The Stepmother

The young Abhay Verma was acclaimed as the greatest dramatist in the kingdom of Rajpur. The king himself congratulated him at a public reception. The play that earned him such fame was a tragedy, revolving around a hero who was constantly harassed by his stepmother, ultimately hampering his ability to achieve anything worthwhile in life.

However, Abhay had lost his mother during childhood and was raised by his stepmother with great affection. When he returned home after the reception and touched his stepmother’s feet, she asked him, “My son, won’t people think that I might have been unjust towards you based on what you have written?”

“Far from that, mother,” Abhay Verma replied, “my life itself is proof that not all stepmothers are the same. My success will show them that you have been the best of mothers to me.”

The mother smiled at his words and blessed Abhay, feeling proud of the bond they shared despite societal perceptions.