Women would come to Shyama’s house for work. In those days, there were no rice mills to pound the paddy. A small shed or a corner of the yard would be cleared near the house. A wooden pestle and mortar would be set up there. With great effort, the women would pound the paddy to get rice. This work was called “kandpini.” Two or three such kandpinis would come to Shyama’s house. They would work all day and return home in the evening. They would take some rice or grain as their wage, but never asked for more than what was due.

Among these kandpinis, there was one named Mathura. She was gentle by nature. She had a son named Shivram, about ten or twelve years old. He too would come with her to work. He would milk the cow, collect the dung, feed the cattle, fetch water, and spread the fodder—he did all these chores. Sometimes, Mathura would bring ripe wild fruits from the forest for the children.

One day, Mathura did not come to pound the rice. When Shyama’s mother asked the other kandpini why Mathura had not come, she learned that Mathura had fallen ill and was lying at home. Immediately, she sent the other kandpini with her own share of rice for Mathura. She could not bear the thought that someone’s work should stop because of her. Such was her concern for others.

There are very few hearts truly devoted to duty. When Shivram needed something, he came to Shyama’s mother and told her what he required. In the afternoon, when Shivram returned home, she told him to wait and informed her own son about it.

That afternoon, Shivram finished all of Mere’s chores. When he came home, Shyama’s mother gave him what he needed. She placed some cool rice on a banana leaf, added a piece of pickle on top, and poured buttermilk into a small earthen bowl. She handed all this to Shivram and said, “Take this cool meal to your mother and tell her to eat it and rest well. Tell her I’ve sent it.” Shivram took everything and went home.

Evening approached. The women who had come to pound rice took their share and left for their homes. Shivram watered the plants, milked the cow, and finished all the household chores. Once everything was done, he hurried to say, “I’m going home now.” But Shyama’s mother asked him to wait a little longer. She gave him some lemongrass leaves, ginger, and rock sugar, and instructed, “Shivram, make a herbal decoction with these. Add a little coriander and a pipal leaf as well. Prepare the decoction and give it hot to your mother to drink. Tell her to cover herself with a blanket and sleep. The steam will help her, and she will feel better.”

“Alright!” Shivram replied, taking the ingredients for the decoction and heading home.

When Mathura saw Shivram carrying the ingredients, she asked, “Shivram, who gave you this?”

“Shyama’s mother,”