By Amritha Chandrasekhar
Once upon a time there lived a girl called Syra. Syra was the only daughter for one of the richest family in Hyderabad. She had 6 brothers, 4 elder and 3 younger brothers. Being the only daughter to a very large wealthy family, she was the most loved, pampered kid since childhood. She lost her mother at a very young age of 16 after 4 long years of illness. She was the one who took care of her mother during her final years. After her mother died, she became the lady of the family. She took care of all the things her mother used to take care of, and also she acted as a second mother for her 2 younger brothers. She loved her family with all her heart.
At the age of 22, Syra got married to another large wealthy business man’s son, but the only drawback was that her in laws were settled in a small town called Rajahmundry. But her father agreed for the wedding because he thought he wouldn’t find a better match for his daughter than that .She was heartbroken, when she had to leave her home town. When she was in the airport ready to leave for Rajahmundry, her father said “Kanna, you don’t ever feel that we are far, you are just an hour and half away from us. You can come visit us when ever you want.”
“Of course I will.” She replies.
Her father says, tears coming from his eyes “Even, even if I die…”
“Father, please don’t talk that way. There is still a lot of time to even think about that.”
“Just hear me out, even after I am gone, you can always visit often. This is your hometown. You will never feel like an outsider. You have 6 brothers, who will take care of you forever. You never ever have to worry about it.”
“I know father.” She says tears running out. Her in laws family was also pretty big, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. The 3 sisters were married off to Hyderabad and each of the 4 brothers were married to a girl from Hyderabad including Syra. The other three brother’s wives didn’t have a big family like Syra did, but they too visited Hyderabad as often as Syra.
Syra had four beautiful children, and continued visiting Hyderabad at every vacation possible. She went to tours with her brothers and their families every now and then, which of course her father sponsored for her whole family, even though she never wanted to accept it. Slowly after her brothers were all settled, problems started to erupt between the brothers on properties division issue. Her father, divided the properties considering who all worked hard for the business and other aspects. He had given his 1st son and 3rd son a factory each, as they were the ones who worked hard for the company. He made his 2nd and 4th sons study doctor with donation, so he had given them fewer properties, with which they could invest and generate a permanent income. He gave his youngest son few properties and a big marriage hall. His 5th son was married to a very rich politician’s only daughter, his 5th son’s wife was richer than Syra’s father itself. So the Father thought that his 5th son was settled already, but still he gave his son 3 large properties, which was worth more than the doctor sons but a little less than the others. Apart from all this, the father gave each one of his sons individual bungalows to live in.
The 5th son was okay with it, but his in laws weren’t. They shunted him continuously to ask his father to give him the large factory which was actually 3rd son’s factory. The father didn’t agree for it. The 1st son was also jealous as the 3rd son got bigger factory than his. So he sided with the 5th son and started shunting the 3rd son. A very large fight erupted and the 5th son with the influence of his father in law closed the 3rd son’s factory and made sure that the 3rd son cannot enter his own factory, by putting goons outside his factory. They also put lot of court cases on the property and made sure to lag it, in order to stop the factory from running. The 3rd son couldn’t find luck with the police too, as the police were also sided with the politician. The 6th son sided with the 3rd son, as he pitied his brother and because it was unfair towards 3rd son. The other 2 doctor brothers, didn’t side with anyone as they were afraid of the 5th son and his capability, they were the most selfish brothers according to Syra.
As the 6th son sided with the 3rd son, they didn’t leave him alone too. They sent so many notices to his Marriage hall, finding little violations which usually was ignored for other marriage halls. But still the 6th son stood straight against the 5th son. Syra being the most honest one, sided with the 3rd son too, because it was really unfair. Her father gave all the money he saved up to the 3rd son, as he got penniless, because he didn’t have any properties other than the factory which was also in court case, also because he was married to a middle class women, so he didn’t have any support from his in laws too. Due to all these fights and seeing his factories shut down, her father couldn’t take it. He fell ill and got bedridden. The father lived with his 6th son’s family. When the father fell ill, the 6th son took care of all the expenses and the 3rd son took care of his father by aiding him in all ways. Syra visited her father as often as she could, as her father was improving only after looking at her. Her father got better, and every thing was normal. Even though Syra sided with the 3rd son, she maintained good relationship with her other brothers as she was their only sister.
