They live together, yet as two independent individuals, like trees that at the root may be one. And when a strong wind caresses them their leaves and boughs mingle. Yet their trunks stand apart, strong but single. Both are savvy and strong-willed.
One is busy with her work, shouldering the burden of managing people, chairing meetings, sitting on interview boards to decide the fate of eager and enthusiastic yet inexperienced youngsters breaking into adulthood, making strategic plans for development, and being a well-oiled part necessary for the smooth running of the complicated machinery of a corporate business.
Routine of the house
The other, equally intelligent and talented, managing every aspect of a well-kept, smoothly run household, slave to the routine and family life. She is used to applying her many talents, writing, painting, gardening and other creative pursuits for which she is widely admired. Still she longed for the joy, excitement, passion and adventure that life can give.
During some moments she felt like a caged bird, wanting a free life, wandering in the manner of a gypsy, unconfined, doing nothing for a while, just sitting beside a hill stream, borne along and free. At the end of the day they both looked forward to seeing each other. One at home eager to know how the day went at work, the other equally interested to know how the day went at home.
That they loved each other was beyond doubt. The older among the two, living and breathing to be there for the other. Knowing that she would not think of her as she sat in her office surrounded by people yet hoping that in some private moment that cuts one off from the crowd she thought of the one at home.
Stemming from stress
Yet, when they met at the end of the day the stress of the outgoing and the home-bound expressed itself in impatience and irritability with each other for things of small or no importance.
Of course each regretted it later and promised herself to be more patient and understanding the next time around. But the decision taken in quiet solitude didn’t always work.
Till one day the younger one hit upon a perfect solution. ‘Listen’, she said, ‘Now on, the one who is rude first will be fined Rs. 100.’ Both agreed.
Soon a slip appeared on the refrigerator door, stuck with a starfish-shaped magnet, with their respective names. It seems to be working well. Now when one was rude the other noted down the amount of the fine. Irritability turned into amusement and laughter blew away the unwanted traces of unpleasantness. It was astonishing how amusing life could become, if one exercised a little ingenuity.
Being together does it
So far the younger one has been fined twice but at a 50% discount owing to mitigating circumstances or to the generosity of the older one, depending on whom you ask. They have now realised that the contentment of just being together makes for happiness. Now when they meet, they are two divine energies. Mutual respect, flexibility and caring transcend any unintended stress-induced irritability or rudeness.
Life has picked up once again, all lively and light-hearted. Life is fun once again!
rani.devasar@gmail.com
