Father

"Papa, what have you brought for me?" said his 4 year old son, quickly getting down from the chair and running towards his father.

Ashish placed his office bag on the sofa and took his son in his arms, "What do you want my darling?" he asked.
"mmm...a tricycle" he replied with a distinct glow in his eyes.

"The school has sent a notice" said Vinita appearing from the kitchen with a glass of water. "Fee for this quarter needs to be paid by 6th" she said.
"O! I missed that completely....How much?" He asked getting curious.
"Thirty two thousand five hundred" she replied.

"Hmm" muttered Ashish moving towards the bedroom.
"Have you thought about how we would be celebrating his birthday?" Vinita asked following him.

"No idea, with EMIs, rent and his fee to pay within this month, I would hardly have any money to spare"
"He has been waiting so eagerly for his birthday, infact he is counting days and inviting his friends on his own. Let's not break his heart"

"We will discuss" replied Ashish as lines emerged on his forehead and worry in his mind. 'Perhaps I could borrow some money from friends, but next month too will be tough, insurance premium for two policies have to be paid' he thought as his mobile phone rang from inside the shirt pocket.

He pulled out his phone, "Hello, papa how are you?"
"O, I am fine, had a word with your little one in the afternoon, it seems you are planning for a grand birthday celebration this time, is it?"

"Let alone grand, It seems I will hardly have any money to celebrate at all, many expenses have accumulated this month" replied Ashish sounding disappointed.

"Dont break his heart son, perhaps I could help you, I have around thirty thousand rupees that I don't need right away, I will send it across to you, return it to me when you can, afterall what urgency could a retired man have?" Said father reassuringly.

After a brief discussion, Ashish agreed to the offer.
"Ok beta, bye for now" father put the phone down and turning to his wife he said, "Listen, I know it is urgent for both of us but perhaps we should delay buying the orthopadic mattresses by a month or so, I am sure we can manage somehow....and yes, don't tell Ashish about this" ●

Imposter

"Why do you not resist?" Chided Sarla.

"Anita di is my elder sister, my guardian since mother passed away in our childhood" he replied to his wife in a low, nervous tone .

"I am not asking you to start a fight, just that you should speak up to put your point across".

Having said this Sarla kept away the towel she was folding and sat down beside him, "Where will we go from here? Do we have any other place to live?" 

He gave her an empty look filled with disappointment and helplessness, then bowed down his head.

Anita, his elder sister had been persuing him to leave the ancestral house and live elsewhere, her family was growing and the house seemed to shrink. He had been ordered multiple times by her to comply until yesterday when matters escalated to a level beyond his control.

That night as his wife and two children fell asleep, he lay staring at the ceiling.
'Where will we go if Anita di persists, perhaps next time we would be driven out from here, how much time do we have before this happens, how will I bear this sight in front of people?'

He got up, rubbed the back of his neck as his feet searched in the dark for slippers.

He felt an 'All pin' pass through his heart and soon the pain grew exponentially.

Next morning, amongst the crowd around the cot that had him on it lifeless, Sarla lay unconcious unable to bear the immense greif.

Beside the cot, on a chair sat Anita di making sure everyone saw her weeping, howling and screaming "Why did you leave me? Did you not realize what would I do without you?" ●