Tom And Jerry: The Saga continues...

When anyone talks about cartoons, the first picture that comes to our mind effortlessly is of ‘Tom and Jerry’. The scheming big cat Tom trying to catch the cunningly witted mouse Jerry, who most of the time succeeds in foiling the former’s plans, is a delight to watch for many children. Most of us would have surely watched the series, enjoying the banter between the two main protagonists as a child. The show remains the same but our perception of the protagonists’ bond, changes with age. A little kid perceives Tom and Jerry to be the worst enemies, rebelling and conspiring continuously against each other but as we grow old, we realize that the protagonists are the best friends in a true sense who though stand against one another most of the time, stand by each other at the time of need.

Imagine if we could see Tom and Jerry in real life rather than watching on television screens, would it be a source of enjoyment in the true sense? We don’t realize it, but such a sweet and sour bond is present in most Indian families. This bond is the one which is highly popular but in a bad light in our society. The perceived bitterness in this relationship often becomes a popularity-fetching content of most television shows. Can you guess the bond? Yes, you are right, it is none other than the most mischievous, the most talked-about bond of a mother-in-law and a Daughter-in-law (Popularly called the Saas-Bahu Saga). This bond is portrayed to be so treacherous that most of the time they come forward as antagonists in each other’s life. Is the bond so harsh or do we have a misconception? 

Let us check it out by entering into the tale of two women, the first being Rajeshwari, a widow of age 60, and the second being Anita, a woman of age 32 who works as an employee at the call center of a popular telecommunication company, both related by the above-mentioned bitter-sweet bond. They are the mother and wife of Dr. Ankur who is a doctor of age 34, respectively.

Scene-1

(With the morning red lifting itself above the blanket of darkness, chaos starts in the Rajeshwari Niwas, Sector-58, Varanasi. Voices of Rajeshwari cursing her and her son’s fate could be heard even from a distance. Rajeshwari is the one to wake up the earliest in the family. After completing a few works of herself and the house, she sat on the dining chair taking gulps of the hot tea. Ankur had already woken up but Anita was still asleep. Rajeshwari saw this and in a grievous tone talked to herself)

Rajeshwari (To Herself): My son is always down on his luck.! He is already awake but the queen (referring to Anita) is still in a deep slumber. Every daughter-in-law wakes up early to complete her household work and prepares breakfast on time but my bahu loves being on the bed without even caring for the family. Even at this age, I have to do all the work myself.

While Rajeshwari was cursing her luck, Anita who was already awake by now, came downstairs.

Anita: It is better chanting the name of God at this age than cursing one’s fate.

Rajeshwari: Oh! Finally, the sun rose for you. I thought there were more hours required for the dawn to arrive at your room. (Sarcastically) Today aren’t you early from your bed?

Anita: Your rants are heard even to the upstairs, Amma, which is too soothing for me to enjoy a good sleep. (sarcastically)

Rajeshwari: Only you are the one to hear my rants. If my rants would have reached God before you arrived in this house, I and my son could have got a better fate.

Anita: Till now, God would also have been tired and irritated listening to your daily squalling and the same list of everyday complaints regarding me. Give him a bit of rest someday.

Rajeshwari: My son is always down on his luck. Mrs. Gupta in the neighborhood says that her Daughter-in-law is as innocent as a cow. She does everything one can expect from a bahu of the house. Such an ideal daughter-in-law. But see my fate, I got the ferocious, snobbish lioness as my Bahu.

Anita (showing her mobile): See the sweet innocent cow, that you are talking about has posted on Instagram a photo with the caption “Midnight party with friends.” See, she is holding some drinks in her hand also. Mrs. Gupta didn’t tell you that her bahu does midnight parties and also takes alcohol? No, there is still time. If you are tired of this Lioness, let us replace it with the neighborhood cow.

Rajeshwari: You are taunting me? It has been 5 years since I am tolerating the lioness.

Anita: Even I am tolerating the sharp-clawed old cat for the last 5 years.

(The squabble between both the ladies continued until an angry Ankur shouted)

Ankur: Just stop for God’s sake. You both have started from the morning itself. I am unable to even complete my work hearing the noises. If it continues the same way, I will get late in reaching the hospital. Please concentrate on your work rather than fighting like cats.

(Hearing this, both the ladies turned their faces in the opposite directions and went on respective work.)

Rajeshwari: Tea is kept for you in the saucepan. Don’t forget to drink it or else it will be wasted.

(Anita was picking up the sweep to clean the floor but Rajeshwari interrupted)

Rajeshwari: I have already swept the floor, no need to do that again. You just focus on making the breakfast as I don’t want my Ankur to leave the house without having any food.

Anita: And what about your back pain? Why did you sweep the floor?

Rajeshwari: I don’t like my son having breakfast every day at roadside stalls. It is better that I clean the house and you cook the food.

(Anita cooked the breakfast swiftly as it was already 8:15 AM and Ankur had to leave for the hospital at 8:45 AM.

After the food was ready, all the 3 members sat together and ate the food.)

Rajeshwari: The vegetables are underboiled. Now, one will wake up late and make the dish hastily in just 5 minutes, then this is bound to happen no!

Anita: The problem is not with the vegetables but the problem is with the cook, so the vegetables are tasting to be underboiled.

Ankur: Now please don’t start again. It is already late. Anita, at what time are you leaving for your workplace?

Anita: I have to reach the workplace at 10:00 AM. I will go by my scooter. Don’t worry.

(After breakfast, Ankur got ready, bade goodbye to his mother and wife, and left for his hospital.

After her son left, Rajeshwari opened her notebook in which she used to write about the daily expenditure of the family. The money and finance of the family were mostly managed by her after her husband died.

Meanwhile, Anita got ready for her office and came downstairs again from her room. While Anita was combing her hair in front of the common mirror present in the drawing-room, Rajeshwari’s eye fell on the expensive new earrings and the new dress of Anita.)

Rajeshwari: Nowadays a lot of new and expensive things are bought every day just as if we have found any royal treasure hidden in our courtyard. No one in the house doesn’t even feel it important to inform me about it.

Anita: If only you have some time left from your constant action of taunting me, then only one can speak to you. You never listen to me properly so I was apprehensive that you will again start admonishing me, after listening to the purchase of the new earring and dress. The dress is only 3000/- rupees and the earring is only 30,000/- rupees.

(Hearing the price, Rajeshwari was startled and for a second as if her heart stopped beating. She gaped with a wide mouth and big round eyes.)

Anita: What happened to you. Do you want water?

Rajeshwari: My son is always down on his luck. Water? No not required. Give me some poison.

Anita: Why are you overacting? Your son and I both earn money so he bought me these things as gifts. Now, if we use the money to buy things for us, then what is wrong with it? Do we earn money to keep it hidden and worship it with flowers and lamps if we don’t spend it?

