New Slate, Old Tale

It was close to 3 p.m. and Avinash woke Archana up gently.

“Let us start early. You know how the malls get crowded, especially today being Sunday,” Avinash clarified. Archana woke up and got ready in a jiffy.

“I wish I could spend a good time before the mirror, like all other women do. But your impatience allows me very little time even to sleep. Forget trying to look presentable” Archana lamented.

“You are a natural beauty. You don’t need to make yourself up. Besides I married you for the beauty of your heart, not your external beauty” Avinash cleverly manipulated his unsuspecting wife.

Archana tried hard not to blush but her cheeks would not listen to her! It was hard to believe that they had been married for more than 15 years. In a while Avinash was driving towards the mall that they were visiting only for the second time.

On reaching the mall, Avinash looked around for a parking lot.

“Avi, there are a few open car parks on the other side. Don’t try these hydraulic ones. Remember what happened last time?” Archana cautioned Avinash.

“Those are not open car parks. Besides, these car parks are better. They use state-of-the-art technology to move the entire car parks up and down. It is difficult to explain these things to you. But don’t worry, I will take care” Avinash assured his wife.

But as luck would have it, the car banged on a side poll and Avinash had to stop. He asked Archana to get off the car and guide him from outside. Archana got off the car. One look at the situation, and she realised that Avinash was trying to park a big car in a smaller car slot. On the previous occasion they had a hatchback, but subsequently, they had upgraded to a sedan. 

“Avi, the space is too less and I think you have to back out” Archana cautioned Avinash. Avinash was in no mood to listen to Archana. He tried pushing the bigger vehicle into a smaller space, and the backdoor got stuck between the demarcating poles.

“Please stop. If you do not trust me, why don’t you step out and see for yourself?” Archana pleaded.Finally, the commotion brought the security guard who took over from Avinash. As Avinash stepped down, he realised what he had done. The security guard brought a stone and used it as a lever to reverse the car. He then parked the car in the open slot. After thanking the guard, Avinash sheepishly looked at Archana. 

“Let me tell you what. The next time, I will listen to you. I understand that you too have a good judgement about driving,” Avinash’s voice carried guilt rather than conviction. 

“To assess if a car would fit into a space or not needs no driving sense. Just common sense is enough” Archana retorted. Avinash knew that he had to do something to pacify Archana. 

He always underestimated his wife’s judgement and today he had to pay a heavy price.

“Okay. Let us forget the past. Let us start on a new slate. The next time you guide me, I assure you that I will listen,” Avinash had to take bigger steps to keep pace with Archana.

“Forget it. If you have decided to use your common sense then the old slate itself is as good as new. If not a new slate will have the same old story,” Archana said as she dug into her handbag for the ‘to-do’ list!

Dhurv’s Dilemma

Last week I had posted Shika’s story.

Majority of the readers opined that for the sake of her children she should continue living with her husband.

Taking this view I have completed the story thus:

Shika was very angry with her husband and decided to leave him. She took her children and visited her mother. Before taking any decision she wanted to talk to her mother. Her mother told Shika to be patient.

“When a vehicle drives through a puddle of water, the water gets split, but only temporarily. After the vehicle passes the water re-joins and becomes a puddle again. Similarly when a third person intervenes there will be a temporary split between husband and wife. The person who intervened will not stay there forever. After he/she moves away, both of you will get back into your family life”. Shika thanked her mother for her timely advice.

This week…

Dhurv’s Dilemma…

Dhurv was a good student in his class. He had pleasing mannerisms and was touted to go a long way in life. His mother was a house wife and his father earned a decent sum to keep the family going.

Dhurv had just completed his graduation in Engineering, when his father suddenly expired. His mother took over the family with an iron heart and started cooking in a few households. She insisted that her son chase his dreams and study further. Dhurv was hesitant, but decided to qualify himself more within a couple of years and take up a good job.

On completing his post-graduation in Business Management, Dhurv received an offer from a University abroad to take up his post-doctoral studies. The University offered to bear all his expenses.

Dhurv went to his University library with the offer envelope and sat on a chair, contemplating on what decision to take.

His dean happened to be in the library at the same time. The worry lines on Dhurv’s forehead were deep and his dean pulled a chair beside him. His dean had never seen Dhurv so worried.

“What’s the matter Dhurv?” he asked his favourite student.

Dhurv explained his situation to his dean.

“I was initially planning to take up a job. My mother has worked hard and she deserves a break. If I decide to study further, she will not hesitate continue working and fending for herself. Nevertheless, if I can qualify myself I can land myself in a decent job and give her a better life”, Dhurv told his dean.

What should be the dean’s advice to Dhurv?

 

The Power of Distraction!

A man, in his late 50’s was seen sitting in a bar. From his mannerisms it appeared as though he was visiting the place for the first time. A concerned youngster approached him and asked him what the matter was.

The man was just waiting for someone to ask this question, before breaking down.

“Should we step outside and talk?” offered the young man.

Both men went out and took a stroll. They reached a public park, found a secluded place and sat on a bench put there for the purpose.

“Tell me Sir, what is troubling you?” the young man asked again.

“I have two sons and they keep fighting all the time. None of us are able to drive sense into their thick heads!” concluded the troubled man.

“Sir, if you don’t mind my saying this, I feel they have no real issues to think about. Their idle minds will thrash the same things over and over again”, the young man opined with caution.

“Though you are young I think you have hit the nail on its head. I always thought that wisdom was the function of age. If that is true, then seeing you I am tempted to say, that the two are inversely proportional!” said the man laughing loudly, a clear indication that his tension was on its way out!

The youngster joined the party, laughing with the older man.

After a while he continued.

“I have heard my grandmother telling us all a story. When an elephant is hurt on its back, close to its tail, it will keep swinging its tail over the wound. This made the wound worse and the elephant would swing its tail harder.

One farmer saw an elephant do this and cleverly made a wound on the middle of its back, where neither its trunk nor its tail reached!

For a long time the elephant tried reaching the new wound. Since the new wound was out of its reach it was more challenging and the big tusker kept persisting, until both wounds healed!”

When the young man completed the story, the older man was up on his feet. He took a bow to honour the young man’s grandmother.

“Creating a bigger challenge, will make my sons forget the smaller challenges over which they fight uselessly. I get the point and please thank your grandmother on my behalf” the old man said.

“She passed away yesterday and I visited the bar to forget the pain” said the young man, tears threatening to wet his cheeks.

The old man held the young man close to him.

“Old things have to give way to newer things. That is what life is all about. You have honoured your grandmother better by sharing her wisdom with me. Alcohol would have been a poor substitute” said the old man as they parted ways!