What She Didn't Say

I got married in May, on a Sunday. It was, to some extent, an act of rebellion. I wanted to be different from everybody else. A week before I had invited a priest, a friend of mine, to my stag party. Half way through the evening, a little tipsy, we all went out onto the terrace of the restaurant, which faced the sea.

I asked my friend, "Well Father, do you have any advice to give me before I take the plunge?"

He looked at me and said, "Yes. Don't push originality and nonconformism to the point where you reject the old ways that worked so well. You want your marriage to last? Well then, listen to every word your wife says."

Seven years have gone by. We had a child, and our fair share of joy and pain. And our love... well it seems to have extinguished itself, without my taking notice. I didn't forget the advice of my friend the priest, but it seems that I know my wife almost as well as I know myself, and that I can predict every word she says even before she says it, which is a little disappointing.

One night I went back to see the person I derisively called my 'Father.'

I explained the situation and again asked him for advice. "I listen to every word she says, but I don't see how that has changed anything."

My friend served himself a glass, and filled mine. As we touched glasses and the ice cubes clinked he looked at me and said, "You have only done half the work. Now go back home and listen to every word your wife doesn't say."

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The New Donkey and the Dog Story

Read and think - You may find one in your midst

There was once a washer man who had a donkey and a dog. One night when the whole world was sleeping, a thief broke into the house, the washer man was fast asleep too but the donkey and the dog were awake. The dog decided not to bark since the master did not take good care of him and wanted to teach him a lesson.

The donkey got worried and said to the dog that if he doesn't bark, the donkey will have to do something himself. The dog did not change his mind and the donkey started braying loudly.

Hearing the donkey bray, the thief ran away, the master woke up and started beating the donkey for braying in the middle of the night for no reason.

Moral of the story " One must not engage in duties other than his own"

Now take a new look at the same story...

The washer man was a well educated man from a premier management institute. He had the fundas of looking at the bigger picture and thinking out of the box. He was convinced that there must be some reason for the donkey to bray in the night.. He walked outside a little and did some fact finding, applied a bottom up approach, figured out from the ground realities that there was a thief who broke in and the donkey only wanted to alert him about it. Looking at the donkey's extra initiative and going beyond the call of the duty, he rewarded him with lot of hay and other perks and became his favorite pet.

The dog's life didn't change much, except that now the donkey was more motivated in doing the dog's duties as well. In the annual appraisal the dog managed "ME" (Met Expectations) .

Soon the dog realized that the donkey is taking care of his duties and he can enjoy his life sleeping and lazing around.

The donkey was rated as "STAR PERFORMER". The donkey had to live up to his already high performance standards.

Soon he was over burdened with work and always under pressure and now is looking for a NEW JOB ...

Disclaimer:  All characters in the story are not at all imaginary.  Any resemblance to person living or dying of work is purely intentional 

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Discreet Silence

Ravi and I work in the same office ,are close to each other sharing even our personal matters.. His rich dad had died some years back. His old mother was living with him. Unfortunately Ravi's wife Anita had not taken kindly to the old woman. Coming from a rich family herself, she was a much pampered lady lacking in finer sensibilities with a harsh tongue. So long as the old man was alive, things were going on without coming to surface. There were no children to lighten the atmosphere. Things became gradually worse till it became intolerable. Ravi on return from office saw his mother crying almost daily but never had any word of complaint against Anita. Knowing the latter's abrasive nature, he knew what must have happened. His words of advice had little effect. Ravi being timid in nature, she was domineering. It was about three years ago he discussed the matter with me and we decided that for the peace of the old lady, it was best to admit her in a well to do senior citizen's home which had all the facilities. When he broached the subject to his mom, she did not mind the verbal torture but desired to be with him. Ravi persuaded her saying that he could not bear to see the indignities heaped on her and that she better go to the home and that he would be meeting her frequently.

Ravi went initially often but this tapered off to monthly visits partly due to pressure in office and mostly due to the taunts of Anita. The change had affected the old lady mentally. She became morose and aloof. Calls would come from the home asking him to come and meet his mom. He went sometimes taking time off during office hours but this also became less. But he ensured that his mom got all the physical comforts. There was a phone call one day informing that the old lady slipped and fell down in the bath room. She had broken her back and was unfit for any surgery due to advanced age. Some complications had set in with her kidneys failing. Her eye sight had also diminished abruptly. She became weak and emaciated in the course of a month. Nursing attendants at the home took care of her 24x7.She was all the time muttering "Ravi, Ravi…" I had gone one day with Ravi. It was a pathetic sight seeing the old lady cringe" Ravi, please take me home from this prison and let me be with you in my last days. Please do not refuse. I would myself plead with Anita" Ravi's eyes became misty with tears trickling down. He said" Mom, Do not worry. Let me talk to her. I will come tomorrow." He tried in vain knowing fully there was no chance of Anita relenting. He did not have the face to meet his mom. He did not go. The tricky wife compelled him to take her on a holiday to Darjeeling despite the ailing lady. When he was away a call came from the hospital informing that the lady's condition had turned serious. I informed Ravi and rushed to her side.

I held the lady's arm. Her eyes were closed. There was a deathly pallor about her. She was too weak even to open her eyes. She said"Ravi, I am glad you have come. I want to breathe my last holding your hand. I have caused a lot of anguish for you."

I was perplexed about what I should do. The nurse who knew me indicated that I should not reveal my identity. She signaled that she was in her last moments.

I replied "Mom, do not strain yourself. You will be ok.Just rest and I am here by your side"

Ravi, were you not allright? You said you will come the next day when we met last"

 "Mom, I had to go out of India on tour suddenly. I could not refuse. I am here and will not leave you. Please sleep as I keep holding your hand"

 "I know you are very affectionate to me. " She kept quiet thereafter and peace descended on her face. I did not stir from the chair and stayed on by her side. I must have fallen asleep in that position till I was woken up by the nurse telling "Sir, it is all over. She passed away a few minutes back. It is very nice of you to have provided the love and warmth she was yearning for.

Thanks a lot for your discreet silence."

Wiping the tears from my eyes, I moved towards the phone booth to inform Ravi.

Contributed by: Natarajan Gurumurthy (gnatarajan53 @ gmail.com)

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A Feast for Clothes

Sarita's Baby

The Ripples

The Geese

Benefit of Doubt  

A Little Burnt Toast

"When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember Watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!  When I got Up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad For burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: 'Baby, I love burned toast.'

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if He really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, 'Debbie,your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides-a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!' You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook.

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting  relationship again that may be a "close-friend relationship, husband-wife relationship or to that matter any relationship whatsoever" !!!!

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good,  the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship in fact - as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!! "

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket but into your own"

Contributed by: Bharathi Natraj (bharathig @ hpcl.co.in)

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