Dear Uncle Ji:
I am not sure you remember me. However, I would like to tell you who my mother was. She was a very simple, generous, and thoughtful woman. She treated and considered all her nieces and nephews her own; she indulgences them no less than her own children. She was not like other members of the family who would hide her food and feed only her children. As a matter of fact, I once watched one of my uncles hid almonds and fed them to his child; my mother would never do that. She always think of her younger siblings as her own children; hoping that they would in turn be good to her children. Did she ever think wrong!
Yes, one of my uncles did pay for my education but it was grudgingly done since his partner always complained, hoping that she would get her brothers and sisters on her side. My aunt and uncles did the opposite of what my mother expected; they abandoned, condemned and labeled her children killer. I feel sorry for my aunt and uncles; they read religious book but do not adhere to their teachings. They are to be pitied; they are respecters of status rather than of people.
My father fared no better than my mother in the sight of her siblings; he was one of the most humble people I have ever known. Where ever I go and mention his name people behaved as if I am talking about a saint. Uncle Ji I wish you knew my father; you would have formed your own opinion about him. You should never have listened to the four Bhallas; they have him labeled as a “bad apple.” He was never thought of as having a high position, he was only an assistant He never objected to mummy calling her brothers and sister all the time; supporting them, even when she sold her gold to buy a ticket for her brother. Mummy cooked for everyone, she cooked for her brothers and sister; in fact, she cooked for her sister-in-law’s father. Raja’s mother is a witness to this; he would take her with him on his scooter. Everyone respected him except the Bhallas; I feel sorry for them. I will treasure my daddy until the day I die, and he will be treasured by my child too; he was a real gem.
My daddy was the son of a civil engineer, who was a very good man. Uncle Ji, I am telling you this because you are the only person who will never judge me. You will never label me. I know you will see my daddy and mummy through my eyes. I once again apologize and ask for you forgiveness. I really do not know what happened to Bunty; he has not been in his right mind.
I am handing you the “olive branch” and I hope you will accept it.
