My Grandfather Attacked My Mom, and I Can’t Forget Her Screams

I know titles can be misleading, so please read the whole thing before jumping to conclusions.

We live in a joint family—six of us: my grandparents, my parents, my younger brother, and me (the eldest son). My mother never really got along with my grandparents, but for years, things were manageable. There were complaints, resentment, and unspoken anger, but on the surface, everything seemed fine. We ate together, lived together, and somehow coexisted.

But for the past two years, everything has been falling apart. My grandfather’s mental health has been deteriorating, and it’s turned our lives into a nightmare. He hallucinates—sees insects crawling on him, imaginary people he fights with, and refuses to eat because he’s convinced his food is contaminated. He’s obsessed with his money, to the point that he falsely accused my father of stealing 3-4 lakh rupees, even though my father just transferred it to his own bank account for safekeeping. But my grandfather won’t listen. He rages, hurls insults I can’t even repeat, and screams so loudly that the entire house shakes.

I’ve developed this reflex where any sudden loud noise sends my heart racing. The worst part is that my father, who has done nothing but care for him, has been reduced to tears, apologizing over and over, only for my grandfather to “forgive” him for a short time before the cycle starts again. He’s reckless—leaving home alone with his money, getting robbed, getting scammed, almost losing a piece of our land, even falling off his bike. We’re constantly terrified.

Then, one day, things escalated beyond anything I could have imagined. My grandfather was in one of his usual angry fits, convinced my father had transferred his land to my mother. My father warned her to avoid him, but she was in a hurry to leave for work. And then I heard it.

Her screams.

I ran out and saw my grandfather had grabbed her. She was crying, struggling, screaming in a way I never want to hear again. I didn’t even think—I just reacted. I shoved him off her, and he almost fell. My mother was hysterical, screaming, “Save me from this animal!” over and over. And I just stood there, shaking. It was the first time in my life I felt like I genuinely hated him.

I didn’t speak to him for a month after that. And the worst part? I love my grandfather. I always have. I was the only person in the house he trusted, but after that day, I couldn’t look at him the same way. I know it’s his mental illness, but my mother’s screams won’t leave my head. I couldn’t study for days. I still can’t think straight.

Recently, my grandfather picked up a knife and said he didn’t want to live here anymore. My father had to wrestle it away from him while I hid it. And my mother? She says he’s always been like this, that he was mad long before his illness started. And honestly, I believe her now.

I used to stay neutral, not take sides. But now, I feel nothing but empathy for my mother.

We tried separating the house with different stairs, but my grandfather cried and begged us not to, so we don’t use them anymore. I don’t know why I’m even writing this. I guess I just needed to get it out.

Rephrased by chatgpt