“Because of me, you are all going through such hardship. You have to feed me, give me water, and look after me day and night, and yet I am of no use to you. I am truly unfortunate! What can I do?” Nimaane said to his wife, his voice heavy with sorrow.

“What are you saying? If you lose heart like this, then on whom will Purushottam rely for support? How can you give up your courage? You must not let your mind be troubled. In your home, I have enjoyed every happiness. You have never let me lack for anything. Now, even if these are days of poverty, so be it. I have never longed for those days of prosperity, and even if I did, you have not been able to bring them back. But with my own eyes, I have seen those happy days, and my soul is content.”

“You are a good woman. Isn’t Sakhu coming? She will take good care of you,” her husband said, trying to comfort her.

“Why should I show any more false hope? All this strength is hollow from within. If, while you are still here, death comes to me and I die in your arms, then my life will have been fulfilled. In the form of a wife, I have found salvation. That is the greatest happiness, the greatest joy. In difficult times, it is thoughts of you that come to my mind. After I am gone, who will you have for support?” As she said this, she placed her trembling hand on her husband’s knee. Her body was burning with fever. Even as she spoke, she was truly—

She asked her brother to give her some water. He gave her water to drink.

"The water from your hands is like the sacred Ganga, the pure Ganga, sweet as nectar itself. Today, do not go anywhere. Just sit by my side. I will close my eyes and think only of you," she said, taking her brother's hand in hers and closing her eyes. That scene was as if the very water of the heart was flowing out.

When the house and property were seized, Durva's grandmother was not at home. Who knows where she had gone. She returned, and that very day, she fell ill and was bedridden with a high fever. Who was there to care for her? Grandmother did whatever she could manage. When grandmother went to eat, there was no one to take her food to her, so she asked Purushottam to stay in the house. The neighbor Radha-bai, Janaki-vahini, and Namu-maushi would come and help with whatever little chores they could.

Now, all work had come to a halt. Even the few coins that came in had stopped. Because of this, everyone in the house felt the pinch of want. When Durva's grandmother was at home, everyone would vent their anger on her. Bhau would calm everyone and say to her, "Dwaraka-kaku, cook the nikhate rice and