My father-in-law was an active and fit man for his age, and he adored his wife, Kanta Ji. For the past forty years, he made it a ritual to bring her a braid of white flowers and tie it in her hair with his hands. He often told her, "Do not stop this ritual, even when I am gone."

He was the driving force of our household, treating me like his own daughter and assisting with all the household chores. The day he passed away was a gloomy one; he never woke up again. His sudden departure felt like a major setback for everyone, but for my mother-in-law, her entire world came to a halt.

She became bedridden, losing all hope of life and slipping into severe depression. She would sit by the corner window for hours, endlessly gazing outside as if waiting for someone, without uttering a word. My husband tried to talk to her, but nothing seemed to help. Day by day, she transformed into a shadow of gloom and sadness. I had already lost a father figure and was determined not to lose my mother-in-law as well.

I decided to take matters into my own hands. I visited a psychologist, a friend of mine, to discuss my Mother-in-law's situation. He mentioned that the first step to recovery was to help her acknowledge that her husband was no longer with her. The healing process could only begin after she accepted the reality.

The very next day, I entered my mother-in-law's room and started packing my father-in-law's belongings. For half an hour, she sat quietly, observing me with dark, sullen eyes. However, the moment I packed the first bag, she leapt at me like an angry tigress. "How dare you, Shivani, touch my husband's things? Where are you taking them?" All the emotions she had bottled up inside came pouring out. She cried like a baby, and I embraced her as a mother would. At that moment, our roles reversed-she became my child, and I became her mother.

I began to speak softly: " Maa, I know your loss is immense, and nobody can replace his place in your life. But look at yourself- his soul cannot rest in peace while seeing you like this. He always wanted you to smile, dressed in colourful sarees and with a white flowery braid in your hair. Get dressed as he would wish to see you, not in a white saree. I have brought a braid of white flowers, and from now on, I will take full responsibility for your flowery braid."

"Maa" I continued, "He shared a strong bond with everyone, and you are the most important thread that holds this family together. Please, come out of this sadness, say goodbye to him, and welcome him in your memories with a smile, not with tears."

The relationship between my mother-in-law and me transformed from that of daughter-in-law and mother-in-law to a heartfelt bond of mother and daughter.