“Why is the cat meowing so much? Did you feed it today?” Aai asked, hearing the cat’s voice from the courtyard as she lay on her sickbed. It was her favorite cat, a gentle creature. It never put its mouth to the milk pot without permission. A little milk was always enough for it.

“Aakka gave it some rice. But it didn’t let its mouth touch the food. Milk and ghee were mixed in the rice, but it just sniffed at it and turned away. Even the fish that was left over, it didn’t eat. It doesn’t seem to want to eat anything,” Sakhu explained.

“Maybe its stomach is hurting! Isn’t that so? It can’t speak, poor thing. It can’t tell us,” Aai said.

Shyam’s mother’s illness was only worsening. Nothing seemed to help her recover. Aunt (Sakhu) would come and take care of everything, running about to tend to her. She did her nursing duties very well. She would change Aai’s clothes, gently wipe her down, and every other day, she would bathe her and dry her off. She would keep a spittoon at her bedside for her to spit into. To cover her, she would place a thin blanket over her...

She was bedridden. Every day, she would purify herself as much as she could. If the fever rose, she would check it with a thermometer. Whenever the fever spiked, she would prepare a cold-water compress. She took care of all her needs—her urination and defecation. She could not get up from the bed on her own. Whatever care was required, she gave it all. She never grew weary while tending to her beloved sister. Serving her dear one brought her a sense of fulfillment. She applied medicated ointments for her, and would give her the milk to drink. When oranges were brought, she would peel them for her. She did everything for her as if she were her own child. Even if she had to toil all her life for her, she would have done it—she made all arrangements so that her sister would not suffer in any way. If one were to define an aunt, it would be as an embodiment of compassion and service. The two sisters were bound together by a deep affection.

It had not been many days since Gajanan had started his job. It was difficult for him to get leave. When he learned that mother was unwell, he pleaded with his employer and managed to get four days’ leave, and came home. Seeing mother lying in bed, his heart was filled with emotion. He said, “Aai, what is this condition of yours? You were working here, while we were away, living in comfort, eating and drinking at ease! You had to go hungry!” Saying this, he began to weep.

The younger brother, Purushottam, told him all the happenings at home. He told him how mother had endured hardships, how the house had been seized. He told him everything.

Hearing this, Gajanan’s