Rajeshwari: If you earn money then learn to use it properly. Money should not always be wasted like this. You have an earring which you bought just recently and you have a wardrobe full of dresses. These days listening to your advice, my son also does a lot of wasteful expenditure.

Anita: Which earring you are talking about? The one which was bought 3 years back and it is the only one which I have apart from the one you gifted during my marriage, 5 years back. Have you ever checked my wardrobe? All the dresses are worn-out. Even I feel ashamed wearing them to my office.

Rajeshwari: Humans are never satisfied with the things they have. Look at me, I am wearing these earrings for the last 10 years. And this saree is 4 years old. It still looks new.

Anita: Now, I am getting late for my office and I have so much work at the office today. I can’t justify you anymore. I am leaving.

Rajeshwari: Yes, yes, all works will now come spontaneously to your mind. You never listen to me and these days even my son doesn’t listen to me. I am always down on my luck.

Anita: Bye, Take care.

(By telling this Anita left the house leaving Rajeshwari in agony. She kept on blabbering the same thing again and again but now to herself.)

Rajeshwari: Only I know how difficultly I manage the monthly expenses so that some money is saved for the future but these new generation people don’t at all think about savings. They keep on making futile expenses. My son is always down on his luck!

Scene-2

(The whole day passed with Rajeshwari staying all alone at the home. With the arrival of dusk, both Ankur and Anita returned from their workplaces. They got refreshed and ate the lunch made by Rajeshwari. As soon as the sun hid under the evening sky, Rajeshwari lighted a lamp in front of God and offered prayer. Ankur was busy with his work but Anita came downstairs to do the evening worship. After the worship, Anita was going upstairs. Rajeshwari interrupted.)

Rajeshwari: At this age even, no one asks for a cup of tea. Everything I have to do myself. I am always down on my luck. Oh, my back pain! (Trying to get up from a chair kept in front of the house temple.)

Anita: No need to taunt me. You are sitting idle the whole day while I have come working day long at my office. You still don’t care.

Rajeshwari: You are telling like you make tea for me every day. I am unable to work due to my back pain so I am asking you. I asked you to give an oil massage to me yesterday but you denied it.

Anita: Have you seen anyone else apart from you calling her daughter-in-law at night 3 o’clock and asking to do a massage?

Rajeshwari: Now back pain will come by telling me time or what? My back pained at night so I called you. But you picked up the phone to just make me hear you snoring which frightened me more.

Anita: It is just fruitless talking to you. Now, wait until I make the tea.

(Anita made the tea and poured it into 3 cups and handed it to each family member. She sat beside Rajeshwari to drink her tea.)

Anita: After the tea, just lie down on the sofa, I will massage your back with hot oil.

Rajeshwari: I have a lot of work to do today.

Anita: All works can be postponed.

(After the tea, Anita massaged Rajeshwari. Then both the woman went to make the night dinner. Rajeshwari cut the vegetables by sitting so that her back pain doesn’t aggravate while Anita made the dish in the kitchen.

Everything was going perfectly until it smelt as if something was burning. Rajeshwari could smell it and run into the kitchen. She saw that the curry was burning while Anita dozed off sitting on a stool in front of the stove. Rajeshwari turned off the stove and exclaimed.)

Rajeshwari: Hey Bholenath, my son is always down on his luck. The food is burning but the queen is sleeping sitting in front of the stove. Why didn’t I become blind before seeing this day?

(Hearing Rajeshwari’s loud voice, Anita’s sleep broke suddenly. She couldn’t sense instantly what was going on unless she saw the blackened container on the stove and the red face of her mother-in-law.

Ankur ran downstairs smelling the burning food and hearing the loud sound of his mother.)

Ankur: Amma, are you both alright? Did Anything wrong happen? From where is the burning smell coming?

Rajeshwari: I am alright but ask your wife if she is well or not. The burning smell is coming from this (Showing the black container containing food that had turned into ashes). I am always down on my luck.

Anita: Actually, I also don’t know how I fell asleep and couldn’t even smell the food burning.

Ankur: Amma, don’t take so much tension. Maybe Anita fell asleep being tired of the days’ work. Today we will all go outside to have dinner.

Anita: It’s a good idea. I even longed to go outside to have dinner.

Rajeshwari: My back is paining a lot. I won’t go anywhere. You both have dinner.

Ankur: Amma, why are you getting angry? I will take you in my car, your back won’t be affected. Now get ready.

Rajeshwari: It is not good to always eat outside. Recently only you brought dinner from a   restaurant. You have your breakfast most of the time from outside.

Anita: Amma, I know you are angry with me but please manage for today.

Rajeshwari: Yes, I am the one to manage always. It is futile telling anything in this house. Wait, until I get ready.

(All of them got ready and went to a big restaurant. Once they sat on suitable chairs, it was time to decide the menu to be ordered. It took a lot of time to finalize the dishes owing to an argument between Rajeshwari and Anita over suitable dishes to be ordered. The argument continued until Ankur stopped them.)

Ankur: Before fighting, both of you at least look at your surroundings. It is not your house that you are arguing on top of your voice. Just see that everyone in the restaurant is only looking at us. It is so embarrassing. It is so difficult to manage you both together.

(After this, the menu was finally decided and the dinner was done. After the dinner, the bill came. Seeing the bill, Rajeshwari’s face turned pale.)

Rajeshwari: So expensive. Did they serve us food or diamonds?

Anita: It is not even that expensive.

Rajeshwari: You don’t teach me. I know more about money than you.

Ankur: Amma, please don’t get annoyed. It is only for today. We are not going to spend so much money every day.

Rajeshwari: You have just forgotten the importance of money by listening to your wife. Nowadays you are just making futile expenses. I am always down on my luck.

Anita: Oh! it is so difficult to make you understand.

(All of them left the restaurant. Rajeshwari kept on scolding her son and daughter-in-law throughout the way back home.)

(In Midway suddenly Ankur got a call that it was an emergency and he had to do the night duty in the hospital that day as his colleague doctor who had the duty was out of station due to some personal issues. Ankur dropped his mother and wife at home and left for the hospital.)

(It was already late. Rajeshwari before going to sleep stood in front of the house temple and exclaimed,)

Rajeshwari: Hey Bholenath, my son is always down on his luck. When my son was young, I used to pray to you to give him a good wife in the future. But you gave her an arrogant and stubborn wife who never listens to me.

(Anita could hear all this from the back. She came towards the temple.)

Anita: Lord Bholenath, a miracle is happening today by your grace. The person who runs to the bed by 9:00 PM is standing in front of you at 10:00 PM. Amma, do you have an intention to trouble Bholenath a bit more today?

Rajeshwari: You have snatched my son from me and now won’t even let me talk to my God?

