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There was an old woman: A Tale of Expectations and Reality

Once upon a time, there was an old woman who had only one son. She often daydreamed about the days when her son would get married, and both her son and daughter-in-law would shower her with love and care. She imagined a life where she would no longer have to toil with household chores and instead bask in the joy of becoming a grandmother, transforming her humble abode into a heavenly abode.

At last, the long-awaited day arrived, and the old woman's son got married amidst great celebrations. She joyously embraced her newfound role as a grandmother. However, fate had a different plan in store for her. None of her dreams materialized.

The son, engrossed in his work, would leave for the office early in the morning, and her grandson would head off to school. In their absence, the daughter-in-law treated the old woman with disdain. She was made to sweep the house, clean the utensils, and even eat from broken dishes.

Initially, the daughter-in-law would only quarrel with the old woman behind closed doors, hiding her true nature from her husband and son. However, as time passed, she began openly disrespecting the old woman in front of her husband as well. One day, witnessing his mother eating from broken utensils, the son couldn't bear it any longer. He scolded his wife, defending his mother's honor. Arguments ensued between the husband and wife, but gradually, the son stopped opposing his wife's behavior.

As the grandson grew older, he started standing up against his mother's mistreatment of his grandmother. He deeply loved his grandmother and felt immense sorrow witnessing the atrocities committed against her. Although he sympathized with her, he was too afraid of his mother's wrath to lend a helping hand. Eventually, the grandson grew up and got married.

The new daughter-in-law secretly observed the cruelty inflicted upon her grandmother-in-law. She couldn't bear to see her mother-in-law and grandmother suffer in their old age. Whenever she tried to assist the old woman, her mother-in-law reprimanded her severely. Witnessing her grandmother-mother-in-law's tears, the daughter-in-law felt profound sadness.

Tragedy struck when the old woman fell ill and passed away. With the old woman's absence, the daughter-in-law took charge of all the household chores, but she treated her mother-in-law with disrespect and cruelty. When Patohu, the daughter-in-law, realized that her mother-in-law was subjecting her to the same mistreatment she had inflicted on her own mother-in-law, she decided to seek revenge. She began treating her mother-in-law in the same manner, serving her food in broken plates. Observing this, her husband and father-in-law protested vehemently.

In response to their objections, the daughter-in-law confronted her father-in-law and husband, saying, "When my grandmother and mother-in-law endured such hardships, why didn't you intervene when my mother served them food in broken dishes? Did you choose to remain silent? If someone treated your Mataji with disrespect, then no one would be worse than me."

Her husband and father-in-law, rendered speechless by daughter-in-law's words, ceased their objections. The daughter-in-law's anger flared whenever she witnessed her father-in-law mistreating her. She reciprocated his behavior with equal disrespect. In solitude, the mother-in-law and father-in-law contemplated their actions and realized that they were responsible for the predicament they found themselves in. They would discuss their joys and sorrows, contemplating the consequences of their actions, realizing that they would reap what they had sown.

Conclusion

The tale of the old woman serves as a poignant reminder of the

importance of treating others with kindness and respect. Our actions and treatment of others have a profound impact on the way we ourselves are treated. Just as the old woman's son and daughter-in-law failed to fulfill her expectations, their own mistreatment of her led to a cycle of disrespect and suffering. It is essential to foster a culture of empathy and compassion, understanding that the way we treat others has a lasting effect.

By nurturing positive relationships and showing kindness to one another, we create an environment where love and care can flourish. The story of the old woman serves as a powerful lesson, urging us to treat everyone well, regardless of their age or position. Let us learn from her tale and strive to build a society where respect and empathy prevail.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: What is the moral of the story of the old woman?

A: The story teaches us the importance of treating others well, as our actions have consequences and impact how we are treated.

Q: What were the old woman's expectations after her son got married?

A: The old woman expected her son and daughter-in-law to take care of her and relieve her of household chores, creating a blissful environment.

Q: How did the daughter-in-law treat the old woman?

A: The daughter-in-law mistreated the old woman, making her do menial tasks, and even served her food in broken utensils.

Q: Did the son initially support his mother or wife?

A: Initially, the son supported his mother and scolded his wife for mistreating her, but he eventually stopped opposing his wife's behavior.

Q: How did the daughter-in-law's treatment change after the old woman passed away?

A: The daughter-in-law took over the household chores but started treating her mother-in-law in the same disrespectful manner she had experienced.