Shyam’s home was a joint family. Shyam, his siblings, mother, father, uncle, aunt, and their children—all lived together, a great many people under one roof. Shyam’s father was the head of the household. All the responsibilities naturally fell upon him. He had to manage everything for everyone. Among the brothers, there was little harmony. In that house, from childhood to adulthood, they all grew up together. For thirty years, the same family life continued. Yet, those capable brothers, one day, sent him out of the house. Shyam’s mother, though deeply insulted, quietly endured everything, never letting her pain show, never uttering a word in protest. The fruit of her forbearance was that she had to leave that house.

That day was the Ganpati festival in the month of Magh—the day of Chaturthi. The whole village was celebrating a grand festival. At night, there was a kirtan in the village temple. At such a time, late at night, Shyam’s mother woke Shyam and his siblings, and together they all quietly left the house. All the villagers had gone to the kirtan. Since it would have been embarrassing to leave in broad daylight, she chose that late hour. The house in which she had fed everyone with love, milked the cows, cooked meals, and cared for all—that very place, that Gokul, she left behind and stepped outside. Tears streamed from her eyes. With no one to turn to, she bore her sorrow in silence.

They moved. Shyam and his siblings were all very young at that time. Shyam’s maternal family lived in the same village. Their house stood empty. Shyam’s maternal grandfather and grandmother had gone to Pune to stay with their son. At night, they all went to stay at Shyam’s maternal grandparents’ house. Everyone in the village was happy and welcomed them warmly, for after much hardship, Shyam’s mother, father, and all the children had returned from their exile. What a sorrowful picture of those days of wandering!

The children soon grew used to their grandparents’ home. But Shyam always saw his mother weighed down by sorrow. She could not bear to live at her maternal home. One day, grandfather and grandmother returned home. Grandmother, though loving by nature, was a little stubborn. Because of this, there were sometimes disagreements between Shyam’s mother and grandmother. But mother would always yield, accepting everything and keeping the peace. Still, she suffered greatly in her heart, for she was proud. If anyone insulted her, she could not bear it. Whenever someone came to the house and, in front of everyone, made some hurtful remark or gave advice in a condescending tone, it was a source of deep pain for her.

One day, grandmother and grandfather had gone to the temple to listen to a kirtan. At that time, Shyam’s mother said to her husband, “Listen, I cannot stay here any longer. I do not enjoy my meals. If that is so, you must build your own house.”

“Building a house is not easy!