Anita: No, no you can talk to God. I will also talk today.

Rajeshwari: Hey Bholenath, I asked you for a daughter-in-law who makes delicious food but you gave me one who cannot cook properly. I know today you intentionally burned the food so that you can eat outside. (To Anita).

Anita: Hey Bholenath, I asked for a Mother-in-law who would help me in cooking but you gave me someone who always finds faults in my cooking. I don’t love burning food. (To Rajeshwari).

Rajeshwari: Hey Bholenath, I wanted a Bahu who would understand the importance of money but you gave me one who loves doing useless expenditures.

Anita: Hey Bholenath, I wanted a Saas who would buy my favorite things like my mother but you gave me someone who has a problem even if I spend a single rupee on myself.

Rajeshwari: Hey Bholenath, I asked for a gentle and sober Bahu but you gave me a mannerless one, who keeps on fighting with me always. Neither she cares for me nor give me respect.

Anita: Hey Bholenath, I asked for a caring and soft-spoken Saas, but you gave someone whose speech is more bitter than Neem leaves. Respect is earned. Now, if my mother-in-law keeps on taunting me always, how can I be good every time?

Rajeshwari: Hey Bholenath, I longed for a daughter-in-law who would become my strength in my old age like my own daughter but you gave me a lioness who keeps pouncing on me every day.

Anita: Hey Bholenath, I longed for a mother-in-law who would become my mother but you gave me a forest cat who keeps on scratching my head with her pointed nails.

Rajeshwari (In a loud voice and by raising her both hands up): Heyyyy Prrabhuu!!!!! Today you have to come down to listen to me.

Anita: Amma, stop overacting. Hey Shivji, just come down and take a final decision today.

Rajeshwari: Bholenath, I worshipped you first so you will hear me first.

Anita: Bholenath listens to people with a good heart. He will hear me first.

Rajeshwari: No, me first.

Anita: No, me first.

(While all this bickering was taking place between both the ladies, suddenly a yellowish-white light sparkled from the roof. Both women looked at the roof. The Light was so intense that they couldn’t look at it. Both of them closed their eyes. After they felt the light was no more present, they opened their eyes. To the shock of both of them, a tri-eyed person with blue skin and dark blue neck, wearing tiger skin, a snake wound across the neck, with a heap of matted hair, and a crescent-shaped moon over his hair. His face had a divine charisma.

Looking at the person, the ladies realized that it was none other than Lord Shiva. Both of them fell on his leg to take blessings.)

Lord Shiva: Always stay blessed. No trouble may ever touch you.

Rajeshwari: Hey Prabhu, I can’t believe my eyes that you have come to our house. Jay Bholenath.

Lord Shiva: Rajeshwari Devi, I had to come down listening to the long list of complaints of you and your Bahu. You had not left any option in front of me rather than to descend from Mount Kailash.

Rajeshwari: Thank you so much, Prabhu. Now as you have come down, I request you to solve all my problems.

Anita: Hey Prabhu, I had also called you with full devotion. Please solve my complaints first.

Rajeshwari: Bahu, haven’t your parents taught you to not talk in between when two adults are talking? Prabhu knows whom to listen to first, one who prays to him daily with full devotion or the one who just prays for one day and that too being jealous of her mother-in-law.

Lord Shiva: Devi, now don’t start altercating with each other. Fighting and rage are the greatest enemies of a human being. I know that both of you have great devotion for me in your heart, that is the reason I am here. Don’t worry, I will listen to the requests of both of you but let me decide whom to listen to first.

(Lord Shiva took some time and finally decided.)

Lord Shiva: Rajeshwari Devi, you are my ardent devotee who offers worship to me daily. Many times, I have listened to your wishes and even granted them being in Mount Kailash. In contrast, your daughter-in-law Anita worships me but never desires much. If she has wished something to me today, I must listen to her demands first. Tell Daughter Anita, what are your desires?

Anita: Thank you, Lord Shiva, for giving me a chance to present my wishes in front of you. Lord, I am tired of regular taunts, fights, and arguments with my mother-in-law. She never understands me. Lord, can I get an opportunity to choose a different mother-in-law?

Lord Shiva: Now, Rajeshwari Devi, tell your wishes.

Rajeshwari: Prabhu, I always wanted a bahu who would listen to me and care for me but I got someone who does only of her mind and neither cares for me nor my son. My Son is always down on his luck. Prabhu, can I get a chance to choose a different daughter-in-law?

Lord Shiva: Both of you want a different Saas or bahu respectively but I am sorry, it isn’t possible. I can give boon but not change destiny. Anita and Rajeshwari were made in-laws by destiny. But I can give you a boon so that you can change the nature of your Saas or Bahu by showing them how an ideal mother-in-law and an ideal daughter-in-law should be. I will exchange your bodies for one day. For tomorrow from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Rajeshwari’s soul will have Anita’s body and Anita’s soul will have Rajeshwari’s body so that you can show each other what you exactly want from the other person. Do you agree to this boon?

Anita: It is ok, Prabhu. This boon will also work.

Rajeshwari: Prabhu, but I wanted to change my bahu and not her personality because the nature of a person is difficult to change.

Lord Shiva: Devi, I can only provide this boon. If you disagree then I may not be able to help you. Decide quickly Rajeshwari Devi or else you would also not get this boon.

(Rajeshwari took time to think and finally replied.)

Rajeshwari: Ok, Lord. If this is the only way you can help me, then I accept the boon.

Lord Shiva: Ok then, it is done. For tomorrow only, both of your bodies will be exchanged, the soul remaining the same. TATHASTU! Be ready, with the rising sun, your bodies would get exchanged. But remember the boon is only for one day, in this time try conveying your desires to each other.

(Saying this, Lord Shiva vanished along with the bright divine light associated with him.)

Rajeshwari: Prabhu, Prabhu, where did you go, Prabhu? You didn’t even eat anything at our house, Prabhu? I wanted something else and you gave me something else, Prabhu. I am always down on my luck.

Anita: Amma, don’t expect more, or else you will have to let go even the one boon you have. It is not good to be too greedy. Now go and sleep. Wait for tomorrow morning.

Rajeshwari: My son is always down on his luck.

Scene-3

(After having a peaceful night’s sleep, the sun finally woke up signaling the arrival of a new day. With the sun, woke up Rajeshwari as a daily practice of waking up early. She washed her face and looked at the mirror. She shouted.)

Rajeshwari: AAAAAAAA……. What is this? Who is this?

(Telling this she ran to her bahu’s room to wake her up.)

Rajeshwari: Wake up lioness, I mean Anita. I know you have done some black magic on me and my beautiful and young-looking face has changed.

Anita (with half-closed eyes): Why are you shouting from the morning. The whole day is there to fight with me.

