128. The Devoted Daughter-in-Law

"Do you need anything else?" asked Sumathy.

"Nothing else" said Parvathy.

"Shall I massage your legs?"

"You massaged my legs just half an hour back. How long can you keep doing this? If I had a daughter, even she won't be taking so much care of me!"

Parvathy's eyes began to well, as she said this.

"If a person is not well, someone need to help that person. If it were my mother, wouldn't I be helping her?" said Sumathy.

Parvathy didn't know how to express her gratitude to her daughter-in-law.

Parvathy had been suffering from knee pain for several years, but, till about six months back, she was moving about within the house and taking care of herself, without the need for help from anyone. 

Her knee problem aggravated suddenly and she became bed-ridden.

It was Parvathy's daughter-in-law Sumathy, who was looking after her. From making her sit up on the bed, by gently lifting her and serving food to her, to taking her to the restroom several times a day, by holding her hand and supporting her to walk, Sumathy was taking complete care of her mother-in-law.

Sumathy also gently massaged Parvathy's legs several times a day, in an attempt to ease her pain and make her feel slightly better. Though Parvathy tried to dissuad her from doing so, Sumathy persisted with this service.

Even Parvathy's son Bhupathy confined himself to enquire about her health in a routine way, soon after returning home from work in the evening. But, Sumathy was coming to Parvathy's room every now and then, checking about her requirements and doing the needful. 

Sumathy was sitting in the living room, watching the television, when her friend Sakuntala visited her. 

The friends conversed for some time.

"How is your mother-in-law?" asked Sakuntala.

"She is in the same state. There is no improvement" said Sumathy.

"You are the one, who is taking care of her?"

"Yes."

"Is she awake now? Can I go and see her?"

"She is sleeping. But, if you want, you can go and see her."

"No. I will see her some other time, when she is awake. She seems to be suffering a lot. What a pity!" said Sakuntala.

"Yes. I don't know what sin had she committed in her previous birth. She is suffering and making others suffer too!" said Sumathy.

After Sakuntala had left, Sumathy went into her mother-in-law's room.

Parvathy was lying on the cot, with her eyes closed. When Sumathy tried to massage her leg, Parvathy pulled her leg back. Normally, she won't be able to mover her leg so fast. It should have pained her a lot to do so!

Parvathy opened her eyes and looked at Sumathy. She then said, "No, Sumathy. I have already committed sins in my previous birth. I don't want to accumulate more sins, by making you massage my legs and thereby inflicting pain to your hands!"

Sumathy looked at her mother-in-law's face, wondering whether she would have heard her conversation with Sakuntala.             

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 13
Restraint

Verse 128 (In Tamil)

onRAnum thIchchol porutpayan uNdAyin
nanRu AgAdhadhu Agi vidum.

Meaning:

Even if one word that conveys a harmful meaning is uttered, all good intention will come to naught.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'oru sol' by the same author)

Verse 129 (Soon)
Verse 127