Mrs. Shanti turned seventy-two this year. From her days as a laborer in a textile factory in Varanasi to her retirement, she lived frugally her entire life. Her husband died early, and she raised three children alone. Villagers often called her “stingy,” but only she knew that every saving she made was for her children.

After fifty years of hard work, she had amassed a substantial sum—more than 30 crore rupees, secretly deposited in several savings accounts in her name. In addition, she owned a few small rental houses in Lucknow. But no one knew, because, from the outside, she still wore an old sari, rubber slippers, and lived in a small house with a corrugated iron roof.

Once, a neighbor jokingly remarked:
“Mrs. Shanti is the poorest person in the neighborhood.”

She simply smiled toothlessly:
“I’m used to being poor; living like this makes me feel better.”

A Sudden Fall

One rainy afternoon, Mrs. Shanti slipped in the courtyard and broke her hip. After surgery at the city hospital, the doctor advised her to use a wheelchair for a while. She called her children back.

The eldest son, Arun, is the director of a construction company in Delhi, wealthy but busy.

The second son, Meera, is a high school teacher with a meager salary.

The youngest son, Ravi, is a service driver in Lucknow, and the couple is constantly in debt.

The three of them went to the hospital, looked at their mother in the wheelchair, and sighed, but the anxiety was clearly visible in their eyes. Arun said:
“You should make clear plans for the future. I’m very busy, it’s not always convenient to take care of you.”

She listened and felt sad. Still, she decided to test them all.

Mother’s Challenge

At Arun’s (elder son’s) house:
Arun and his wife served her only instant noodles, then hurried off to work, leaving her sitting in a wheelchair all day. Once, she asked softly:
“Will it bother you if I stay here?”
The daughter-in-law frowned:
“Actually… you should hire someone to take care of you. Don’t bother my family any further, it’s inconvenient.”
Mrs. Shanti remained silent.

At Meera’s (second son’s) house:
Meera loved her mother, but her husband and children were upset, often pointing out:
“The house is already cramped, and on top of that, the old lady is sick, it’s hard to live.”
Meera shed tears, but couldn’t muster the courage to hold her mother back for long.

At Ravi’s (youngest son’s) house:
Ravi was poor, and his wife said loudly:
“How much can you bring with you? If not, go back to your old home. The children and grandchildren are suffering here.”
Mrs. Shanti heard this, and her heart ached. She realized that in her children’s eyes, she was no longer a “mother,” but merely a burden.

The Last Pain

One night, she sat quietly in her rented room, only a bowl of cold porridge before her. Her children’s cold words echoed: “Don’t bother my family anymore, it’s inconvenient.”

Tears streamed down her face. She had lived her entire life for her children, fasting and wearing shabby clothes, but in the end, she received only indifference.

An Unexpected Decision

The next day, Shanti asked a lawyer to draft a new will…
She donated her entire 30 crore rupees and property to a scholarship fund for poor children in Uttar Pradesh, and a portion to a nursing home in Lucknow – where she would spend her final years. She had set aside only a small amount for her medical expenses.

The lawyer was astonished:
“Are you sure? This much money could take care of your children and grandchildren for a lifetime.”

She smiled softly:
“I’ve been taking care of my children and grandchildren all my life. Now it’s time for me to think about myself… and the children who deserve it.”

The Day the Truth Came Out

A month later, news of Shanti’s donation of crores of rupees appeared in the press. The three brothers, Arun, Meera, and Ravi, were stunned. They couldn’t believe that their “poor” mother owned such a vast fortune.

Arun shouted:
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If we’d known… we would have taken better care of you!”

Shanti looked at him, her eyes filled with love and sadness:
“I don’t need anyone to care for me for money. I just want love. But I tried… you guys don’t love me anymore.”

Meera burst into tears, and Ravi held his head in regret. But it was too late.

Every person has an end.

Arun: Rich but greedy, he regretted it all his life. When partners lost faith in his moral image, the company slowly went into decline.

Meera: Tormented by her inability to support her mother, she later frequently visited a nursing home to care for her, as if to atone for her mistake.

Ravi: Still poor, but saddened by the loss of her own blessings with just one ungrateful word.

Mrs. Shanti: Lived in a nursing home during her final days, receiving the love of new friends. She was at peace because her savings had helped many poor children continue their education and provided homes for several elderly people.

Conclusion

Money can buy many things, but true love cannot. Mrs. Shanti saved her entire life to care for her children, but her children chose to remain indifferent. When she became a “poor person,” the truth was revealed: her love was hidden behind money.

That tragedy left a lesson: Parents need to raise their children not with money, but with heartfelt care. If children only know wealth, when they lose it, they are left with only belated regret.