(Anita finally saw Rajeshwari’s face and got stunned. She also shouted.)

Anita: AAAAAAA…… What have you become? You have become my replica?

Rajeshwari: Don’t tell lie. I know you have done this.

(Anita finally remembered the happening of the previous day.)

Anita: Do I look like a magician or an enchantress that I will do this. Amma, you eat almonds daily. Your memory has become very weak. You don’t remember that Lord Shiva had given us boon that for today our bodies will be exchanged.

(Rajeshwari finally remembered.)

Rajeshwari: Hey Bholenath. What did you do? You could have made me look like any apsara or any film heroine but you made me look like this lioness, I mean Anita. I am always down on my luck.

(Anita looked at her face in the mirror and exclaimed.)

Anita: My beautiful face got replaced with this balloon-like wrinkled old face.

(As per the boon of Lord Shiva, Anita now had Rajeshwari’s body, and Rajeshwari had Anita’s body but soul and character were the same.)

Anita: Bahu, why are you wasting your time gossiping here? Now, at this age won’t, I get a morning tea also?

Rajeshwari: How are you talking to me like this? I am your mother-in-law.

Anita: Who mother-in-law? You forget things too soon, Rajeshwari, I mean Anita bahu. For today, I am Rajeshwari, the mother-in-law and you are Anita, the daughter-in-law. Do you understand?

Rajeshwari: Yes, yes, I remember. No need to tell it so many times. Take advantage of the situation as much as you can but remember, only today. I am going to make the tea. I am always down on my luck.

Anita: Do all the work on time. You will also have to go to the office today. Before that make delicious breakfast also.

Rajeshwari: Office!!! How can I manage that?

Anita: Do you think, I will go to the office today with this body? You are Anita for today, right? So, you have to do everything that Anita does?

(Rajeshwari thought something and told.)

Rajeshwari: But don’t you think I have woken up too early today if I am Anita? It is only 6 o’clock. I am going to sleep peacefully for 2 more hours. I am going to my room to sleep.

Anita: You cannot do that. Anita would get late for office and Boss will deduct the salary for late arrival.

Rajeshwari: No, no, Anita sleeps till 8:00 AM and I am Anita. Anita can easily manage everything even by waking up at 8:00 AM, no?

(Telling this Rajeshwari left the room. Anita well knew that no one could start work at 8:00 AM and reach the office at 10:00 AM and even Rajeshwari didn’t know to ride a scooter. The body changed but skills are the same.)

Anita (To herself): I am always down on my luck. Wait, now I have started talking like Amma also. Ugh!

(Anita started to go downstairs to at least complete the cleaning work of the house.)

Anita: Aah! It is so difficult to go down the stairs. My back is paining so much.

(With bodies, even the disorders were exchanged. Anita went downstairs slowly with much difficulty and completed the sweeping until Rajeshwari, in form of Anita finally woke up.

Anita realized that it would have been not possible for her to go to the office at the proper time every day if her mother-in-law would not have helped her with some of the morning work daily.)

Anita: Bahu, finally you woke up. Now make the breakfast. I have already cleaned the house.

(Rajeshwari completed her work of making herself fresh and went into the kitchen.)

Rajeshwari: Is it so difficult to make food? At this age also I make so delicious food but my daughter-in-law is unable to make good food. Sometimes underboiled vegetables, sometimes overcooked, sometimes more salt, and sometimes no salt at all in the curry.

(While Rajeshwari opened the rack to bring spices, she saw a book inside the rack. She read the title of it.)

Rajeshwari: What is this book? ‘Common Dishes and Their Recipe’ Oh! By reading this book, bahu makes food.

(Suddenly a faint memory surfaced in her mind. She remembered that when she got married at the age of 18, she didn’t know to cook anything. She remembered that the first time she tried to make a dish in the kitchen, she burnt it and her mother-in-law thrashed her. From that day onwards, she used the same book (the one that her bahu was using, but much older edition) for cooking but kept it hidden from her mother-in-law. She thought that in those days she always wished that her mother-in-law taught her to make dishes rather than whipping and mocking her. This made her emotional. A thought surfaced in her mind that maybe her bahu is longing for the same support of her as she used to wish for when she was young. She realized that it was not intentionally that Anita made mistakes in the kitchen rather she tried her best to attain perfection in cooking by following the book

With all these realizations, Rajeshwari made breakfast. She called Anita and plated the food on the dining table.)

Rajeshwari: Anita, sorry sorry, Amma, Come fast. The breakfast would become cold.

(Both of them sat on dining chairs and had the food. Anita realized that the food was very tasty, much more than that she made regularly.)

Rajeshwari: Isn’t the food tasty?

Anita: Yes, it is tasty but I also make the same type of food every day. Nothing more is special in the food today.

(Rajeshwari smiled as she knew Anita was reluctant to accept the truth.)

Rajeshwari: Listen Bahu, I mean Amma (for today), I tell you to make the food every day but you can always ask for my help anytime you feel that you need it in the kitchen. I have 42 years of experience in cooking. I will surely help you without hesitating.

Anita (Whispering to herself): Did the sun rise from the west today? The person whose mouth speaks as bitter as neem leaves is speaking like honey today.

Rajeshwari: Did you say anything?

Anita: No, no. Bahu, you have your breakfast and get ready to go to the office. It is already 9:15 AM. You would have to leave by 9:30 AM that too by changing autorickshaws so that you reach by 10:00 AM. I will give you my professional saree. Wear that to the office.

(Rajeshwari completed her food, got ready with the saree that Anita gave her.)

Rajeshwari: How do you wear this saree. It is so uncomfortable to wear this saree.

Anita: When a fat person suddenly becomes slim in one day, this happens. Wait, I will help you wear this.

Rajeshwari: You called me fatty. I am so beautiful in my original body. You can never understand my beauty. It is just like Casting pearls before swine.

(Finally, Rajeshwari got ready with the help of Anita and left for the office by bidding goodbye to Anita.

After Rajeshwari left for the office, Anita was left alone in the house. Initially, she was so happy to be alone in the house because she could do anything in the house.)

Anita: There are so many things in the house that are deficient. My miserly Amma doesn’t buy anything. There are only a few varieties of spices in the kitchen. Even the broom has worn out completely. Also, there needs to be a few show items in the dull showcase. Let me go to the kitchen to make a list of the spices to be brought.

(Anita went into the kitchen but with a lot of difficulty due to severe back pain. She looked at her book and the racks. She made a list of many groceries to be brought.)

Anita: Amma is a hypocrite. On one hand, she tells me to use fewer spices and items to cook and on the other side, she says that I don’t make tasty food. Today I will bring many new vegetables and spices. After that, I will show her the magic in my hands.

