It was lunchtime in Ramayya's house.
A few minutes earlier, the atmosphere inside the house had been completely different. His wife, Jhansi, and the other family members were sitting together, chatting and sharing jokes. Everyone was laughing, enjoying a rare peaceful moment.
But their happiness didn't last long.
The sound of a vehicle stopping outside the house made everyone turn towards the entrance.
"Ramayya is here," one of the family members whispered.
Within seconds, the laughter disappeared. Everyone became silent and returned to their usual places. Some looked down, while others pretended to be busy with their work.
They all knew what his arrival meant.
Ramayya was a wealthy money lender in the village. He had earned a considerable amount of money by lending it to people at high interest rates. But no matter how much wealth he accumulated, he was never satisfied. Every day, he wanted more money, more profit, and more control over others.
His arrogance had become part of his personality. Nobody knew what might upset him or when he would lose his temper. Even his own family members were afraid to speak freely in front of him.
Ramayya walked into the house with a serious expression, carrying the same arrogance he displayed whenever he dealt with people in the village.
Jhansi immediately approached him with a glass of water.
"Here, have some water," she said gently.
He took the glass, drank a little, and looked at her sternly.
"What did you prepare for lunch?" he asked.
"Chapatis and chicken curry," Jhansi replied.
He didn't say anything. He simply placed the glass on the table and sat down.
Just then, his mobile phone started ringing.
He picked it up and answered the call.
"Hello! Where are you? Do you remember how much money you borrowed from me? It's been several months, and you still haven't paid the interest. What do you think I'm doing here, running a charity? I want my money immediately. Don't give me excuses!"
His voice grew louder with every sentence.
The person on the other end tried to explain something, but Ramayya wasn't interested in listening.
"I don't want to hear your stories. You borrowed money, so you must return it. Understand?"
He disconnected the call angrily.
Without even taking a moment to calm himself, he picked up his plate and started eating.
After taking a few bites of the chicken curry, he suddenly stopped.
"Jhansi!" he shouted.
Jhansi rushed towards him.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Is this what you call chicken curry? Have you even tasted it before serving? There's no proper flavour, no taste at all! How many years have you been cooking in this house? Can't you even prepare a decent meal?"
Jhansi stood silently, looking at him.
"Why are you standing there? Don't you know how to cook properly? When will you learn?"
His words became increasingly insulting.
"I don't understand how you manage to spoil even a simple meal!"
In a fit of anger, Ramayya picked up his plate and threw the food into the dustbin.
The sound of the plate hitting the bin echoed through the room.
Everyone was shocked.
The family members exchanged uncomfortable glances. They had been enjoying their lunch together just a few minutes earlier, but now nobody had the courage to say a word.
Jhansi couldn't control her tears. She had spent years managing the household, looking after the family, and adjusting to Ramayya's unpredictable behaviour. Yet, nothing she did ever seemed good enough for him.
She quietly wiped her tears with the edge of her saree and walked towards the kitchen.
One of the family members felt deeply disturbed by the way Ramayya had insulted her.
"Why does he always behave like this with her? She prepares everything for this family, but he never appreciates anything," someone whispered.
But nobody dared to say it loudly.
Ramayya, meanwhile, returned to his mobile phone and began checking his financial records as if nothing had happened.
For him, the food he had thrown away was a small matter. The tears in his wife's eyes meant nothing. The silence of his family didn't concern him.
All he could think about was money.
He had spent years building his wealth, but he had never noticed what was disappearing from his own home.
His family's laughter.
His wife's smile.
And the love that once made his house a happy place.
Ramayya had money in abundance, but happiness had slowly disappeared from his life.