Sometimes we think that all is over. We can have an opportunity at such a moment. When you sense things properly at the right time, you are sure to get a second opportunity.

We should utilize such an opportunity. When our self-confidence shatters, we can't gain anything. What we hold as a fruit of our action in our hand can slip away from the hand. The opposition is bent on defeating us by all circumstances; protests against us unexpectedly. The people who are ours will be in conflict with us. In such a state, your soul and your conscience are in embittered animosity with each other.

Some people stop in the middle. The people who avail themselves of the second opportunity will become victors in life. Though they meet defeat at the initial stages of life, their final triumph can be tremendous.

Another opportunity knocked at the door of Vasundhara. She was not capable of judging things properly.

There was a lurking fear that customs on one side and the scandalmongers among people on the other side would pester her. Life raises hope for the future. Lost life can be regained. Our elders and trustworthy people ensure a guarantee. People say that they can show evidence about the occurrences of incredible things.

She lost her husband three years ago. When she was a young girl, her marriage was celebrated. She had her daughters married at a young age. With the death of her husband, the known and the unknown observed her. When she slipped her leg, he would keep her as a concubine, giving her some money every month. Let her pour some earth on him. Let such a man die.

"Should I feel ashamed when someone asks me to be his concubine? I am the mother of two children. How can I show my raised face to others? How can my children live in honor in such a situation?"

This relationship is relatively distant. I don't know the nature of such people there. He says that he has his own house, with his children settled somewhere away from him.

He says, "None will interfere in your affairs. Whenever I come to you, treat me like my mother." Can't I know such things? I am a mother of two children. I have performed marriages and celebrated ceremonies. I have seen several things. What will my fate be like if my son drives me out of the house? I can't say these times.

What will be my predicament if someone views me with bad intentions after I go there, leaving my children? If I stay here, I will get the strength of my own village. None can expect things there. I can live with any other person except a drunkard.

He says that he has no bad habits.

Does he speak of such things if he has any of them? I don't know how much debt he has. I don't know how the parents of his first wife will chide me."

Vasundhara thought of knowing the opinions of his children. They may say, "Have you no shame at this age? What a peevish mind you have! You have grown-up children. Do you pour dust into our lives at this age?" She remained calm with the fear of attracting such curses.

"Vasundhara, this is certainly a good alliance. You won't get it again if you miss it. A man gets many alliances. Many days have passed. You haven't said a single word. That elderly man has sent me with his message to you again."

Vasundhara was thinking deeply after Laxmirajam told her about the alliance. Though he did not belong to her caste, she called him uncle. Laxmirajam treated her as his daughter. He was of great support to her as he lived in the village.

"It is not a misfortune in any manner. It is not difficult altogether. There are many love cases. After two years of togetherness resulting from elopement arising from love, people are leaving their partners for petty reasons. This alliance is not like that." Vasundhara thought in such a manner.

"We have a large house. The elders of the village lend their support to me. I can put on a vermilion mark on my forehead again. I can wear gold ornaments again. I will roam like a lady without staying confined to the house. His sons are said to be doing big jobs somewhere. They live at their places of work." She poured out such feelings.

Anjaneyulu saw three photos of Vasundhara and approved of her appearance. His grown-up children were living on their own at their places of work. His wife, Sugunavathi, was a good homemaker. She took care of her sons and daughters-in-law, daughters, and sons-in-law, and her grandchildren very much. She wished to die as a chaste lady. She died of a heart attack all of a sudden. Sugunavathi died as she desired. Everyone condoled her death when she was crossing her difficulties. She didn't trouble others. The people who knew her said that she was fortunate. Many women said that she departed as a pious lady.

Her obsequies were performed under the supervision of her sons and sons-in-law. Anjaneyulu saw them as a spectator. Her ashes were merged into the waters of the Godavari and the Ganges rivers.

After the end of the obsequies, the relatives went to their respective places. They invited Anjaneyulu to visit their places for a change of atmosphere for some time.

When he came home, the house sobbed piteously. Everywhere there were memories of Sugunavathi. The value of a person is known to us only after his or her death. He didn't know, until then, how much service she had rendered to him. She looked after him without him calling her. She made him dependent on others. She didn't allow him to do anything for himself. She told him that she would do anything for him.

Rajyalaxmi, a maidservant, did household chores, including cooking food. That was his great fortune. He was avaricious to desire from Rajyalaxmi the tastes that he cherished from Sugunavathi. He burned his hand while cooking food.