(Anita went to the market with difficulty. She bought many things for the house. once she went to the grocery and green-grocery shop she could not control herself and bought many things without even thinking about price. She carried 3 to 4 large bags to the home, full of her purchased items.)

Anita: I have brought so many things which never even come to the house.

(She opened the bags and kept the items in their respective places and in such a way that it doesn’t come to Rajeshwari’s attention.

She started preparations to make the lunch. Today, she was free enough to cook anything she wanted to and use all the items in an amount as much as she wanted, without any restriction. She cut many vegetables and used many kinds of stuff to make several food items by following her book. After she prepared the lunch, she ate it and also kept food for Rajeshwari, so that she can have it, once she returns from the office.

After lunch, she went to keep the used items in their respective place. She saw the rack and containers to realize that she had used nearly half of her bought items on the same day itself. Even she had used many vegetables in a single day. She was tense thinking that, many items that she bought that day, were required to be bought again in a few days.

She went near the dining table to clean it after lunch. Her eyes fell on a notebook that was kept below the table. She opened it and found out that it was Rajeshwari’s daily expense record. She opened it.)

Anita: Amma has kept the record of daily expenses in a well-maintained record. Let’s see it. The expenses of most of the days in this month are below 500/- rupees. Let me count for today. But I won’t write it in the notebook or else Amma will scold me.

(Anita calculated the expense. She had spent rupees 3000/- on a single day which was nearly 6 times the daily expenses of that particular month. She got stressed. She realized that not only the daily expense was more but her usage of items was also more which meant that the frequency of buying of the items would increase. She estimated all the expenditures of a month including groceries, green-groceries, stationaries, cosmetics, personal requirements, govt. bills etc. and found that it came to be much more than the combined income of hers and Ankur’s. She became pale and worried. She studied the notebook properly and saw how beautifully Rajeshwari had divided the expenditure and savings from the income and managed it properly so that they don’t face financial crisis ever in the future. Her eyes went on to a calculation that implied that her buying of expensive saree and jewelry had completely disturbed Rajeshwari’s plan of monthly expenditure.

She put her hands on her head and was taken aback. She realized that managing the finances of a house was not as easy as she thought. She could now realize the real reason for her mother-in-law scolding her and Ankur for spending more money than required. She could sense that it was due to Rajeshwari’s scolding that they never had to face financial issues even though both of them (she and Ankur) were spendthrifts.)

Scene-4

(Meanwhile, Rajeshwari left the house to find an autorickshaw to the location which was told by Anita. She sat in the auto at 9:30 AM. The Autorickshaw driver drove the auto at a slow pace.)

Rajeshwari: Brother, why are you driving the rickshaw so fast? (Sarcastically) Even the children with bicycles are crossing us. Bullock-cart goes faster than your autorickshaw. Please drive fast or else I will get late to reach my Bahu’s office, I mean my office.

Autorickshaw driver: Aunty, if I ride faster than this, you will reach to God.

Rajeshwari: Blind person calling me aunty. Oh, I remember, I am looking like my bahu, so he is calling me aunty. Ha… Ha… Ha… (to herself). 

Then, you just stop your rickshaw. I will find another rickshaw.

(Telling this Rajeshwari came down the rickshaw. )

Rajeshwari: Tell me how much money you will charge for the journey.

Autorickshaw driver: 50/- rupees.

Rajeshwari: Whattt….? 50/- rupees for this much distance. You, autorickshaw drivers, have just decided to loot the people Tell the correct price.

Autorickshaw driver: No bargaining Aunty. I will charge 50/- rupees.

(Rajeshwari bargained with the driver until Anita called her.)

Anita: Have you reached the office?

Rajeshwari: No, no. These autorickshaw drivers are charging so high. Just hold the call. I am striking a deal with him.                  

 No more than 30/- rupees, I will give. (To autorickshaw driver)

Autorickshaw driver: No aunty, maximum I can charge rupees 45/-

(Anita could hear the conversation and realized that the driver was calling her aunty. She shouted.)

Anita: Whom are you calling aunty? Do I look like Aunty? Can’t you call me Didi? Do one thing from next time don’t call aunty, just call Amma. (Sarcastically) Huh! The blind person is calling me aunty! Huh!

Autorickshaw driver: Why are you getting angry on the call. I am calling her (pointing to Rajeshwari with Anita’s body) as aunty.

(Anita soon saw the time. It was 9:50 AM. She got tense.)

Anita: Amma, I mean Bahu, listen. Leave that rude and shameless autorickshaw and catch another one fast. Only 10 minutes are remaining to reach the office. Give him 45/- rupees and just leave.

(Rajeshwari reluctantly did as Anita told her to do. After leaving the auto she started searching for the other one.)

Rajeshwari (To Anita on phone): I would have reduced the money by bargaining but you interfered. You would never understand the importance of money. But you saw naa, I have got your face so he called me Aunty. If I would have had my original face, he would have called me younger sister.

Anita: Do you realize the time; it is already late. Taunt me after coming home, first reach the office as fast as you can.

Rajeshwari: Now, shall I connect wheels to my leg? It takes time to reach.

(Till Rajeshwari completed her sentence Anita had cut the phone)

Rajeshwari: She never listens to me at all. My son is always down on his luck.

(Rajeshwari found another autorickshaw and boarded it to reach the office. She realized that the office was too far from the house and that her daughter-in-law comes to this distance daily by riding her scooter.)

(Rajeshwari reached the office at 10:05 AM. The boss was standing at the gate waiting for Anita. When Rajeshwari reached the gate, the boss welcomed her but in a twisted way.)

Boss: Oh Anita! You are the earliest to reach today. Everyone, please clap for her.

(Colleagues of Anita clapped for Rajeshwari in form of Anita.)

Boss: You know the timing of office, right? Let me show you the watch. See, you are 300 seconds late to the office. You know no, that I hate even delay of 1 second?

(Rajeshwari was standing still unable to utter a word and felt so offended in front of everyone. Finally, with a lot of courage, she spoke the line that Anita had taught her to tell if she got late.)

Rajeshwari: Sorry sir, I will not repeat the mistake ever again.

Boss: Hmm. I see. You have never arrived late to the office, so I excuse you this time. Remember, if the mistake is repeated the next time, I won’t give you another chance after that.

(Telling this he went to his cabin.)

(Rajeshwari searched for the table with the name of Anita where she was supposed to sit. Rajeshwari found and sat on the chair associated with that table and spoke to herself.)

Rajeshwari: A lot of thanks to God, that I am saved from that lout and snobbish boss of my Bahu. God knows, how she manages with that person? But now I have no tension. I have to only take and make calls of and to the people to answer their queries and sell the company sim cards respectively. I have seen her many times talking to customers in our house. I know answers to most of the queries which people generally ask. It is so peaceful to sit here in AC for the whole day and only answer people’s questions. It is much better than sitting at the house and getting bored.

