The Breakfast Bowl

  As a newlywed bride, I found it weird, to watch my father-in-law leave his breakfast incomplete every day. I was taught from childhood not to waste food and it pained to witness this regularly. My husband left for work earlier than me, so it was my father-in-law who would drop me at my office en route to his. I woke up early, helped my mother-in-law, as much as I could and leave for work. A caring and a gentle couple they petted and pampered me like a daughter. 

                  One day, I mustered courage, and just before entering into my office I asked my father-in-law, "Daddy, why are you not completing your breakfast? Mummy, is grumbling every day because she feels that we Hindus consider food to be Goddess Lakshmi, so it is incorrect to throw away food. Hence, she eats it reluctantly." He simply smiled and left, and I walked in with my doubts still not cleared. 

                   The next day I was surprised to see him complete his breakfast. I thought he obeyed me. In the evening, we were watching TV, and waiting for my husband's arrival. My father-in-law, said, "Priya, ask your mother-in-law, whether she had breakfast today?" Before I could say anything she squirmed, for a while and replied that she had forgotten. My father-in-law immediately, shot back, "Priya, now did you get the answer to the question you asked me yesterday? This is going on for the past thirty years. I tell her repeatedly to have her breakfast along with me, but she keeps on postponing it with some pretext, prayers, reading scriptures, household chores, maid, etc. etc. If I leave some breakfast she eats it immediately, considering it a sin to waste food." I was dumbfounded. At the same time, their pure and innocent love touched my heart, and tears trickled down my eyes. 

                    To avoid further embarrassment, we started watching TV. An advertisement left me bewildered. A teenager was telling her friend to order for a pizza because she had dumped her boyfriend and that called for a celebration. 

                     The two extreme schools of thought confused me. Here was one sixty-year-old gentleman, who from the past thirty years purposely incompleted his breakfast so that his better half would have it. Such subtle inexpressive love that it leaves one in awe. On the other hand, a fifteen-year-old who has just started life, having no feelings towards relationships. What are we doing ? Where are we going? Are we aping the west? Aren't there better things to learn from them?

We are a nation that is revered for its rich culture and tradition throughout the globe. My sincere request, to this present younger generation, "Let us keep our image intact." It isn't wrong if boys and girls are friends. One can have as many friends as one wants. But, ensure that the friendship is good and healthy. Please do not stain the meaning of friendship. Keep yourself away from adultery and illicit relationships, because this is harmful to psychological and physical health too.

Married couples avoid extra-marital relationships because this entangles you in unnecessary worries and tensions leading to an evil impact on your spouse and children. Value human beings, feelings, and relationships. Don't treat people like use and throw substances. Boyfriends or girlfriends are not objects, which we can keep on changing as per our fancies. Let us live pure unpolluted lives. Let us be happy and spread happiness around us. We come from energy and turn back into energy. We are all matter for a very short time. Make sure that when you are matter -- you MATTER !!