 rupee note from his wallet and handed it to her. He discovered a new type of serenity in his mind as he glanced at his sister's happy face once more. He has always done his utmost to satisfy his two sisters' tasks.
He educated his sisters well and married them in a good house, although working for a little wage. He has never thought of himself; he has simply done his job selflessly.
Ravi's residence has been visited by her two sisters and their husbands one day. Everyone was seated in a circle, chatting and joking around. After that he went into his mother's room late at night to give her medicine.
"You provided your sisters a happy marriage and done a lot for the family. Now, at the very least, think about yourself," his mother added, "your age is not less, so get married yourself this time." I don't know how long I'll survive because one of my legs has already reached the grave."
He stayed motionless for a few moments after hearing his mother's words before responding, "I wanted to leave this job and establish my own business, mom. I require 6 lakh rupees for this. But I'm not sure where I'll be able to get such a large sum of money right now."
"Do one thing," his mother said, "sell the property that your father owns in the community."
"My sisters, on the other hand, have rights on those lands. I can only sell if they agree; else, I won't be able to," Ravi responded.
She answered, "You see, the sisters for whom you have done so much will never object."
His mother summoned everyone into the drawing room the next day to inform them about the property's sale. Trina and Riya remarked simultaneously after hearing this, "Why should we relinquish our father's estate? We want the equal and proper shares."
Ravi's mother was taken aback when she heard her daughters' statements and exclaimed, "You can't do this much for your big brother who has worked so hard for you since your father died? In addition, your spouses's financial condition is good. You will not lose anything for this minor asset."
Trina remarked, "Which one was it that he made such a big deal about? We grew up with a shortage of resources. Besides, he has only performed our elder brother's duties. Why are we required to give up the entire property for this?"
"My brother did not pay me more than my expenditures when I was in the hostel. I will repay all of the money spent on me if necessary, but I will not abandon my father's property " Riya remarked. Ravi sat and silently cried as he listened to all of her sisters' statements. He reflected to himself, "Alas! Was it true that I did nothing for my sisters?"
Then he sobbed to his mother and said, "They are correct, mom; I have merely carried out my responsibilities as an older brother. I can't deprive them of their property because of this. I'll provide them with everything they deserve."
Trina and Riya, as well as their spouses, departed the room once the conversation was finished. "What did you get for doing so much for the sisters?" the mother inquired of her son.
He grinned and said, tears in his eyes, "I did nothing to obtain anything. I was simply fulfilling my older brother's obligation out of love."
Over time, people change. When things are tough, individuals and relationships change. Human beings loose their humanity and conscience. Everyone is aware of their own personal interests. However, there are some people in the world, like Ravi, who are interested in the well-being of others.
© Dr. Tulika Sarkar
