I let my nephew live with me for 4 years, and when I asked him to move out to build a new house, I got such an answer that I was speechless. I’m over 50 years old, my children have settled down, and now I just want to remodel the old house so that my wife and I have a place for retirement. But I never thought that one day… My own nephew will betray me!

4 years ago, my nephew – my younger brother’s son – came to Delhi from Uttar Pradesh to study in university. His family was poor and he lived far away from home, so I felt sorry for him and said:

“Come and stay with me. Living a few years will save money, and you can think of it as helping each other in the family. ”

He was very happy and moved into a small room on the second floor of my house in Delhi. At that time, my wife and I didn’t think much of it, just treating her like another child, taking care of her food, shelter, and daily needs.

Four years passed, she graduated, worked for more than half a year, and still didn’t leave home. I started talking to my wife:

“Now that we have some money, let’s demolish the old house and rebuild it.” Call Tarun (T.) to rent a place to stay temporarily. ”

That night, I told him directly:

“T., now that I’m building the house, you can rent the house for me for a while.” When the construction is complete, you can come back and meet comfortably. ”

Suddenly, he looked at me for a moment, then said in a cold voice:

“You told me to leave, so I went. But for the last four years, I’ve been here cooking, cleaning, mopping floors, taking out all the trash… Do you think I’ve worked for free? I roughly calculated that Rs. 12,000 a month is enough. So give me Rs 600,000 (about Rs 6 lakh) and I’ll leave. ”

I stood there stunned. My wife couldn’t believe it.

I growled:

“What are you saying? This is my home, I’m staying here, eating and drinking for free. Now you want to give me money?”

He was still calm:

“I didn’t ask for free accommodation. You let me be, yet I contributed. I did housework and cooked. Now you said that it is okay to build a house, but I want to keep my point clear. ”

I was so angry that my face turned red and I gestured with my hand:

“Get out of my house now!” Not a single penny!”

He literally left. But three days later, I got a job offer from the ward office in Delhi because… My nephew sued me for “living on rent without an explicit contract.”

In my hometown in Uttar Pradesh, the whole family was in a ruckus. Some people were defending me, some were saying “live fairly”. But has anyone ever thought… If kindness is put on the wrong person, can it also become a trap?

Part 2: Invitation from the Ward Office and “Takraw”
in Delhi The morning I received the invitation, my wife was holding a tray of tea with trembling hands. The entire WhatsApp group “Parivar Samachar” (news from home) erupted: some said that Tarun is rude, while some said “everything should be clear in India”. I kept quiet. The smell of ginger and cinnamon masala chai was as pungent in my throat as it was pungent.

1) At the ward office: Tarun handed over “family affairs files” It was a scorching heat at the ward office in
Lajpat Nagar, the ceiling fan was spinning. Ms Sharma – who was the conciliator – rolled up her glasses over her nose:

“Today is just a reconciliation session. No court session. Both sides leave their files, we take notes, and suggest solutions. ”

Tarun walked in with a boy in a white shirt and introduced himself as a fellow law student – an “intern”. He placed a thick pile of papers on the table, on which was a shiny plastic clipboard:

“Here’s my account of 48 months of domestic work. A total of 1,236 hours cooking, 912 hours cleaning, 208 hours picking up trash, 173 hours grocery shopping. Attached: UPI statement of buying vegetables, rice, and edible oil every month. ”

I laughed because it was absurd, but anger came down my throat:

“The boy is living in NHO. I consider my home my son. I have paid for food, accommodation, electricity, water, internet, and even a stomach check-up last year!”

Tarun calmly pulled out another printed paper with bullet points:

“I am writing on the basis of Section 70 of the Indian Contract Act: A person who works for another person, without the intention of working for free, and the other person benefits, must be compensated. I have made it clear many times that I did not ‘work for free’. Take a voice note. ”

My friend picked up the phone. My voice echoed out of nowhere, crooked, “Lo, try to do things right, I’ll calculate later.” ”

A vague sentence from two years ago.

Mrs. Sharma thumped her pen:
“What documents do you have?”

I put forward a pile of bills: Tarun’s hospital fees, money to buy study books, a Rajdhani train ticket to go home to Tate, a bill for laptop repair. I kept my anger in check and said softly:
“We are family members… When do you sign a contract to clean the house?”

Mrs. Sharma sighed:
“Yes – but now that the dispute has arisen, it is better to reconcile. Advise your uncle to pay an honorarium to finish it, say ₹100,000. The young party withdraws his request, withdraws the application. ”

Tarun shook his head:
– “I want ₹600,000.” I won’t take anything less than that. ”

My wife pulled up my sleeve: “Okay, give him a little so that the matter is over.” “I dodged the matter. My pride erupted like dry fire:
– “Not a penny!”

