The lesson that the black board taught! Part - V

Suraj tried his best to calm the ladies down. His first dilemma as a married man began. He wanted to support his wife, but was unsure of what he had to do. As silently as he had entered the place he slipped out.

His father-in-law called him and told him that it was best to leave it to the ladies to sort out their differences.

His in-laws spent two weeks with them before taking their leave. The two weeks were filled with sermons and lectures and lesson in self-discipline. Suraj had arranged for a surprise trip to a holiday destination nearby. His parents-in-law and his father behaved like kids on a school trip!

Shruti was amazed to see her parents let their guard off and enjoy their life!

There was again some silence and calm after their departure. Life revolved around work and home. Shruti did well at office and that motivated Suraj to do well too. 

Shruti’s discipline and strict routine made it easier for Suraj to focus better on his work and Suraj’s ease at creating lighter moments made life happier for Shruti.

They complimented each other well and their post-marriage adjustment, presumably was made easier due to the presence of people around.

Their private moments were well deserved, but far and few in-between!

A month or two later Suraj’s brother and his family were due to arrive on a vacation. Shruti used her free time to plan their visit and had even applied for a break from work for two days.

Their arrival descended upon the household like a storm! They landed with more luggage than the house could possibly hold. Suraj’s sister-in-law had brought gifts for everyone in the household. She had, especially brought a dozen outfits for Shruti.

Shruti was embarrassed to the core! 

She was not fond of clothes and had just five outfits for office and a pair of jeans and two T-shirts. She slowly began,

“Frankly, with more clothes around, I begin to get confused and that is the only complication I cannot handle in life!” she concluded.

The entire gathering started at her in utter disbelief!

“What, you don’t like new outfits!” asked their eight year old daughter.

“No, I am just over-whelmed that I do not know how to react!” she managed.

With Suraj’s help Shruti picked the outfits that best suited her. His sister-in-law had to find those, among other relatives that would best fit into the remaining outfits!

Once done, Shruti and Suraj went down for a walk with the little girl from the fourth generation giving company.

“Aunty, is it difficult to adjust in a new house with unknown people?” she wanted to know.

“Not if you take each day as a new day and gear up to the new situation that you encounter!” Shruti replied.

“Oh, then it must be easy for my teachers. Each day they come to class, erase the black board and start with the new date! Is it something like that?” asked the little girl.

Shruti smiled.

The walk back to the house was a long one.

“We spend twelve years watching the teachers erase the old lessons and begin with new lessons. The lessons of life are not those that are written on the board, but this ritual of erasing the old memories to give way for the new and therefore a fresher one!” said Shruti to Suraj who nodded his head.

The perspectives of the four generations made Shruti wiser and more tolerant. She found it easier to understand varied perspectives and felt that marriage had opened her mind towards life in general and people in particular.

Clean your mind each day, so that you may learn new lessons that comes your way!

Adjustment reversal...Part - IV

For a couple of months Shruti did not miss anything, but soon she was missing the fun of being surrounded by people.

Suraj grew restless too and decided to invite Shruti’s parents. Shruti’s parents obliged too.

Suraj waited in anticipation and on the day of their arrival Suraj had taken a day off from work to spend the day with his in-laws.

The grand day arrived and Shruti’s parents made their entry into the house.

After refreshing themselves, they asked Suraj when they had to ‘assemble’ for food. Suraj was taken aback and turned towards Shruti. Shruti suppressed her smile and translated her parents’ question to Suraj.

“Whenever you folks feel hungry you can eat!” Suraj replied with a straight face. Shruti turned towards her father and the look on his face said it all!

Shruti was determined to have fun!

“Do you call your husband by his name?” Shruti’s father wanted to know. Suraj was about to reply but Shruti gestured him to keep quiet.

“Appa, I am following your advice and adapting to my in-laws tradition. Suraj likes to be called by his name and I, as a good wife would, am fulfilling my husband’s wishes,” it was Shruti’s turn to keep a straight face and Suraj excused himself to the other room before bursting out in uncontrollable laughter!

During dinner time, Shruti’s father wanted the entire household to eat together. Suraj began protesting, but his father intervened and told Suraj that his father-in-law was right about maintaining a family dinner time.

“At least one meal should bring the entire family to the same table!!” he concluded.

“Appa, did I hear you say something?” Suraj was astonished!

“Yes,” said Shruti’s father-in-law who seldom spoke. He never opined and simply followed instructions from the safe bounds of the shell that he had confined himself into, after his wife’s death.

Suraj was happy to hear his father opening to the world outside. He obeyed his father-in-law’s wish and ate with the rest of the family.

Shruti’s father chatted with her husband on varied topics and they found out that they had a lot of common interests.

Meanwhile Shruti had a bitter argument with her mother on a certain recipe that Shruti had learnt from Suraj’s grandmother. The name of the dish was 'Poricha kuzhambu'. The preparation style varied greatly between the two families and Shruti told her mother that the manner in which it was prepared by Suraj's grandmother tasted better!

A difference in recipe was where the first argument began...

All hell broke loose! The first argument between a mother and a married daughter begins thus!

The joy of giving...Part III

Shruti waited for the lunch break in office the next day. She wanted to talk to someone to find out if her comparison of her father’s house with her husband’s house was normal. Most of her friends were unmarried and could not help her much.

“How is marriage treating you?” one of her friends wanted to know.

“I am yet to sense any difference,” Shruti did not find any point in talking to people about her marriage as she herself was not sure what her status was.

A couple of months later her husband’s grandfather passed away at a ripe old age of ninety! The rituals that followed left Shruti fatigued, but wise.

She abhorred rituals as none made sense to her. But the rituals that were performed for thirteen days, suddenly seemed to make a lot of sense as she saw Suraj’s grandmother grieving when she saw some relatives. Instantly Shruti knew that the old lady was comfortable with them. Surprisingly they seemed to like Shruti and showered her with love and affection!

Shruti not only met many relatives, but also understood the relationship without having to be told! The rituals of donating everyday items like umbrella, food, footwear, etc. initially seemed funny to her. But when she asked the priest for the reason, she was convinced. Every single ritual contributed towards bringing solace to the near and dear ones.

One of the relatives who had gathered commented that the priests made huge profit out of these rituals.

“Be grateful that we are in a position to give. Don’t think about their gain. The joy of giving will be lost,” grandmother was quite curt when she said this.

The next day, on the way back, Shruti made it a point to contribute at an orphanage to show her respect to the departed soul. She instantly realised that Suraj’s grandmother was right! 

 Shruti heard Suraj’s grandmother telling the youngsters not to cry and create a scene as her husband had lived a complete life and all his wishes remain fulfilled.

She then humbly requested all the youngsters to pray for her speedy exit!

The resilience of her personality and the grace with which she conducted herself appealed to Shruti. The day Shruti resumed office, the lunch table as well as its occupants were more than familiar with the courage of the old lady.

After a month or two, Suraj’s grandmother had decided to spend some time at her hometown. His brother, along with his family migrated to a different city owing to a job change.

The rituals were performed by the side of a river bank...

Shruti was back to her familiar surroundings, a self-contained nuclear family!