He went outside and indulged in gossip. He felt some scarcity at each step.

As per the decision of the elders of the marriage, Anjaneyulu deposited some money in the bank in her name. The marriage was held in a temple with the knowledge of some people. The new couple thought of greeting the photo of Sugunavathi with folded hands. They obtained a marriage registration certificate.

Such was the turning point in the life of Anjaneyulu and Vasundhara. She cooked food for herself. Cooking became her irksome assignment.

The maidservant, Rajyalaxmi, seemed to be his own daughter. He had support in an unknown village.

She cooked food for three people instead of two people. Vasundhara asked her to eat the food in the house.

Anjaneyulu's affairs were known to his sons. They decided not to visit him. They discussed the property and went to the village for two days.

Vasundhara felt that there was an attack of a tsunami. Anjaneyulu wanted to call the elderly people of the village. They came to the house earlier than he expected. Laxmi Rajam brought three people to speak in favor of Vasundhara. There was an intense exchange of words. The elderly people spoke of some marriage agreements.

"I got you all educated properly. I brought you up and performed your marriages. I earned the property and the house with my painstaking efforts. If you don't love me, treat me dead, on par with your late mother.

Don't come to this house. If you come here, I won't object to your arrival. I will take care of you without any deficiencies. This property will be your own only after our death," Anjaneyulu said these words decisively.

"I am directionless, sons. I am like your mother. I have come here to serve your father. I won't take away your property," Vasundhara shed her tears.

The elderly people brought about reconciliation between the two groups. After all the people were pacified, Anjaneyulu spoke to them convincingly.

"If you think of her as your mother after the death of your mother, come here with the feeling that your mother is still here. You will feel no dearth. Never forget that this is your house." Anjaneyulu said these words in a conciliatory manner.

"You should have said these words earlier," his sons, daughters-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law shouted at him.

"These things were not to be revealed earlier. Nothing has been lost by now," Laxmi Rajam reconciled them all. All the elderly people opened their conciliatory voices.

All relatives and children reiterated their past relationship, continuing their travels to the village of Anjaneyulu. Vasundhara was a sociable lady. The children loved her as their new grandmother. All the people mingled with one another. Rajyalaxmi was there like their own child. Some called Vasundhara 'Mom' and others called her 'Aunty'. She treated all such calls as Mom and acted accordingly. She let others forget their own mothers. For the children, she was a good grandmother.

Vasundhara conducted the Dhoti Wearing Ceremony for their grandsons and the Ear-Piercing Ceremony and Half Saree Ceremony for their granddaughters.

She conducted them for her satisfaction. Anjaneyulu had rejuvenating enthusiasm. His appearance was radiant with good food.

As time passed, she got unusual joy from nutritious food, and affection added a glow to her appearance. Some called her Old Auntie and Anjaneyulu Old Uncle.

They walked in the house like new children, bringing grandeur to the house.

On the advice of Rajyalaxmi, Vasundhara got flours of various kinds on the auspicious occasion of Bathukamma. Rajyalaxmi piled flowers for Bathukamma for her and requested her to come with her. Vasundhara was in a state of confusion. Her neighboring ladies invited her to take part in the Bathukamma Festival along with them. She wore a new sari and looked at her face in the mirror rather shyly. She was filled with ecstasy.

As Vasundhara's face beamed, Rajyalaxmi’s face glowed. Vasundhara gave the saris of Sugnavathi, which were kept in an almirah, to Rajyalaxmi for wearing.

Rajyalaxmi wore those saris and decorated herself with flowers. She thought of her as a young lady suitable for begetting children.

Vasundhara asked Rajyalaxmi to get married again.

"I won't get married. I will stay with you. If I get married again and go with someone, who will render service to you? Old Auntie, I will stay with you," said Rajyalaxmi.

"I have got married again. You should take my example. We can lead our lives on our own," said Vasundhara.

Anjaneyulu said the same words.

"All resemble him. I look for a good man. If you wish, I will find a man who can come here and live with you," said Anjaneyulu.

"No, Old Uncle, I will stay with you. I will live here serving you at my best," said Rajyalaxmi.

"We will be always with you, Rajyalaxmi," said Anjaneyulu.

"Later I will serve my brothers and their children and live here till my death," said Rajyalaxmi.

Those words were capable of bringing tears to the eyes of both Vasundhara and Anjaneyulu. Rajyalaxmi was a brave girl. She was scared to hear the word of remarriage from them.