Mediation failed. Ms. Sharma wrote “no compromise” and set a 7-day deadline to submit evidence, after which she will go to the Pre-Litigation Lok Adalat (city-level mediation proceedings).

2) Online storms and whispers from neighbors
That afternoon, the entire neighborhood went haywire. The concierge nodded:
– “Brother, that kid posted on Instagram. The post ‘exploitation in the guise of pity’ – showing the housekeepers fearlessly. ”

I opened my phone: a blurry picture of my kitchen corner. Below were thousands of comments: “Give money to help yourself!” – “Uncle poisonous”. My heart was beating like a drum.

The contractor heard about the dispute and immediately called:
– “I have not vacated the house yet, I do not have the courage to demolish it.” I’m caught in a lawsuit, the ward police are asking, we’re stuck. ”

The demolition programme for the next week had to be postponed indefinitely.

3) Family meeting: Old secrets revealed
In the night, Tauji (my father’s elder brother) called on a video call from Kanpur. The screen was shaking, his voice was heavy:
– “You two have gone to the limit! But let me remind you, in 2019, my younger brother lent me ₹200,000 for the business and hasn’t repaid it yet. Don’t let the child make excuses. ”

My wife turned to me:
– “You… Are you still indebted to me?”
I choked up:
– “There are still ₹80,000 left, I plan to repay them once the house is built.” ”

Tarun immediately took advantage of the opportunity:
“Then I will deduct it from that amount.” You will give me ₹520,000. ”

I said loudly at the table:
– “Don’t speak vaguely! I owe you brothers, let me talk. That’s what you say – get out of my house!”

She pursed her lips:
“I’ve changed the lock of the second floor, my luggage is there.” If you touch her, I’ll report it to the police.
His words were as cold as ice.

4) New Clue: The “Trap”
of the Workers and Maid Shanta At night, my wife was called by her former maid Shanta and whispered:

“Sister, don’t give him any money! Four years ago, Tarun himself told me that I should quit my job because he ‘manages the house’, and would take ₹6,000 every month from me ‘to give you back’, but he didn’t. I have messages and recordings of him asking for a bargain. ”

In the message that Shanta sent, every line of Hindi was clearly visible: “Didi, I will take care of you, you will not come.” I sat down in the chair.

It turned out that he had deliberately pushed the maid away, then recorded his work so that he could later ask for money!

My wife cried:
“That was decided from the beginning…”

5) New move: RWA stops NOC, Tarun demands “shifting fee”
The next morning, the RWA (Residents’ Association) sent an email: Due to an “internal dispute”, they have temporarily stopped issuing the NOC (approval certificate) for the renovation project. Tarun sent another legal notice prepared by his “legal friend”:-
“My client is willing to leave within 30 days on receipt of ₹600,000 and ₹20,000 shifting charges. Otherwise, we will file a petition in the civil court for compensation and deferred interest under Section 70. ”

I laughed, but sweat was streaming down my temples. The contractor had already deposited the money, now they were stuck. I called Mrs. Sharma back to ask for more evidence.

“All you have to do is submit Shanta’s voice note, hospital statement, tuition fees and Tarun’s 4-year living expenses. We will compare the benefits of both sides. “He said.

6) Heavy rains on a Delhi night: One question that kept
me awake That night, the monsoon rains were in full swing. I stood on the roof, looking at the leaky ceiling, thinking about old age. My wife put
her hand on my shoulder – “Or should I give her some share for the safety of the family?”

I held out a sigh. Self-respect, anger and fear of reproach were swirling in my chest. Just then the phone rang: Shanta’s email brought another file in which Tarun’s voice was clearly recorded:
– “You should quit your job, I can do everything.” I’ll settle accounts with you later, which will save the family money. ”

I turned on the light and sat down at the table. If Tarun had any intention from the beginning, Section 70 he was using could have backfired. Because the law also says that the intention to do nothing for free should be openly disclosed without deception. And that’s what the system is all about.

I gathered enough evidence, closed the thick file. For the first time since the event, I felt I had a chance to win.

End of Part 2:
On the morning of file submission, Mrs. Sharma made an appointment for this Friday – the pre-litigation Lok Adalat will call Shanta as a witness. Tarun sent a cold message:
– “Get everything out. I also have a recording. ”

I looked at the phone screen, my heart skipped a beat. Which recording? Were these the words I had said to him years ago, or… Something that defeats me in front of my relatives and neighborhoods?

It was still raining on the tin roof. I closed the door, preparing for the final battle.