As the pains in her back, bent her stature, the eagerness to reach home early, did not get defeated.

Old, torn, bent woman, Anokhee...

The cheerfulness in her name did not match the looks, but knowing that she had three children to take care of, without the support of her husband, made her strong determined, and smiling in the face of adversity.

Today was special, she had bought a sleek silver chain for her eldest daughter, after all, it was her birthday...

Saving for the entire year, she kept thinking it was worth it... After all she would get married soon, it would make for a part of the dowry at least.

This was her gold.

She hastened her steps, as she realised it was getting dark and she was carrying a treasure...

Not long after, she heard two men, walking swiftly behind her.

There was no other path, or she would have changed route.

Seeing her clenching something in bright pink paper, in their right hand, one muttered something to the other.

She could hear them exchange words but not make out what they said exactly.

She brought her hand close to her chest and walked as fast as her broken sandals and bent stature would take her.

One man suddenly grabbed hold of her wrist and snatched the treasure and both ran away.

As they both ran out of sight, Anokhee sat down on the ground.

She had foreseen it coming...

Even screams did not come out of her throat.

The hurry to reach home early was gone...

She barely had enough potatoes at home to bake and feed the children, and she realised she had lost her gold.

Continued in the next part...

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