When she was 46 years old her father died suddenly due to heart attack. After the ceremony was finished. She decided to help her elder brother (3rd son) in getting his factory back. She thought, she knows her younger brother (5th son) well because, she was the one who raised him and also according to her, her brother was the most kind hearted of all and that he would listen to her if she talks some sense into him. She went and talked to him, he was okay at first. When she started taking the topic about 3rd son, he immediately escalated and said “You are pest, never come to my house ever again.”
Syra was taken aback, she couldn’t believe her brother and asked “What?” petrified.
“ Get out of my house.” He shouted, and turned towards his children and said “Sons, never allow her or her family into this house ever again. They are pests, they will kill us.”
Syra, couldn’t control her tears rolling out of her eyes. She just left his house without turning back, deciding never to even look at him or his family. Just like that the bond broke between them. She stopped talking to her eldest brother too. All she had always done was show pure love and that was what she got in return. She was never actually close with her doctor brothers from the start, so she maintained it that way with them.
Usually, whenever she was in the city, she always stayed in her family house, which eventually became youngest son’s house (6th son). The 6th brother got married to her close cousin’s only daughter. Her cousin was like her best friend and 12 years older than Syra, she also acted like Syra’s mother, when Syra lost her mother. She shared everything happening in her life with her cousin. 6th son’s wife is the only single daughter. So after Syra’s father died, the 6th son with his family shifted to his wife’s parents house (ie Syra’s cousin’s house.)
Syra reduced her visits to the city. But if at all she had to visit the city for attending any functions or weddings, she stayed at her cousins house with her 6th brother, as her cousin was almost like her mother. Her 6th brother took care of Syra and her family so well that she stopped missing her father whenever she visited. For three years she continued visiting because almost all the functions even in her in laws family happened in Hyderabad. It was all going good. Then one day, a little misunderstanding fight happened between Syra and her cousin. Then Syra understood that, no matter how close they were, her cousin actually treated her like an outsider and that it was only Syra who trusted her cousin and told her everything but not the other way around. Heartbroken Syra called her 6th brother and said “I cannot stay in your in laws house from now on. Can you stay in your house just during the days I visit.”
“Why suddenly?” He asked without knowledge of the fight.
“Well, I just understood that akka had always been treating me as an outsider.” And explained what happened. To her surprise the 6th son started arguing on behalf of his in laws. The fight got bigger, Syra understood that, her own brother always mistook her love to something else because of the brainwashing by his in laws. And finally her brother ended it by telling “Akka, listen you are and will always be depended on me, but I was, am and will never be depended on you in my life. See even now, I am the one who is looking after you no one else. So please remember that first.”
Well it was true, obviously because she was not in touch with anyone other than her 3rd and 6th brother. The 3rd brother was always busy with court cases on his factory, so she didn’t want to be a burden to him. But with that last sentence her youngest brother said, their bond broke. Syra couldn’t believe her brother, just like that she decided never to talk to him. It was over. She cried and cried for months. She acted as strong as possible around her family, while inside she was broken. She was broken irreparably. She felt lonely, even though she was surrounded by the most loving family ever. She had everything in her life, but she didn’t have her birth family by her side. She felt weaker even more than the time her mother or her father died. She never felt that sad all her life, until the moment she knew she has no one to receive her in her hometown.
Even though all her brothers in law’s wives families were smaller and poorer when compared to her family, their birth families ie their brothers and sisters received them with open heart. She envied that she doesn’t have one, it was crippling for her. She didn’t visit her hometown for a year, nor did anyone from her family tried to reach out. Later she got a need to visit Hyderabad for her sister in law’s son’s wedding. She booked a hotel room for her stay. When she was opening the room with keys, all she could hear was her father telling “Even after I am gone, you can always visit often. This is your hometown, you will never have to feel like an outsider. You have 6 brothers, who will take care of you forever. You never ever have to worry.” She looked above, smiled and asked “Why did you lie father?” Cause she felt like an outsider.
Syra, always loved her brothers with her full heart, she never had ill intentions towards anyone. She was heartbroken when she knew that her brothers didn’t love her the same way she did, but still she never stopped loving them. She prayed for good things happening to them, even though they broke her heart. Generally girls, when they get married and leave to the in laws house, the only strength they have is their birth family. When that’s not there, no matter how old they are they can never be confident. Syra didn’t visit her family often for free food, gifts and tours. She visited to spend time with her father, her brothers and their families, mainly for true love and get strength from it cause it’s always family above all.
Lorem Ipsum
By Amritha Chandrasekhar
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