Chapter 21: chapter 21

SHIVA’S PAST IN HIS OWN WORDS:(only relevant incidents to his current way of living) Three months before the final exams, my mother summoned me for some serious matters. My father’s best friend Bala uncle was waiting for me. The last time I saw him was at my father's funeral.“How are you young man?” he asked.“I am good uncle. How are you and your family?” “Everyone is great,” he replied. There was something guilty about the answer.We became silent as my mother entered the room. She was carrying some documents. “This is your father’s will and he had written a letter to each one of us before dying. Here is the letter addressed to you,” my mother told giving me my father’s will and an old envelope that hadn’t been opened. The will was long and but in short, it said the turnover of his company must be divided into five parts. One must be given to my mother. One part for each sister. One part for me. The fifth part is for some school where he had been a trustee. Added to this was the amount of money for my and my sisters’ education and marriage which was deposited in the bank. I looked at my mother in confusion. My father had provided a huge amount of money for our expenses. Yet, we had to strive hard to make sure we at least ate a two square meal. Why didn’t my mother tell us about this? As these questions passed in my mind, I tore open the envelope. A letter fell from it. In fast writing, it was addressed to me.Dear Shiva,If you are reading this letter then that means I am no more alive.Your mother and I had a love marriage but my mother always hated Savitri. Everyone in the family loathed Savitri because she was an orphan. But I loved your mother for her bold character. She withstood all the hate and lived happily with me. I had started a company and the business had picked. With the help of my employees soon the company started seeing huge turnovers. My siblings were jealous of me and all they wanted from me was money. They came often to my office demanding money. The men came to me and the women went to your mother. I refused but your mother being the kind soul she was gave them whatever they asked. They were not only greedy but also jealous. I knew I had to put a stop to all this but today I was diagnosed with rare heart disease. I am not sure for how many days I will live. I have handed over my will to my friend cum personal assistant Balaji. He will bring it to you when I die. I have made arrangements accordingly for your studies and your sisters’.Be careful with my siblings, including my mother. They may do anything to get hold of my company once I am gone. Take care of your mother and sisters. Make sure Swetha finishes her studies. Take special care of Nithya since the time she spent with me was very less. Savitri will miss me but she is a strong woman and will not show it out. Lastly, my dear son, take good care of yourself and do what you like. Remember, everything happens for a good reason.With love Appa,SubramaniamA tear escaped my eyes as I finished reading the letter. “But uncle, why are you bringing this now? You must have brought it years ago?” I asked with anger in my voice.“Shiva, I can explain,” my mother told. “Do you remember what happened after your father died?” I had a vague remembrance of a fight between my mother and grandmother. I shook my head no.“Your father was right when he told me that all his siblings were greedy. After he died, they wanted me to give them the documents regarding the company and all properties he had owned to them. They wanted money. When I told them I don’t have the money or any documents, your grandmother fought with me. She blamed me for her son’s death and sent me out of the house with you three. I didn’t know what to do at that time. All I had in my mind was that I had to escape that place to save you three from those money-minded monsters. Unknown to anyone we left the city and came here. I started to work here. In the commotion that happened on that day, I was not sure whom to believe and whom not to. So, no one knew where I was.”“Yeah, Shiva,” Bala uncle told. “The very next day I heard the news that your mother had run away from the house. There were a lot of rumours about her. I didn’t know whether to believe it or not. Your father’s relatives came to the office and asked about the documents. Your father had strictly instructed me to give the will in your mother’s hand only and he had warned me about them. So, I managed them easily by telling a few lies. I searched for your mother everywhere in the city. I asked everyone she knew about her whereabouts but everyone told me they don’t know. Years passed but I found no trace of your mother. Until recently, I coincidentally saw her in a temple. I have taken care of the company till now but it is time you take over it as its head.”There were a few seconds of silence before uncle added, “I am sorry Shiva. The company is not a big one. I tried my best to maintain it but I failed.”“That is fine uncle.”✏️✏️✏️✏️“That means you are a president of a company now,” exclaimed  Aravind patting my shoulder. My friends were happy for me. “Not yet. I have to complete my degree with flying colours,” I told.“You will do that,” told  Dharshana. Everyone was enjoying their treat except for Riya. Something was amiss with her today. She was not her usual self today. “You ok?” I asked her when we got a moment alone.“Yeah, fine,” she told. I suspected it was a lie but didn’t want to ask her. “I was thinking about something else.”I was about to ask what it was but we got interrupted.✏️✏️✏️✏️