First crack in the wall
The next morning,
Suman woke up before everyone else.
She didn't know why....
But something inside her told her-
If I want a place in this house..
I have to earn it.
She quietly went to the kitchen
The utensils were already kept in order.
Everything had it's place.
Perfect house...but not my home yet .
She murmured.
She started preparing breakfast.
Not just one dish...
But three.
She remembered what her mother-in-law
Had said-
Two or three dishes everyday.
So she did exactly that.
After an hour,the smell of fresh food filled the house.
One by one,everyone came to the dining table.
Her husband sat silently.
The children followed.
Suman nervously place the dishes on the table.
I made breakfast no one reacted.
But then-
The youngest child slowly took a bite.
Suman held her breath.
The child looked up for a second....
Then continued eating.
No smile.
But no rejection either.
That was enough for Suman.
A smell hope lit up inside her heart .
Suddenly,the middle child spoke-
It's...not bad"
Suman froze.
Those three words felt like a reward.
Her mother-in-law glanced at her,
Slightly surprised.
But she didn't say anything.
Suman lowered her eyes....
Hiding her small smile .
Maybe...
Just Maybe...
This wall between them could break one day.
Later that day,something unexpected happened.
The youngest child fell while playing and started crying loudly.
Everyone was busy.
No one noticed immediately.
But suman did.
Without thinking,she rushed to the child.
Are you okay?.she asked softly .
The child hesitated....
But didn't pull away.
Suman gently cleaned the wound and applied medicine.
Her hands were careful....warm....protective.
For the first time-
The child didn't see her as a stranger and suman...
She felt something she hadn't felt before in this house.
A connection.
Not strong...
But real.
That evening, as she sat alone again.
She smiled.
A small step ...but still a step .
And some where deeply inside-
A new bond had started to grow.