(Rajeshwari made the first phone call to a person named Ankit as mentioned in the list provided to her.)

Rajeshwari: Hello, I am Raj… Anita from ABC Telecommunication company. Am I talking to Mr. Ankit?

Mr. Ankit: No, you are talking to Shah Rukh Khan. Tell me, do you want to play a role in my film? I will talk to the directors.

Rajeshwari: Really!!! I can’t believe this. I am a great fan of yours. I knew that someday owing to my beautiful appearance, I would get a chance to work in film. Can you tell me, which role and which film?

Mr. Ankit: Film name I will tell you later. The role is of a maid of heroine’s house who has to sweep the floor behind the heroine in one scene.

Rajeshwari: What??? To heck with your film. I don’t want any role.

Mr. Ankit: When you are dialing the number of Mr. Ankit, will Shah Rukh Khan pick up the call? Why are you wasting my time? First of all, wasting my time and then talking to me rudely. Huh!

(Telling this he cut the phone.)

Rajeshwari (to herself): The pot calling the kettle black! He was the one to crack the rubbish joke and he tells me that I wasted his time? If he would have listened to me, the conversation could have ended earlier. Huh! These people also exist.

A Colleague from the side table: Why are you behaving oddly today, Anita? Are you ok? You handle these types of calls daily still; you are behaving very silly today. You know that people in calls often talk rudely, crack jokes and behave badly with us, right? This was nothing in front of the language you come across daily. Then why this type of reaction today?

Rajeshwari: No, no, I am completely fine. No need to worry. Today there is something important in the house, so I was distracted.

Colleague: Ok, then. Don’t get distracted or else you have to face the fury of our boss.

(Rajeshwari handled the few subsequent calls properly by telling the same thing that she had heard from Anita while handling the customer in the house. Even some people were rude to her and some cracked baseless jokes but she anyhow managed them all. She hadn’t got any queries from the customers till now.

Rajeshwari ultimately realized that the work was not as easy as she thought. It was difficult handling different kinds of people daily. This work may not be physically strenuous but it involved a lot of mental effort. Talking continuously on phone and that too repeating the same line every time wasn’t easy. Adding to problems was the bad behavior of some customers. Rajeshwari understood that this was the reason that her daughter-in-law got tired after a day’s work at her office and thus slept till late.)

(After a lot of time, Rajeshwari got a query from a customer.)

Rajeshwari: Hello Sir, please share your problem with us.

Customer: We had taken a landline connection from your company. They had given us a telephone receiver. Since yesterday, the receiver isn’t working. What should I do next?

(Rajeshwari had never heard of such complaints from any customer while her daughter-in-law addressed them. She thought for a while and finally told.)

Rajeshwari: You do one thing. Do as I say. First, bring your hand forward, take it up, and then with a high force bang it on your receiver.

Customer: What rubbish. It will break my receiver.

Rajeshwari: No, no, nothing rubbish. I have experience. This will solve your problem.

(The customer did the same as Rajeshwari said.)

Customer: Nothing happened. It is still not working.

Rajeshwari: Oh! Is it so? Then do one thing, bang the receiver on your table 3 times firmly. Don’t take tension, I have the experience.

(The customer again did what he was told to do. This time, the receiver broke. The customer was very angry. He shouted with anger.)

Customer: You bloody fool. You broke my receiver intentionally. Give the phone to your boss, now.

(Rajeshwari got tense. In a tense tone, she continued.)

Rajeshwari: I…I…, didn’t intend to break your receiver. But in my house when the remote doesn’t work, I bang it and it starts to work.

(Till the time this all happened, the boss had already come near Anita’s table owing to the loud voice of the customer. The colleagues informed the boss about the matter. He snatched the phone from Rajeshwari’s hands and talked with the customer.)

Customer (still telling to Rajeshwari): You mad woman. I will complain about you to your boss. I will replace your company services with other company services. Just wait.

Boss: Sir, Sir, don’t get angry. I apologize for the mistake of my employee. Please pardon us today, sir. Don’t replace our services. I promise to you that our company will provide a new receiver for free instead of the old one, sir.

Customer: This is the last mistake of yours that I am forgiving. I am already very dissatisfied with your company’s services. How unprofessional and illiterate employees work under you. Fire them as soon as possible.

(Telling this he cut the phone. The boss took a sigh of relief for managing the situation. He looked at Rajeshwari with large red eyes. Rajeshwari bowed her head down of guilt.)

Rajeshwari: I am so….

(Boss interrupted)

Boss: Don’t say a word. Enough of yours. No need to come to the office from tomorrow onwards. You are fired.

(The boss was leaving telling this, Rajeshwari pleaded with a sorrowful face.)

Rajeshwari: I am sorry, sir. Please forgive me. I won’t repeat this type of mistake, sir. Please sir, once listen to me. Please.

(Telling this, Rajeshwari went to the cabin of Anita’s boss pleading behind him.)

Rajeshwari: Sir, please. Once listen to me.

Boss: My decision is final, now leave. Don’t show your face to me, ever again.

Rajeshwari: Please listen to me, sir. Give me a single chance to keep my point.

Boss: I see you aren’t leaving the place before I listen to you. Speak fast.

Rajeshwari: Thank you, sir. Sir, I have got a personal problem in the house so I was a bit off-track today. I am sorry sir. Please give me one chance.

Boss: Ok, I will provide you one chance, by looking at your past performances. You have done good work under the company to date. But owing to the blunder, you have committed today, your half payment for this month will be cut.

Rajeshwari: Thank you so much, sir. I accept my punishment and I will try my level best to not give you another reason for punishing me.

Boss: Ok, now you can go back home as you have personal problems.

(Rajeshwari was astonished.)

Rajeshwari: Thank you so much sir for understanding my problems. I will always be grateful to you.

(Rajeshwari thought in mind that the Boss was not so snobbish as she thought. He is only a strict person. She was guilty that due to her mistake her daughter-in-law’s image was tarnished and she would have to incur a loss. She realized the difficulty involved in the work and saluted her Bahu for handling the work. Anyway, she was relieved as she was out of the danger zone (office).)

(She saw the time on her phone, it was already 4:00 PM. She took an autorickshaw to her home.)

Scene-5

(Meanwhile, Anita was very much bored staying throughout the day alone in the house. Even watching television couldn’t prevent her boredom. No one even called her that day. She could feel how bored her mother-in-law would be staying all alone in the house every day. She realized that staying in the house all alone is also not as easy and interesting as she thought. After a long period of monotony, Anita decided to clean and arrange the items in different racks present in the house. She started from the drawing-room and ended up in Rajeshwari’s room. She arranged all the items properly though she didn’t get a chance to clean them as they were already clean, probably done by her mother-in-law. While she was arranging the items in Rajeshwari’s rack, she found a diary. It was written on top, “Raje ki Diary”. Just as she was going to open it, the doorbell rang. She hid the diary under the quill of the bed and started towards the main door. Her back was paining severely as she approached the door. She opened the door to find Rajeshwari. She looked at the clock to find that the time was 4:30 PM.)

