Hearing that my mother-in-law in Lucknow had 50 lakh rupees in bank savings, I was secretly delighted. Given her old age and frail condition, I cleverly talked my husband, Rakesh, into bringing her to Delhi so I could care for her.

Everyone praised my devotion to my daughter-in-law, calling me a “good, dedicated daughter-in-law,” but deep inside, I thought:

“If you take care of her, she’ll surely leave something for me too.”

So, for four years, I worked hard. From serving food, washing clothes, massaging, staying up all night to care for the sick… I did everything without hesitation. One day, when she coughed all night, I even made ginger tea and boiled medicine. One sentence always echoed in my mind:

“Try a little harder, there’s still money.”

The Truth in Her Dying Moments

However, on the day she was about to die, I leaned over and whispered in her ear:
“Ammaji, don’t worry, I’ll take care of you in Rakesh’s place…”

She suddenly opened her eyes, held my hand tightly, and whispered tremblingly:
“Bahu… forgive me… I don’t have the money… that 50 lakh… my sister-in-law fabricated it to test you all…”

I was stunned. My whole body went cold. It dawned on me that I had been “deceived” all these years.

She said in a weak, broken voice:
“Seeing that only you and Rakesh were willing to take me home, I knew I still had a source of support… But I don’t have any wealth, I just have a little… love, my children…
” With that, she closed her eyes and passed away.

The Final Shock

The entire room was filled with the cries of my husband and relatives. As for me, my heart ached… not because I had lost him, but because four years of caring for him, all my sacrifices and patience… had suddenly been in vain.

It was even more painful when, during the funeral at a small temple in Varanasi, a relative whispered in my ear:

“You are so naive! First, Ammaji lost all her money because she trusted the wrong person; she never had any more wealth since. Whoever truly cared for her stayed there, whoever was calculating would reveal themselves sooner or later…”

At that moment, I froze, tears streaming down my face. I hadn’t expected that I had nurtured greed for four years and received the bitterest betrayal of my life.

Part 2: After the trick, I realized the true value of family

Ammaji’s funeral took place in a somber atmosphere at a small temple in Varanasi. I sat in a corner, my eyes lifeless, and I watched the smoke from the incense burner rise. Chanting echoed, and I could hear the cries of relatives, but there was only a deep emptiness in my heart.

For four years, I had cared for Ammaji hoping that I would receive wealth in return. I thought that my sacrifice would be rewarded with a supposed savings of 50 lakh rupees. Then, when this bitter truth came to light, everything seemed to fall apart.

However, in that painful moment, their Memories of our days together suddenly flooded back:

One cold winter evening, when I brought her an extra blanket to cover her, Ammaji tremblingly held my hand and whispered: “Bahut achhi ho, beta…” (You are very good, my daughter).

Every time I made a simple bowl of khichdi for her, her eyes would light up as if she had received a precious gift.

When I got tired, she would place her slender hand on my shoulder and smile gently: “Rest, you need your health too.”

That’s when I realized: In those years, I had not only given, but also received so much in return—love, care, and encouragement from an aging mother.

Awakening
On the last day, when Ammaji held my hand and whispered: “I have no wealth, only a little love left, my children…”—I thought it was a bitter confession. But now, I understand that love is the greatest wealth she has ever given me.

I burst into tears, not because I lost that insignificant amount of money, but because I realized how foolish I had been to focus solely on wealth instead of cherishing family relationships.

I turned to my husband, Rakesh, and took his hand. He looked at me, his eyes red:
“I know you’ve been struggling for the past four years. Ammaji must be happy to have you with her. She didn’t leave us any money, but gave us her blessings.”

Those words purified my heart. I nodded slightly, feeling at peace for the first time.

A New Perspective

Since that day, I have completely changed my lifestyle. I no longer care about my husband’s family’s wealth and property. I pay more attention to the little things:

Cooking simple but warm meals for my husband.

Meeting relatives is not for social conventions, but to build true connections.

Sometimes, I go with my husband to that small village in Lucknow, burn incense for Ammaji, and tell my children and grandchildren about her—a mother who was poor in money but rich in love.

I realized that filial devotion is not for money, but for my own peace and happiness.

Conclusion

That bitter betrayal, which shattered my trust, proved to be the last lesson Ammaji taught me. Thanks to it, I woke up and understood that:

Money can be lost, but family love is the most precious asset.

And now, whenever I remember Ammaji, I don’t remember that elusive “50 lakh rupees”, but just her gentle smile and her last words – a priceless asset, enough to last me a lifetime.