10 Apr An I for an I
Rhia couldn’t believe the words being hurled at her. She recovered quickly enough and yelled back at her accuser. ‘You’re always only expecting me to handle everything. As if I am your personal maid, house-cleaner, cook, etc. Don’t I have feelings? What about me? What about what I like?’
‘What about you, huh? What about you? I’m letting you indulge in this stupid timepass hobby of yours. I am not even asking you to manage the house every day. All I am saying is you can spend a little lesser time playing around with this stupid lump of mud.’ He kicked the sculpture she had spent two weeks working on.
Rhia gasped. ‘How dare you?’ She sputtered in fury. ‘That … that was… As if what you do is very important.’
‘Damn right, it is important. I pay the bloody bills.’
‘Really? Bills? This vase was a necessary expense, was it? I keep the house together but you can’t see that!’ She knocked over the prized antique vase he had brought on a previous work trip.
Broken shards of both their prized possessions lay strewn on the floor around them. It wasn’t just the materialistic objects that lay broken in the distance between them.
SeemaMisra
Posted at 23:10h, 10 AprilLoved this line “I keep the house together but you can’t see that!’
It packs so much meaning into it 🙂
Wandering Soul
Posted at 04:59h, 11 AprilIt’s always the men who do all the important work but the women who sit at home and do God knows what all day. 😛
Your comment made my day, thank you so much!
A wallflower
Posted at 08:56h, 11 AprilWow ❤
Akshata Ram
Posted at 11:25h, 11 AprilI wonder how would it be in a reverse case where the woman pays the bills and the man doesn’t? Would she speak in a similar way? The last line sums it up well
Wandering Soul
Posted at 12:18h, 11 AprilWell, they are both not acknowledging the contributions of each. Whether she pays the bills or whether he helps with housework is secondary. The problem arises when the focus is on ‘I’ and that’s not something that can easily be solved. Thank you so much for reading and appreciating. I look forward to your feedback each day. It adds new meaning to the story. 🙂 <3
Akshata Ram
Posted at 12:20h, 11 AprilThanks! The problem usually arises when one person works and the other doesn’t. While we talk about a utopian world we sadly don’t live in one!
Wandering Soul
Posted at 13:24h, 11 AprilI don’t think it is the problem of working or not working. I think it has more to do with acknowledging what one brings to the table and appreciating that. Also, to respect one’s choice of doing what they wish to do. There are many double-income couples who fight worse than this, and likewise, many couples where the wife is a silent suffered. I feel both are incorrect. Thanks for sharing your views. Appreciate it.
Nilay Patel
Posted at 14:37h, 11 AprilJust like you said, the problems are created by “I”, the people in busy life and to manage two ends meet, i.e. financially as well as socially, they forget the “We”. Keep Going, Keep Inspiring.
Wandering Soul
Posted at 17:33h, 11 AprilExactly! Thank you, Nilay. 🙂 Your encouragement means a lot.
Medha Nagur
Posted at 15:54h, 11 AprilThat was so meaningful. The question here is not about who pays bills and who does aimless job. I think it’s the ego that makes the two ruin each others lives. Very well written.
Wandering Soul
Posted at 17:32h, 11 AprilThank you, Medha 🙂 So glad you saw the underlying message and agree.
An Indian Woman
Posted at 18:27h, 13 AprilGreat piece – sad reality in many partnerships. Important to communicate and appreciate each individual role in the relationship
Wandering Soul
Posted at 22:16h, 13 AprilCommunication is key, indeed. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Varad
Posted at 16:54h, 16 AprilSad reality of the times. Both need to understand and acknowledge each others’ contribution. The word partner does have some meaning to it, eh? Nicely penned.
Wandering Soul
Posted at 17:04h, 16 AprilIndeed! It has to be a two- person relationship or else it just falls apart. Thank you for your praise. Glad you liked it.
Tina Sequeira
Posted at 11:27h, 30 AprilBrilliant…Just brilliant, Piyusha! I loved the title again and pun to it….So true of modern day relationships where people are high on their egos and temper.