Anita: Amma, sorry sorry, Bahu, you are early to the home!? The office ends at 5:00 PM no? Is everything fine at the office?

(Rajeshwari gave an uneasy smile. Eventually, she narrated everything that happened in the office that day. Anita was shocked. She gasped.)

Anita: Oh my God! I am always down with my luck.

Rajeshwari: Now you will also copy my dialogue if the bodies have been exchanged?

Anita: You don’t tell anything. You have cut my half salary and destroyed my image in my office. Do you know how hard it is to create a good image as an employee?

Rajeshwari: I am apologizing to you, no? Why are you scolding me? I have not done anything knowingly. You have created a good image that is the reason that everything was managed properly in the office. Don’t worry, after Bholenath’s boon will end, I will personally go, tell the truth to your boss and apologize to him.

Anita: No need for that. It will aggravate the matter more. But Bahu, I also had to confess something to you.

Rajeshwari: What is that, Amma?

Anita: I have spent 3000/- rupees on shopping today.

Rajeshwari: What…!! I am always down on my luck. You spent rupees 3000/- without even thinking about the remaining days of the month.

Anita: Let it go no, Bahu. You made me lose money which ultimately is a family loss and I also ruptured your family’s monthly expenditure plans which is also a family loss. Let us neutralize our mistakes and decide what we should do next. Before deciding, come and have lunch.

(Rajeshwari had the lunch and could immediately sense the overuse of spices and vegetables in the items made. She preferred keeping silent on this matter.)

(After lunch, Rajeshwari and Anita did the evening worship. They thanked Lord Shiva in mind for clarifying many of their doubts. Both of them looked at each other and smiled after the prayer.)

Anita: Bahu, make the dinner and I will cut the vegetables.

Rajeshwari: As you wish, your highness, Amma. (teasingly)

(Anita cut the vegetables as soon as possible.)

Anita: I am going to my room, Bahu. My back is paining severely.

Rajeshwari: Amma, which room, Rajeshwari’s room or Anita’s room?

Anita: Why will I go to my daughter-in-law’s room. I will go to Rajeshwari’s room.

Rajeshwari: Oh, now the rooms will exchange too. Nice. Ok, Amma. I will call you when the dinner gets ready.

(Rajeshwari gets busy making the dinner while Anita rushes to Rajeshwari’s room, takes out the hidden diary from below the quill, and starts reading it. The Diary had the first page with an entry of 2 June 1980.)

Anita (While reading the diary): 2 June 1980, The first day after marriage. Nothing feels the same. My second home (In-laws’ place) is so different from my first home. If I had listened to my Maa earlier and learnt cooking properly before my marriage, probably I wouldn’t have gotten a slap from my mother-in-law on the first day after marriage. I was always focused on fulfilling my dream and never listened to my mother. Here, no one cares about my dreams and me. How will I manage in this house for the rest of my life? The excitement of marriage has evaporated completely today when my morning started with the scolding of in-laws for giving less dowry. I am so confused and sad today.

(Anita kept on reading Rajeshwari’s diary page after page. She came to know that Rajeshwari wanted to become a doctor. She had passed her boards and +2 with flying colors supported by her father but her father couldn’t bear the expenses of her higher studies. He married his daughter in a rich family in Kanpur at an early age due to the tradition of those times of marrying the daughters early in age. Rajeshwari’s in-laws didn’t allow her to study any further. Even owing to her being educated, her in-laws could never accept her properly. They considered her education as a bad omen. She was thrashed many a time as she wasn’t able to do the household chores properly. Even her marriage was a failure because her husband never understood her. Anita’s father-in-law died when Ankur was only 5 years old. Rajeshwari was blamed for his untimely death and she along with her son were thrown out of the house. Helpless, she found a house near the ghats of Varanasi and single-handedly nurtured her child. The in-laws of Rajeshwari never even tried to contact her once, after that.)

Anita: Oh, this is the reason that Amma made her son a doctor.

(Anita remembered that many a time Ankur told her that as a child he has less interaction with his father. He often thanked his mother for all the achievements of his life. He even shared with her a few instances of domestic abuse of Amma by his father. Even after facing many hardships in her life, Amma had never let her sorrow affect her son and courageously carved a good human being out of him.)

(Anita could sense Rajeshwari’s difficulties in her in-laws’ house and realized that she was lucky enough to get a mother-in-law like Rajeshwari who had given her the freedom of pursuing her job and becoming financially independent and a husband like Ankur who has become the greatest support system in her life. She realized that her mother-in-law though scolds her but cares for her and supports her much, without expressing it. Though she faced the brunt of her in-laws for being ahead of her time, she had never forced her Bahu to accept her choices even if at many times, their choices clashed with each other.

After reading Rajeshwari’s diary, Anita could learn that Rajeshwari’s mother-in-law thrashed her for cooking bad food but Amma learnt to make good food by following a book and observing her mother-in-law cooking food. She realized that she must learn from Rajeshwari’s experience of making food so that she can attain perfection)

(After reading the diary, she kept it in the place from where she found it. Soon as she did it, she heard the doorbell ring. She went with slow steps to open the door. She saw that Rajeshwari was going to the door but she stopped her. As soon as she opened the door, she found Ankur standing in front of her.

Ankur touched her feet. Anita was amazed at first then she realized that Ankur was thinking of her to be his Amma.)

Anita: Stay blessed, my son.

(As Ankur went into the house, he saw Anita (Actually Rajeshwari) working in the kitchen.)

Ankur: I have brought a thing for you, Anita.

Rajeshwari: What is that?

Ankur: See, I bought wooden-handled ladles and spoons for you. Your hand gets burned working with metal ladles. So I bought it.

(Anita could hear all the conversation. She initially was surprised because neither she told Ankur about her hand getting burnt nor did Ankur ever visit the kitchen. Then ultimately she came to know the truth when Ankur came near her.)

Ankur: Amma, I bought the wooden kitchen instruments as you told me to buy for Anita. Don’t worry, I didn’t reveal your name in front of her. But why did you ask me not to reveal your name to her?

Anita(To herself): Because Amma cares for me.

Ankur: Pardon, please.

Anita: Because I hate making futile expenditures, understand you fool.

Ankur (With a subtle laugh): Ok, Amma. As you wish.

(Anita was very joyful hearing the concern of her mother-in-law for her.)

(The dinner was ready. Rajeshwari in form of Anita called everyone to have dinner.