The new old couple was not prepared to hear the sacrifice of Rajyalaxmi. She was an innocent lady. She was afraid at the expression of marriage as she was reminded of her past life. When they were happily married for the second time, Rajyalaxmi wished to be alone.

Her decision did not allow them to sleep during the night. They thought that times would change unexpectedly. They deposited some amount in the bank in her favor. They looked for some alliances for Rajyalaxmi.

They told an elderly man that they needed a divorced man for a lady who has no one to look after her. A divorced man responded to their proposal by saying that he would purchase a taxi car with their support and pay the debt on his own. They had a fixed deposit in the name of Rajyalaxmi. They were desirous of getting a loan sanctioned on the fixed deposit account of Rajyalaxmi and for the remaining amount of the loan they were prepared to stand as surety. The bank assured them of the sanction of the loan.

At first, Rajyalaxmi rejected the proposal. "I won't go anywhere leaving you." Later, she accepted their proposal and told them that she would not leave them under any circumstances. She requested them to stay with them. Anjaneyulu and Vasundhara asked them to live in the two rooms. With their consent, Suresh was very elated. Their marriage was celebrated in a small temple. Within ten days, they were the owners of the car.

After some time, Anjaneyulu's sons and other relatives felt that it was good that Anjaneyulu had got married. His marriage facilitated him in many ways. Otherwise, he would have had to stay at one place for three months and move to another place to live there for another three months. His daughters and daughters-in-law were joyous.

Though Vasundhara worked for others gleefully and was tired enormously, she was filled with new enthusiasm. Vasundhara’s children came to the house to meet her on some occasions. They called Anjaneyulu 'Dad'. Anjaneyulu was ecstatic to hear such a call from them. For formality's sake, he presented them with new clothes and deserved the name of Dad. Some months passed. Rajyalaxmi and Suresh gave birth to Lasya, who became the darling granddaughter of the old couple.

Vasundhara served Anjaneyulu with the forbearance of Mother Earth. During the summer vacation, all were in the house for ten days. It looked like a festival.

Sometimes Vasundhara's children and grandchildren were in the house on vacation. Vasundhara was a bit afraid that people would think otherwise. Rajyalaxmi mixed with all kinds of people and united them. Within two or three days, the elders and the children were together.

Vasundhara was not the same woman. Her patience decreased gradually. Anjaneyulu found fault with her on some occasions.

Rajyalaxmi said, "Old Uncle, entrust any work to me. I will do it for you with pleasure."

Anjaneyulu and Vasundhara exchanged words on one occasion.

She said that she could not tolerate his words. She said, "How can I serve a man who is unsatisfactory? I have grown old."

"You are a directionless woman. I will see how you lead your life," he shouted.

Vasundhara was unable to bear the humiliation at the hands of Anjaneyulu. Her grief knew no bounds. One day Rajyalaxmi tried to stop her from going away. She really went away from the place, weeping bitterly.

Rajyalaxmi felt scared. She made a call to Anjaneyulu's near and dear ones.

None came to see him. They told him that they had no holidays; he should take care of himself and take assistance from Rajyalaxmi.

Anjaneyulu remembered Vasundhara and sobbed piteously.

"Come to me, Vasundhara. Where have you gone? Elder Son, where have you gone?" These loud cries of Anjaneyulu caused fear in him.

Vasundhara went to her daughters because Anjaneyulu had scolded her. She was not able to sleep properly at night.

Rajyalaxmi sent her husband, Suresh, to find Vasundhara at her daughter's house. Suresh went there and brought Vasundhara back in his taxi car.

At the sight of Vasundhara in the house, he lifted his folded hands.

"I will never speak a word against you. You shouldn't go anywhere from here onwards," Anjaneyulu said with tearful eyes.

"How can I go anywhere leaving you?" Vasundhara said, shedding tears.

"What has happened now, Old Uncle? She came to know that her daughter was unavailable. That's why she went there to see her daughter," Rajyalaxmi brought about reconciliation between the two groups.

The neighboring women came there to see her when they came to know of her arrival. They praised Rajyalaxmi by saying that it would be a fortune for people to have a daughter like Rajyalaxmi.

"Whatever you speak, you remain united. You will be here till the growth of our children. Finally, two people will become old. Whoever may depart is unpredictable," the neighboring women said these words. "Lasya is growing. Lasya should give birth to a baby girl. We can't say how long we will stay." Vasundhara smiled at their words.

Sometimes we think that all is over. We can have an opportunity at such a moment. When you sense things properly at the right time, you are sure to get a second opportunity.