Many times, I noticed that the maid stayed inside my father-in-law’s room for an hour or more without coming out. I peeked through the crack in the door and was shocked by the terrifying sight in front of me.
My name is Haa.
Ever since I came to live with my husband’s family, I had always been proud of my father-in-law, Mr. Sharma. For the past two years, I admired him deeply. He was a devoted father and grandfather, a man who gave everything to his children and grandchildren. My mother-in-law passed away early, and after that, he lived alone, pouring all his energy into helping my husband and his two brothers build successful lives.
My husband and I respected him greatly and loved him from the bottom of our hearts. Many times, we gently suggested that he find a companion, someone to share his life with. But he would only smile kindly and say,
“I’m old now. I don’t want to become a burden to anyone. Having my children and grandchildren is more than enough for me.”
Our family life was peaceful—until I gave birth to B, our first child.
Everything turned upside down.
As first-time parents, my husband and I were completely overwhelmed. My parents lived far away, and my husband’s brothers and their wives were busy taking care of their own young children. For the first few weeks, we took turns staying awake all night, struggling to care for the baby. Gradually, it became clear that my husband could no longer manage all the household work alone.
So we decided to hire a housekeeper.
The agency recommended a capable and energetic 30-year-old woman named Meera. I asked Meera to handle cooking, cleaning, and—when necessary—to keep an eye on my father-in-law and help him, because after the baby was born, my husband and I barely had any time for him.
Everything would have been fine…
if I hadn’t started noticing strange things.
One night, after putting my baby to sleep, I felt thirsty and went downstairs to the kitchen. As I reached the stairs, my eyes instinctively looked down. In the dim hallway, I clearly saw Meera quietly slipping into my father-in-law’s room at the end of the corridor.
“She’s probably just asking him if he needs anything,” I told myself.
But then I went back to my room, finished my glass of water, checked my husband’s messages, and lay awake for a long time…
and the maid didn’t come out.
It happened again.
And again.
And again.
Often late at night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Meera would quietly enter my father-in-law’s room and disappear.
Suspicion, uneasiness, and a quiet anger began to grow inside me.
Was something inappropriate going on between the maid and my father-in-law?
The thought kept circling in my mind. I told my husband, but he brushed it off.
“You just gave birth. You’re overthinking things,” he said.
“You know what kind of person Dad is. Meera seems kind—there’s no way something like that could happen. Maybe he just asked her for a small favor.”
Even after hearing this, I couldn’t calm my curiosity or the sense of betrayal I felt. I loved my father-in-law dearly, but if this were true, it would be a devastating shock to the entire family.
Should I talk to him directly?
Or should I stay silent and observe?
That night, I decided I had to know the truth.
Around 10 p.m., when the baby had finally settled down and my husband had fallen asleep from exhaustion, I heard the familiar soft footsteps leaving the maid’s room. This time, I didn’t go to the kitchen. I moved quietly and hid behind the wall near my father-in-law’s room.
Meera gently closed the door—but not fully. She left a small gap.
My heart was pounding. I pressed my eyes close to the opening, breathing heavily, preparing myself for the “unbelievable scene” I had imagined for so long.
And then… I froze.
My father-in-law was lying on his side on the bed, his bare back exposed. Meera was carefully massaging the acupressure points on his lower back, pressing firmly and methodically. The faint scent of warm oil filled the air. His face was twisted in pain, yet he endured it silently, letting out small groans now and then.
I heard Meera whisper softly,
“Just endure it a little more. You’ll feel better tomorrow. Please don’t tell them—let them focus on the grandchildren.”
I was so shocked—so utterly stunned—that the phone in my hand slipped and fell.
The small crash was enough to startle them. They both turned toward the door, their eyes filled with embarrassment and confusion. My father-in-law struggled to move, his face full of panic and regret. I felt just as ashamed.
Quickly, I said,
“I… I was getting some water and happened to pass by.”
I stepped aside and waited for Meera to leave.
When the door closed, Meera came up to me, her face heavy with guilt. Before I could say anything, she spoke.
“I’m sorry. I did this on my own initiative—but at his request. He has had severe back pain for over a week. Constant pain. But he strictly forbade me from telling you or your husband. He was afraid that while you were busy caring for the baby, you would worry about him. He kept blaming himself for being old and sick, for not being able to help his children and grandchildren anymore, and for becoming a burden.”
Her words hit me like a blow.
Tears filled my eyes. The shame and regret were overwhelming.
The “unbelievable scene” I had imagined was not a hidden affair at all—but an elderly father suffering alone in the dark, afraid of burdening his children.
My terrible misunderstanding felt like a slap to my conscience.
The next morning, my husband and I immediately took my father-in-law to the doctor. The doctor confirmed that due to age and years of hard labor, he was suffering from spinal degeneration.
On the way home, my husband and I blamed ourselves endlessly. We had been so focused on our newborn child that we had forgotten the elderly father living right beneath our roof.
How foolish we were—to let him quietly ask the maid for back massages, just because he didn’t want to trouble us.
Now, I know I must do something.
Should I arrange a professional private caregiver for him?
But I’m afraid he’ll feel too sensitive and refuse.
How can I take good care of my father-in-law—without ever making him feel like a burden?