Chapter 23 — The Last Blessing
The day Lakshmi Devi passed away was one of the darkest days in Sowjanya's life.
The house was filled with relatives and villagers, but Sowjanya felt completely alone.
She sat beside her mother's body, wearing a maroon silk saree. Her long braid rested over her shoulder, and her eyes were swollen from crying.
She remembered the day Lakshmi Devi had first called her daughter. She remembered the doctor's appointments, the lessons in saree draping, the evenings spent together, and the words that had helped her survive her divorce.
The memories came one after another.
Sowjanya held her mother's hand.
"Amma, you promised you would stay with me," she whispered.
The villagers gathered around her. Many had been helped by Lakshmi Devi and wanted to honor her memory.
During the farewell, Sowjanya remembered her mother's final blessing:
"Never let your pain stop you from helping others."
Those words became a promise.
Sowjanya knew that she could not replace her mother. But she could continue the work Lakshmi Devi had begun.
The grief would remain, but it would no longer be the only thing that defined her.
She would carry her mother's love into every decision she made.
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