The Old Man’s Secret


In a humble cowshed, the desperate connection between a frail father and his sons unfolds, revealing the hidden emotions and misunderstandings of family life in rural South India.

The Peasant’s Life

Kisan was a prosperous peasant with two able sons. In due course, he chose brides for them and arranged their marriages. With this, he became a happy man, expecting his sons to guard and increase the family property, while relying on his daughters-in-law to serve him.

The Daughters-in-Law’s Plight

However, the two young women were far from happy. Kisan never allowed them any comforts or freedom, insisting they could not spend any part of their husbands’ earnings. The sons were trained to hand over every last paisa they received to their father.

The Sickness

One day, Kisan fell ill. His sons wanted to call a physician, but Kisan dismissed their concerns. “No need,” he insisted, “This sickness will go away on its own. What use is there in spending money on a physician?” However, Kisan’s condition worsened, and he soon lost the ability to speak, yet he used gestures to prevent his sons from seeking help.

The Inheritance Plan

As Kisan became an invalid, the daughters-in-law took charge of the situation, convincing their husbands to divide the property. After the division, the elder son told Kisan, “Father, this room is now mine and needs repairs. You should move to the cowshed.” With his younger brother’s help, Kisan was moved to the cowshed.

The Old Man’s Suffering

In the cowshed, Kisan’s suffering intensified. Neither his sons nor his daughters-in-law attended to him properly. He was served only meager food and that too most irregularly, leading him to grow extremely weak.

A Desperate Attempt to Communicate

One day, while visiting the cowshed, the elder son noticed that Kisan seemed desperate to say something. His eyes were full of anxiety. He called for his brother and the two ladies to help decipher their father’s message, but they could not understand him. They believed he was trying to reveal some hidden property, and until he regained the ability to speak, they wouldn’t know for sure.

The Recovery

They decided to take him to town to see a renowned physician. Kisan did regain his speech, but it cost a significant amount of money. When they returned to the village, his sons immediately pressed him, “Tell us, where is the wealth you’ve buried?”

The Unexpected Revelation

Kisan, confused by their persistence, asked in surprise, “What wealth?” When pressed further by his sons about what he was trying to communicate the other day, Kisan finally replied, “Oh, that! I saw a calf chewing on one of our broomsticks. I was trying to tell you to remove the broomstick!” With that, he sighed deeply, and needless to say, his sons and daughters-in-law also released their long-held breaths in disbelief.

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