IF ONLY I HAD A WIFE

Swati got down from the auto, profusely  sweating. It was a very hot and humid day. Even by 4:30pm also it felt like a furnace. Carrying the heavy load of the monthly provisions she purchased, she neared the lift. "No power, madam!" Gopal, the watchman informed. "And the generator not working." he added.

She sighed. 'Oh, God. Now I have to carry these bags to the fifth floor! No way out!'

She lugged all the load up panting and huffing. By the time she opened the door she was totally exhausted and plonked on the sofa. The stll ceiling fan was mocking at her.

After a while she got up rather reluctantly reminded of all those household chores awaiting her.

'If only someone gave me a glass of cool water and a cup of piping hot coffee!' She thought wistfully. '..And make some tasty tidbits for me to munch! ...And tidy up the house! ...And...' She sighed. 'Who is there to oblige me?'

Slowly she got immersed in her work. By the time she stored all her purchases, cut the veggies for dinner, folded the dried clothes and tidied the house, it was time for Suresh to come home from office. Then slowly the fan started swinging. She felt like taking a break and stretching herself beneath the fan and enjoy.

Suresh slumped in the sofa. Loosening the shirt buttons, he declared, "I am totally exhausted." Then looking at her, he added sarcastically, "Why are you staring at me like a wooden statue? Will you be kind enough to get a glass of water for your poor husband? And turn that damn fan to full swing?"

She started and did as per his bidding.

Suresh looked at her frownig. "Where are you lost? What is wrong with you? Here I am, dead tired and famished! And there you are daydreaming! Had you not enough of that throughout the day? Why don't you cheer up and attend to me?"

She bit her tongue and went into the kitchen. After a while she came back with a plate of light snacks and two cups of steaming hot coffee. He sniggered. "Why don't you make something fresh and spicy instead of those from the Swagruha? What herculean tasks do you perform during the day?"

She remembered the pile of soiled dishes she cleaned after the breakfast as well as lunch. And the bucketful of dirty clothes she washed and dried. And the laundry of the day before which she ironed in the morning. "The moment I come home, you start sighing and sulking, as if you are bone tired!" He snatched the cup from her.

She sat by his side and enquired gently, "How was your day?"

"Oh, don't ask me. The damn AC in my cabin is not working. And there is heavy traffic on the way home. I had to drive the bike dead slow and halting. Horrible indeed!"

She thought of her bumpy auto ride in the sun and standstill lift and fan on her return from the market.

"And the heavy load of papers I had to carry!" He gestured to the briefcase.

'Carrying?' She wondered. 'Maybe from the cabin to the bike and in the lift to home.' Her two bags full of monthly groceries and the five flights of stairs flashed before her eyes.

"Oh, my legs!" He stretched his legs and relaxed. "I really envy you. Lazing and sleeping at home all the day, enjoying the books, TV, movies... what not! Need not toil like me!"

'Sleep? No time even to close my eyes for a couple of minutes!' Swati felt like retorting. but instead she calmly collected the plate and cups and dragged her unwilling feet to the kitchen. 'If only there is someone to vent my frustrations upon! ...And to take care of these soiled cups and plate!... And make a delicious dinner of my favourite dishes! ...And manage all other household work!... if only...'

She sighed. 'If only I too had a wife.....'

MY DAY OF TRIUMPH

                                                   

           That day started quite normally like any other day. The sun had risen in the east at the usual time as per his habit. The children quite normally had to be dragged out of the bed, and coaxed, goaded, chided and ultimately forced to get ready for school in time. My husband, also as per his habit, found my cooking quite insipid and tasteless and remembered  the snacks offered by his friend out of his lunch box, ages ago, which were more delicious and mouth watering, in his opinion. When I went to the market, I found the prices sky- rocketing and the attitude of the vendors as hostile and condescending as usual. In brief, everything seemed to be quite normal and the same like any other day. But it was not to be so !

            Satisfied that 'God's in his Heaven and All's right with the World', I leisurly opened the vernacular language magazine I purchased on my way home. Lo! Immediately I realised that it was going to be a very eventful day. For, there it was! One of my numerous attempts had borne fruit. My story was published and naturally my name also along with that in big bold letters. I felt jubilant at my good fortune of realising my long cherished ambition . I had been trying since a very long time to get my name in print and at last I succeeded ! Quite an achievement! Isn't it ?

            But I was rather surprised at so sudden a discovery. I was under the impression that before publishing any story, the magazine people intimate the author and also send a complimentary copy. Probably the postal department, true to its reputation, may deliver the same anytime within the next three months. Anyway, there I was in the seventh heaven, looking at my baby fondly again and again. How I wished I had some company around to share the joy ! Wasn't it Mark Twain that remarks, "Sorrow can take care of itself, but to get the true benefit of joy, you have to share it." I could fully appreciate those golden words only now.

          Graham Bell's instrument offering a dead tone, I locked the door and started for my best friend two blocks away, but was greeted with a locked door. Then I tried another friend nearby, and found her in bed with high fever. Greatly disappointed, I returned home and started a long wait for the return of either my husband or my children. Today I will certainly prove a point to them. They will now realise that I am not a dumb nitwit they took me for all these days. Now at least they will start treating me with some respect which I always felt was due to me. My husband also will get the surprise of his life because he never took my literary attempts seriously. Now he will be forced to change his opinion about me - which, I must admit,  is not exactly flattering to me. Now is the time for him to feel proud for having a gifted writer as his wife !

            Thus I was daydreaming when my son returned from school. I hurriedly started telling him, "Look, sonny, there is a little surprise for you."

