Early morning, Wife wakes up without any alarm. Marches towards unlocking the gate, and picking up the newspaper and the milk packets lying next to the gate. When she comes back the rest of the house is still sound asleep. Kids are still sleeping in their rooms and granny is almost ready to wake up. Granny wakes up and first thing she asks the wife, “Can i get some tea?Do I get anything in this house?”
Wife bends her head and kick starts the work in the morning. Starts preparing tea on one side of the gas stove and the breakfast on the next. Washes the vegetables, cuts the vegetables. Husband wakes up. As soon as she hears him at the wash basin washing his face, she gets ready with the newspaper and the warm lime water he drinks before tea. Serves the tea to her husband. Chats with her about many things happening in the world including news and gossips about all their relatives.
Rushes to kitchen to stop the whistle of the pressure cooker. Forgets her tea. Starts breakfast preparation. Kids wake up. One of them gets ready to college. Starts yelling to the wife asking whereabouts of the books, the dresses, matching duppatta etc. Wife comes to her room, starts searching them for her. By that time, husband asks for the hair-dye and mirror. runs to him gives hands him everything. Back to kitchen prepares the breakfast and serves it hot to the daughter and husband. She had been in the kitchen since morning and did not even breathe fresh air. She stinks garlic and onion now. And she’s all drenched in sweat inside the kitchen.
Once breakfast is served, she sits besides the husband and daughter to hear about the plans for the day, or if they need something. The husband screams at her breakfast. Says, ‘In my whole life time… I have not eaten anything whole heartedly.You spoil the dishes I like.I dont know what you have learnt in cooking.If you dont want to cook and take rest, then tell me, I will cook before leaving to office and serve you.These kids are also good for nothing.They dont have a life other than chatting and college.Tell them they arent doing any favour by studying degrees. And the Elder one, she thinks she is the boss of the house. Tell her I’m not living on her money. I work and eat. You have spoiled everybody in this House’. Wife says ‘You dont get tensed, finish the breakfast, you have to take the medicines. Don’t stay hungry’. Husband leaves home. Daughter leaves home.
Wife back to kitchen, wiped her huge tear drop, thought nobody noticed. As it dropped, the elder daughter watched the whole episode, and finally out of her room looks at her mother. Prays God and leaves home without eating. Not because the food wasnt good, but because she can’t digest the bitterness put in.
PS: This post isn’t related to any particular individual, just a random thought which struck my heart.How many houses does this happen everyday? Please make it a Home before its late.
In dedication to all the house wives who strive hard in putting the family together, their real individual existence is lost in the daily family chores.
