My father-in-law – Mr. Rajesh – was initially very polite and spoke little. But recently, he’d suddenly become strange, often trying to sneak me gifts. At first, they were a few packets of mangoes from a Delhi market, or a carton of special milk for postpartum women. I thought he felt sorry for his daughter-in-law, who had to stay home to care for the children, so he didn’t notice.

That day, he’d just come home from work. I was sitting in the small red-brick courtyard, holding my baby in my arms, when I saw him looking left and right, then quietly following me to the bedroom door. He shoved a small paper packet into my hand, leaned in close, and whispered:

“Hurry up and put this away, don’t let anyone see it…”

I was a little confused. Fearing that my husband – Arjun – would suddenly come home and ask questions, I quickly opened the packet as soon as I closed the door.

But, as soon as I saw it, I was so stunned that my hands trembled and my chest clenched.

Inside was no gold, silver, or money, but… a torn sari underskirt, carefully wrapped, and on which lay a trembling piece of paper with just four words written on it:

“Family Whore.”

My whole body went cold.

So many questions arose in my mind.

– Why did my father-in-law give me this?

– Who is this “family” he’s talking about?

– What are you trying to warn me about, or did you accidentally keep this evidence?

I sat up on the bed, my hand clutching the piece of paper, my heart pounding.

There was a noise in the hallway – perhaps my mother-in-law, Shanti, was passing by. I was startled, quickly stuffing the paper packet into the cupboard, my heart sinking as if I’d just planted a bomb about to explode.

A Heavy Feeling

From that moment on, I had only one thought:

This house – in the heart of a bustling city like Delhi – hid a terrible truth. And the person involved… wasn’t just my father-in-law.

Part 2: Rajesh’s Family Secret – Shanti
The Obsession Behind a Piece of Paper

Ever since I received the parcel from Mr. Rajesh’s father-in-law, I – Rani – haven’t been able to live in peace. Whenever I see my mother-in-law, Shanti, busy in the kitchen, or hear my husband, Arjun, laughing and talking in the courtyard, an indescribable suspicion surges through me.

“Family prostitute,” these four words linger in my mind like ink stains. Who is being referred to? And why didn’t my father-in-law say this directly, but instead secretly handed me the parcel?

Secret Investigation

I started keeping an eye on the household activities. During the day, everything was normal. But at night, I realized that Mrs. Shanti would often go to the balcony and whisper into the phone. I listened quietly, holding my breath, and could only hear a few words:

“…Don’t call this number again… If Arjun finds out…”

My heart sank. This meant Shanti was hiding something from her husband and children.

I decided to search Mr. Rajesh’s small storage room. In an old drawer, I found more similar paper packets containing torn women’s items: dupattas, sari blouses. The writing on each paper trembled, sometimes “Keep your mouth shut,” sometimes “Don’t trust him.”

I was sweating. Apparently, my father-in-law knew something and was trying to warn me in his own way.

In front of Rajesh

That night, when the whole family was asleep, I went to Mr. Rajesh. He was sitting in the courtyard, lost in thought, a pale light shining on his tired face. I gathered courage and showed him the pieces of paper:

“Baba, you need to know the truth. Otherwise, you’ll go mad.”

Mr. Rajesh trembled, his eyes turning red:

“Rani, be careful. In this house… the dangerous people aren’t outsiders.”

“Who do you mean?” I whispered.

He nodded, his voice choked:

“Your mother-in-law, Shanti… she has lived two lives. On one hand, she is a virtuous mother and wife. On the other… she runs an underground network. All the things I gave you are proof that she forced poor girls living in slums… to become victims.”

My whole body went cold.

Shocking Secret

Mr. Rajesh choked up: Many years ago, when the family moved from Lucknow to Delhi, Mrs. Shanti had become involved with some human traffickers. She pretended to open a charity fund to help poor women, but in reality, she was luring them into a trap.

Mr. Rajesh found out and tried to stop her, but Mrs. Shanti threatened to ruin the family’s reputation if he dared to say anything. He was forced to remain silent, secretly keeping some things as evidence, hoping that one day he would be able to expose the truth.

“I don’t have much time left, Rani. Only you can protect Arjun and the child. Don’t let Shanti find out you’re investigating. She can do anything…”

Mr. Rajesh’s words were like a knife piercing my heart. The kind mother-in-law I once respected… had become a ghost that had haunted the entire family.

That night, I held my baby in my arms, my heart pounding. Outside in the hallway, Shanti’s slippers clattered past, their shadows casting long shadows on the wall.

I knew that from now on, I was not only the daughter-in-law of this family, but also the sole witness to a terrible secret. And I had to choose: stay quiet to stay safe, or risk confronting my own mother-in-law and revealing the truth.