           His face lit with enthusiasm and expectation. "What is it ? Did you make gajar ka halwa?" When I nodded in the negative, he went on speculating. " or laddu? or mysore pak?"

          "No, no, not that sort of thing. I....."

           He cut me short, obviously bored. "Then I am not interested now. First give me something to eat. I am famished. Then I have to go to Raju's place.We have a very crucial cricket match with Gopal's team. We have to defeat them at any cost today." He clenched his fist.

           I realised that he had neither the time nor the mood for anything other than food and cricket at the moment and so it would be wise to leave him to his own pursuits. So my little surprise has to wait, I told myself.

          After a while, my daughter entered, banging the door. She flung away her books to one corner and her chappals to another. I immediately sensed that she was once again in one of her famous nasty moods. Still I could not restrain myself.

          With the fond hope that she, being of the same species as me, will never disappoint me, I started bravely, "Do you know, baby, what happened today?" She yawned and said,"Oh, mommy, more of that later. I am in no mood to listen to your silly gossip." I preferred to ignore the high browish stance and continued, "No, baby, I have something else to tell you- quite exciting....."

          She looked at me expectantly. "You didn't purchase a new dress for me, did you?" I was silent. She angrily stamped her feet. "Oh, mommy, today I am very much in a nasty mood. That lousy Rekha again wore a new dress today and here I am in these age old rags. How many times did I tell you to get some new dresses for me ? Oh, how her dress was shining ! This is her fourth new dress in the past one month! Some lucky girl there!" She disappeared into the bathroom still grumbling on her way.

         I was quite frustrated by that time. What could I do but to wait and wait? After what seemes to be an eternity, the master of the house made his grand entry. Even before I could open my mouth to say something, he sighed and slumped into the sofa. "Oh, quite a horrible day today. I don't know whose face I had the misfortune to look at, the first thing in the morning! Very disgusting indeed." He looked at me. "Give me some cool water first and then a cup of hot tea next. Till then I will not be normal."

         By that time the children also joined him. I hurriedly handed him the former and after getting the latter ready, I approached him. "You know, some terrific thing happened today..."

        He frowned. "Look, I am dead tired now and unable to move even my little finger. And here you are- with your terrific things! What a lack of concern! I really wonder how I have been able to cope up with you for such a long time!"

         I immediately shut up. After finishing tea, he noticed the magazine. "Oh, I see that again you purchased some silly trash. How many times did I tell you not to waste your time and money on these useless things! Not even a single worthwhile material inside! I don't know what you find so interesting and attractive in this rubbish!" he said with contempt.

         I pursed my lips and kept quiet. With so much of hostile attitude around, what else could I do? How can I announce my triumph- a triumph which now began to look hollow and meaningless.

         He casually took the magazine in his hands and started to leaf through it absentmindedly. I was watching him keenly, hoping against hope that at least when he would come across my story, he would change his tone and congratulate me.

         Suddenly he stopped. I was waiting with bated breath for a surprised and loud applause! But, alas! What did I hear!

         He laughed and in a mocking tone, read aloud my name. "Look, here is a lady with the same name as yours and with the same silly tastes as yours! And she is ahead of you, foolish enough to  write some nonsensical story also!" He suddenly stopped in his tracks and as some realisation dawned upon him, obviously, gaped at me in disbelief!

         Though my anger was slowly building up into a rage, I sat there tight lipped and motionless.

         He mumbled incoherantly "Was..it..your name..I mean....you....your story...." he beat his brow "Oh, the terrific thing...! What a stupid fool I was !" He looked at the children who were also equally puzzled and surprised. Suddenly there was pandemonium  all around as all of them rushed to me.

         My husband grinned sheepishly and gushed in a proud tone, "Ah, what a terrific surprise indeed! You should have told me in the beginning itself so that I would not have opened my big mouth! Anyway, I never knew you are so talented capable of such an achievement! Next time, whenever you send a story, tell me in advance."

           My daughter also nodded in agreement."Yes, mommy, Daddy is right. Why didn't you tell me this exciting news in the beginning itself?" She accused me as if it was my fault. "Really you are a genius. I am really proud of such a wonderful mommy. I can't wait to tell this great news to all my friends, especially, Rekha." she hugged me.

             My son was also visibly pleased. "Hats off to you, mommy, it is indeed a very pleasant surprise. Had you told me earlier, I would have announced the good news to all my friends proudly!" He turned to his father. "Daddy, why don't we go out and have a nice dinner somewhere to celebrate mommy's triumph?" He proposed and the others immediately seconded him.

            At last, it really proved to be a day of my triumph!

NEW BLOGGER

     

I am a new entry to the blogging world. Of course I have been a follower to some very interesting ones so far. I am fond of interacting with people of all ages and kinds. In the present world of faceless communication, which is preferred by many, I feel blogging is the best choice to share my views and thoughts with the world, whatever they are worth for! 

I have nothing much to say about me except that I am a senior citizen, a mother and a grandmother too. I feel the urge to connect to other like-minded people and share mutual experiences and observations. 

Life is always beautiful if only we know how to make the most of it and enjoy fully. In my opinion, it is possible only through interacting with those around you in a positive manner. I think everybody will agree with me. Though now there is increased e-communication among people, sadly the age old method of face to face interaction is disappearing slowly. I miss it. As it is said by wise people long ago, when you cannot change the state of affairs to your liking, the next best thing is to change yourself and adapt to the situation. Hence my attempt at blogging.

From time to time I itch to pen some short stories and articles. Some happenings around me move my heart and I feel like sharing my reactions with others. I like to present all such thoughts to the world for comment and opinion. Hope there will be some at least who will find my writings interesting enough to read and remember and respond.

That's all for now.