Phone call

Pooja was surprised with Archana's cold response. She did not expect Archana to jump with joy but the response from Archana was not what she expected. Somewhere Pooja's instincts were telling her that something was not right. Though she could not indentify what was not adding up.

Pooja decided to express her thoughts, "do you think something was going on with Archana? Her response was strange".
Prarthana did not find Archana's response inappropriate, "Maybe she was busy. Maybe she is not interested in knowing what is going on with the land transfer. We are keeping her in loop but I think she does not like being told about the property matter".
Anil intervened, "we should still keep her appraised. Transparency is the key in such matters. She is far away, though she said she is not interested we should never keep any information away from her. Afterall it is our mother's property. All children have equal right to know".

Three of them left the topic there. The procedure was going on smoothly. One evening Pooja received a phone call from Archana. Pooja thought that it was for the regular discussion. But it was nothing like the loving conversation between the siblings.
Archana started, "Pooja, I do not know how to begin. After our last conversation I had a word with Madhav. He wants to speak with you".
Pooja was clueless as to why Archana's husband wanted to speak with her. Madhav joined the call, "Pooja I am furious with what you siblings have done. You thought you would get away with it?" Madhav had always been unruly and rude. Pooja was not ready to put up with his tantrums.
"Madhav, whatever you want to say, say it directly", Pooja spoke with a firm yet polite tone.
"This land transfer of your mother. You thought you would keep my wife's name out of it and keep us in the dark? You three wanted to divide the whole sum in three parts? You should be ashamed of yourself", Madhav accused Pooja and her siblings of the heinous acts which they had not committed.
Pooja was angry but decided to put Archana on the spot, "Archana I will let you respond to this question. I have no obligation to respond".
"Not Archana. I want answers from you," Madhav had been screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Okay Madhav, let me explain everything to you. Though I expected Archana to have spoken. Right from the beginning, we had asked Archana to share her documents to add her name in the transfer procedures. She said no. We had been completely transparent with her throughout everything that happened. Though she said she does not want her share, we had still made a provision to transfer her share into her bank account from India. Everything you have accused us is completely false," Pooja was fuming.
"Pooja, please do not take it in a wrong way, we wanted.." Archana tried to speak.
"I do not want to hear your explanation. I am not taking it in a wrong way. Your husband accused us of stealing and you did not take a stand. I do not see how you are not involved in this. Henceforth do not call me to discuss this land transfer," Pooja paused for a minute before delivering a shocking decision, "I will inform Anil and Prarthana too. Today onwards I am backing out of any further formalities and proceedings of this land transfer. For me, the land never existed and will not exist in the future".