Everyone was having dinner when Ankur exclaimed)

Ankur: Today the food tastes different, Anita. Just as my Amma makes. It is just delicious.

Anita: Ankur, did you like the food so much? Amma’s hands are magical, isn,t it Bahu?

Rajeshwari: Yes Amma, who can deny that?

(Ankur couldn’t understand this deceptive conversation between both of them yet he focussed on enjoying the food rather than entering into their matter.)

(After the dinner, Ankur conversed with Rajeshwari whom he thought to be Anita while Anita in form of Rajeshwari went to Rajeshwari’s room.)

Ankur: Anita, wait I will show something to you.

(Ankur bought jewelry set to show to her.)

Ankur: Anita, you told me to buy this for Amma, check if it is fine? I bought it by paying with your debit card, just as you told me to do.

(Rajeshwari was amazed. She saw the jewelry set.)

Rajeshwari: It is so beautiful. I just love it, I mean Amma will love it.

Ankur: Amma will be very happy seeing this though she may complain of wasting money initially. You know, my Amma never wears ornaments. She never buys them so that she can save money for the family. But, I have seen that when my father was alive, she used to love wearing new sarees and ornaments but my father never bought them for her. She even got scolded by her in-laws when she asked for any such item. But why did you tell me to not tell her that you asked me to bring these for her?

Rajeshwari (to herself): Because my Bahu cares for me.

Ankur: Pardon, please.

Rajeshwari: Because she always says that her son buys jewelry for her bahu and not for her. Give this to her and tell her that she is not always down on her luck.

Ankur: You both Saas-bahu are impossible to understand.

(Rajeshwari was very happy that her bahu bought her these fancy items with her income. She could remember her sorrow when she desired to have these things in her initial days of marriage but didn’t get it and instead was being scolded. She realized that in her attempt to save money, she had forgotten that even her daughter-in-law had some desires and wants. She was wrong to completely restrict her wants to save money. She realized that it was not that her daughter-in-law loved to make futile expenses but she also had some desires which she wanted to be fulfilled like every woman in her married life. She could comprehend that the financial management of the house would be much better if all the members of the family were given the freedom to manage it together along with her experience and guidance.)

(Rajeshwari was very happy with all the realizations that occurred to her that day due to Lord Shiva’s boon. She thanked Bholenath for the special day. She could hear Anita in pain murmuring about her back pain to herself. She realized that along with body the disorder had also been exchanged. She remembered how her bahu massaged her daily. She quickly went to the kitchen and warmed the oil. She called Anita.)

Rajeshwari: Amma, come fast to the sofa.

(Anita came slowly owing to her pain.)

Anita: What is it, Bahu?

Rajeshwari: Sleep on the sofa with your backside facing upward. I will massage you.

Anita: You will massage me, Amma, I mean bahu?!!

Rajeshwari: Why not? Don’t you massage me every day?

Anita(with a subtle laugh): Oh! Ok, ok. Yes, an ideal daughter-in-law should massage her mother-in-law every day.

(During the massage, Rajeshwari and Anita conversed with each other.)

Rajeshwari: From tomorrow, we will cook food together. I will teach you many new dishes and yes, with minimal use of spices.

Anita: Ok, But I want a loving teacher and not a grumpy teacher. Ok? I will also wake up a bit early from tomorrow and help you with the cleaning of the house. Don’t expect me to wake up much early like you.

Rajeshwari: I will be a strict teacher but not grumpy. Good, it is good to wake up early but sleep early or else you will not complete your sleep.

Anita: What happened to you suddenly, today? Ferocious sharp-nailed cat suddenly changed into an innocent pet parrot.

Rajeshwari: Why are you telling me? Today, Lioness has also changed into a cow suddenly.

I wanted to tell you something important also. I want to hand over the work of financial management of the house to you. You can divide the money into savings and expenditure much better than me so that everyone’s desires are fulfilled and we don’t face financial issues either.

(Anita was awestruck.)

Anita: Amma, why are you doing this?

 I know that you are wittily giving the most difficult work of the house to me so that you can sit without tension (sarcastically), but I will not let you do that. You are the best for this work and no one can take this work from you.

Rajeshwari: But after me, promise that you will handle this work. I know Ankur is a spendthrift but you can only manage the house properly.

Anita: What do you mean by that? You are not going anywhere. I will feel bored no, without fighting with you. How will my food get digested without quarreling with you? I will not let you go anywhere so early.

(As soon as Rajeshwari completed her massage, she looked at the clock, it was 9:59 PM.

Within the next one minute, both of them transformed back into their original self. Both of them looked at each other in the mirror and were glad to get back their body.)

Rajeshwari: Finally, I got back my beautiful young body and face. Now, if I go in an autorickshaw, the driver will call me younger sister and not aunty.

(Anita laughed heartily. Both of them went to the house temple to thank Lord Shiva. They expressed their gratitude to Lord Shiva for letting them know the truth of their Saas-bahu relationship and for letting them understand each other in a better way.)

Rajeshwari: Thank you Bholenath. I wish that my son and daughter-in-law always stay happy in their lives.

Anita: Thank you very much Lord Shiva for clearing all my doubts. I wish that in my next birth, Amma becomes my biological mother.

(Rajeshwari’s eyes got filled listening to such words.)

Rajeshwari: I never knew that you loved me so much, Anita.

Anita: No, no, it is your misconception. I wished this to Lord so that I could trouble you even more by staying with you in your womb as well as throughout my childhood.

(Rajeshwari hugged Anita as both of them shared a short emotional moment.)

Anita: Amma, you know I read your diary. You wrote good entries about your life.

Rajeshwari: What! You read my diary. You are spying on me. How could you read my diary? Do I check your phone messages? I am always down on my luck.

Anita: I know that you also read my kitchen book. Why did you do that? I had kept that hidden. You are also spying on me.

Rajeshwari: It is futile talking to you. You just go and sleep or else my son would have to go hungry to his hospital tomorrow also.

Anita: Yes, yes, you also go to sleep, or else your back pain will aggravate and you will disturb my sleep by calling me at 3:00 AM. Huh!

Rajeshwari: My son is always down on his luck.

(Both of them turned their face in opposite direction and headed towards their respective room.)

Lord Shiva in heaven: Their sweet-sour relationship will always continue this way and will keep them connected in the strongest bond of love.

(The bitter-sweet tale comes to an end.)

It is not always necessary that if two people love each other, they will have to justify it to each other only with sweet words and gifts. Sometimes love and care is expressed even in fights of people. The bond between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law is the most special and just as entertaining as the bond between Tom and Jerry. 

Many bonds of love are celebrated but on this Woman’s day, let us celebrate the strongest and loveliest woman’s bond, which is the Saas-Bahu bond.