Fortune

 FORTUNE

Manorama embodies faith, trust, and unwavering commitment. In my lifetime, I have never encountered a woman quite like her. She was my neighbor during my time in Banar, a village situated in the Mandor tehsil of the Jodhpur district in Rajasthan, India.

She had been a resident of a nearby village and moved to Banar approximately 35 years ago after her marriage. She possessed a remarkable talent for creating small handicrafts, while her son Mohan took on the responsibility of selling these items in the market. She managed the production of the handicrafts alongside her household duties.

Manorama was a single mother who managed her household with great intelligence. Although she was illiterate, she was highly capable of making decisions. Her son, Mohan, was a very obedient young man. She organized his marriage when he turned 24, seeking a traditional girl who would be a good match for their family.

For the first seven or eight years, everything was going smoothly; however, the following year, Mohan experienced a serious brain issue. He struggled to respond consciously, often fainting or shouting when alone. Manorama took it upon herself to arrange for his treatment at various hospitals, utilizing all the financial resources she had available.

Mohan was not experiencing any positive results from his treatment, and following the advice of others, Manorama decided to explore alternative methods, including exorcism. Although she did not personally believe in such practices, she was determined to exhaust every possible option for her son's well-being.

Each passing day, their financial situation became increasingly difficult. Mohan was unable to sell the items because of his wealth condition, and Manorama required additional time to prepare them for sale. She was reluctant to send her daughter-in-law to handle this task.

Dhriti, her daughter-in-law, embodied the essence of her name with her remarkable patience. She assumed all household responsibilities and began to learn handicraft techniques from Manorama. Despite Manorama's initial resistance to sending her to the market for sales, they eventually realized they had no other options available.

Dhriti was shouldering the responsibilities of her husband, managing household chores, and selling products. Manorama, on the other hand, struggled to create items quickly due to her age. However, she was deeply concerned for Dhriti, treating her as she were her own daughter. Manorama felt increasingly distressed witnessing Dhriti's situation, which only added to her frustration.

The financial situation compelled them to put in extra hours to boost their income. A significant portion of their earnings was being spent on Mohan's treatment. Nevertheless, there were no noticeable improvements in his health. He had been confined to bed for the past three years without any signs of recovery.

Dhriti maintained a remarkably positive attitude and refused to yield to any challenges she encountered. She was both bold and committed to her duties. In contrast, Manorama did not wish to show her vulnerability, yet she often found herself weeping alone at the sight of Dhriti's struggles. Her desire was to keep Dhriti happy, much like her own son, but in that moment, she felt utterly powerless to assist her.

Manorama sold all her jewelry to alleviate some of Dhriti's burdens, but the proceeds were primarily used for Mohan's medical treatment, with the remainder going towards covering the household's basic needs for the year. Despite the challenges, Dhriti remained steadfast in her responsibilities and never expressed her own pain. I believe they had a profound understanding of what it means to love one's family.

Manorama was the first woman I observed who expressed concern for her daughter-in-law rather than her son. Even now, her words resonate with me: “I can’t comprehend whether it is my son’s fortune to have that girl or her misfortune to be with him.” 

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