(Gunny, a grandmother with eccentric habits, has raised her orphaned grandson with love and affection. Both share a beautiful bond. He calls her Gunny. She gives him a regular list of things to be brought. Age catching up on her, she passes away. But just before passing away, she has handed over a list of the regular items to her grandson, but with enhanced quantities. Now read on.)
6 pounds of minced meat from Afro-Jack’s
3 jars of fresh marmalade from One-eyed Susan
3 pounds of fresh manure from Pac Man.
Why did Gunny enhance the quantity in the list? Did I feel it, or did Gunny try to tell me something before she passed away? Her hands pointing at my pocket, where the list lay.
I had to ask Jack or Susan.
Both were at Jack’s shop when I visited. It looked like the duo was expecting me.
“Hope you are feeling somewhat better today. It is difficult to lose someone so dear.” Susan smiled while Jack looked away from me, obviously trying to hide a tear or two. Gunny was very close to both of them.
Placing his cleaver down, Jack motioned for me to sit down. He looked at the list I handed over to him.
“I don’t understand why she gave a list different from her usual ones,” I murmured.
The two exchanged knowing glances.
“It is something regarding your father,” Susan said.
“What? I have never heard Gunny talk about my father; I thought he was never in the picture. Anyway, what does this list have to do with my father whom I never knew?”
“Trudy was very close to Beth, she had confided in her through a letter a fortnight back that she somehow felt her days were numbered, and she wanted to share something with all three of us.”
“Beth came from Devoshire, and as per Trudy’s instruction, we all came home when you would be away at your lectures.’ Jack paused, and I looked on in awe.
“Your mother did not die of an accident; your father killed her.” The revelation fell like hot molten lava on my chest. “It was not your father but step-father. In fact, he is your father’s brother. He had behaved like he was a perfect gentleman, but only later did it come to light that he had actually plotted your father’s death and married your mother when you were hardly one year old. He had his eye on the money that your mother had won in a lottery as soon as you were born; it ran into millions.”
“Trudy fought for justice, and your step-father was given a life sentence for 20 years for the twin murders. It was Beth who took care of you while the trial was going on in the court.” Susan wiped a tear from her eyes. “Those were difficult days. Trudy sold everything she had to fight the case, but she was happy she could get justice. Then she slowly assembled the pieces of her shattered life and did various jobs to raise you.”
“What has that got to do with this weird list?” I asked.
“Not seeing through his malicious intentions, your mother operated a joint account with your step-father. Your mother one day realized that he was trying to remove all the money by forging your mother’s signature.” Jack gave me some time to digest these bitter facts.
“When the first lot of money got withdrawn from the bank, your mother fought tooth and nail with him. During one of the fights, without contemplating the consequences, your step-father, who was drunk to the core, killed her. You were raised, making you believe that it was an accident.” Susan patted my back.
“Your step-father would have become the sole owner of all the money in the account, but your mother as the first account holder, had designated you as the legal nominee. However, upon her death, your step-father’s endorsement was mandatory to authenticate the nomination. He was obviously going to retaliate, but in the meantime, he got arrested. Unfortunately, with your step-father’s arrest, the account was frozen. Trudy, with Beth’s help, tried for years to get it released, but the rules were so stringent that without your stepfather’s endorsement, the money couldn’t be released in your name, and that man is so evil that he stubbornly refused to sign.
“‘When I will be released someday, I will fight to get at least half the amount, but I won’t let her rest in peace thinking that all the money will go to her son.’ That is what he kept saying.” Susan took a long breath.
“Trudy came to know about his release last fortnight. She told us that she couldn’t muster the courage to tell you the truth about the nature of your parents’ demise. ‘I can’t bear to see the agony in his eyes when I disclose that,’ She had told me.” Susan tried hard to fight back tears.
“Trudy said she would send you with the list that stood for your step-father’s account number in the same bank that Trudy has an account,” Jack said, handing some papers. “These are some documents she had left with Beth, who in turn handed it to me last week, you should take them with you to the bank, they stand testimony to your birth, legal heirship, and important letters. Your step-father will also be summoned, but be brave and remember your Gunny has relentlessly struggled to get you the millions that are rightly yours.”
I nodded firmly as I took the papers. The money wasn’t as important as Gunny’s win. I will definitely not tell her down!