Priyanka Todi and Kishwar Jahan

It was a tale of two letters on Thursday — one from the daughter-in-law that reached and the other from the mother-in-law that was on its way.

Priyanka Todi wrote to Kishwar Jahan, mother of Rizwanur Rahman who died on September 21, repeating her request that all her belongings at 7B Tijlala Lane be returned to her.

“I wrote to you on November 8, requesting you to return my belongings that have been in your safe keeping through the bearer of my note. But... I am yet to get back any of my belongings.

“Once again, I found my diaries being shown on television. Was that right? I do not know but I feel someone is taking undue advantage of my articles (which are in your care)....

“So, with folded hands, I’m begging you for the second time to please return my belongings through the bearer of this letter,” wrote Priyanka.

The letter was delivered by two of Ashok Todi’s employees at 4pm on Thursday. “Rizwanur’s mother received the letter from me. Rukbanur was not at home then,” said one of the bearers of the letter.

While Priyanka’s letter reached her mother-in-law, a letter written by Kishwar Jahan had not reached her daughter-in-law till late on Thursday.

In a two-page letter despatched to Priyanka on Thursday by speed-post, she wrote: “You can take back your belongings by sending someone of your choice any time. But you will have to inform Rukbanur or his wife at least 24 hours before sending the person.”

She, however, made it clear that they would not comply with Priyanka’s request to hand over the CBI’s seizure list. “It is a composite list and apart from your birth certificates and other papers, there is mention of other evidence. Since your father is a prime accused in the case and you are staying with your father, I cannot give you the list,” wrote Kishwar Jahan.

Priyanka’s mother-in-law also reacted to her reference in the September 8 letter, hinting at the strained relationship between Rizwanur and Rukbanur. “I don’t know why you mentioned that. As far as I know, the two brothers have never had a problem.... Please do not try to harm our family under any provocation,” she wrote. At the end, Kishwar Jahan blessed Priyanka and wished her well.

In her second letter, Priyanka pleads that this does not become “a legal battle” and stresses how she was hurt by “Rukbanur’s statement” that they would be sending a reply through legal channels.

“I’ve been suffering the same kind of hurt, trauma and emptiness that you’ve been going through since Rizwan left us. But all that is happening now is adding to my pain,” wrote Priyanka.