A poor family is not welcome, especially in the town, where the neighborhood is close-knit. When Suma and her husband rented a shack and came to our next door, my wife was clearly upset. I tried to comfort her. ‘We’re pretty good financially. I know you’re worried about being asked to borrow money. Do not bother yourself.

They bought a cow. Naturally, we started buying the milk. Suma’s husband was lame and therefore he did not help much in the care of the cow, all the burden fell on the poor woman. They had a daughter who was studying at the university. She wasn’t beautiful, but she was well endowed with brains, and she always came out first in exams.

She used to seek my help in her studies and I gladly assisted her. When she needed money, I actually encouraged her to lend us money, but my wife took it duly into account, even though I treated it as a grant.

Our son was a bright student who aspired to become a doctor. Every time he came home, the two used to meet. I think my wife didn’t like it.

The girl liked to dress well, but I did not encourage her in this. Books are more important than looks, she used to say.

Once when we went on a picnic, my son insisted that we bring our neighbors with us. Since we didn’t have daughters (we are one, we need her, that was his motto), I liked his company. I wish I had better charms!

Once the lame duck had to be hospitalized and kept in the ICU for days. We paid the bill, even though she cursed him wholeheartedly. I think Suma’s parents had no choice, they were in a poor situation.

Days and months passed and his debt increased. (Stop going to the jewelry store, was my response to my wife). I suggested that Suma should buy another cow. Somehow, she didn’t get any response.

One day, we noticed that some strangers were coming to see Suma. Isn’t it too early to think about her daughter’s marriage? I wondered. My wife differed. Daughters should get married as soon as possible, she commented.

But it was a completely different story.

A long time ago, when the lame duck was a little boy, his grandmother was very worried about his future. When her husband died, she secretly called a lawyer and made a will,

bequeathing the entire property to the lame duck alone. She also passed away and no one knew about it except the lawyers. When the family wanted to sell a part of the property, they were informed about the will. Then they realized the seriousness of the situation and had managed to obtain the consent of the lame duck, who became a millionaire overnight, as the sole owner of dozens of hectares of land. All this was told to me by my wife.

Are you now ready to take Suma as future sambandhi (daughter-in-law’s husband), as they say in Hindi?