Page 82 - Arrow Publications Pvt. Ltd.

A few days later, towards sunset, Ah-Ling

went out without telling anyone where she
was going and returned an hour later, her

clothes covered in mud.

“Where did you go?” asked one of the sons
and on seeing that she was holding a small
ornamental chest, hurried to her, when his

gaze riveted on the casket.

“What is that?” he asked pointing to the
casket.

“Something that could change all our lives

for the better in different ways,” said his
mother.

“What does it contain?”

“You’ll know this when I am gone.” The son lost no time in informing his brothers about the
casket. All the brothers wanted to know the secret of the casket.

“It is obvious she has not given us all her wealth,” said the eldest. “She must have kept back

some of her more valuable gems. God alone know how many caskets this wily woman has
buried.”

They questioned their mother but she refused to tell what the casket contained, or if there
were more caskets hidden elsewhere. Many a time, the brothers tried to open the casket in

her absence but it was securely locked and they could never find the key.

But now Ah-Ling no longer felt unwanted. Her sons and daughters-in-law went out of their
way to make her feel welcome. In fact, each son tried to persuade her to stay longer than

three months, but she never extended her stay, not wishing to show a preference for any
son.

th
A few days before her 84 birthday, she passed away in her sleep. Her friend, Jing-Mei came
for the funeral and before departing handed over a key to the dead woman’s eldest son in the

presence of his brothers.

“This is the key to the casket,” she said and left.

All were eager to know the secret of the casket. The sons and their wives hurried to the old
woman’s room in great excitement. This is the day they had been waiting for, for weeks,
months and years. They bolted the door from inside and huddled around the casket.

81 Arrow - English Plus-7