It was again a long tiring day. Antara’s fatigued body ached, while her mind struggled to keep the emotions at check.
Wasn’t she doing enough to keep her family happy, her mind wandered?
From cooking various delicacies to satiate everyone’s taste buds to taking care of 2 children to providing caregiving to aging in laws!
The list seemed endless and so do her tears.
Neither she complained about her round the clock grind, nor anyone applauded her umpteen efforts. Albeit sometimes there were jibes at her being an ungainly homemaker and doing nothing all day long.
Few other times, her husband sneered at her uselessness and compared her, unabashedly, with the other woman next door who was not the usual homemaker. She was the woman who did “everything’, she was the “Working woman”!
Antara could not fathom if her existence was so futile. She felt envious of Rachna, the woman next door!
The clock chimed 8 PM!
“Rachna, is this the time to come back home? Don’t you have any responsibilities at home?”
“Look at your neighbour, the woman next door, how efficiently she takes care of her house!”
Like other days, her better- half jeered at her, while Rachna quickly put down her laptop bag, and entered the kitchen. Now was the time to switch back to the “Sansaskari Nari” mode and cook various recipes with finesse.
Why not! It was her “special day”, her birthday and everyone at her home waited eagerly to tingle their taste buds.
While gazing into the boiling soup with absorbed attention, she heard the hubbub from her neighbour’s house. She could hear a woman distinctly playing with her kids and having a frolic before the bedtime.
Rachna had the envious tinge. Here she was, Rachna, struggling to be a woman who does everything!
There she was, the neighbour, the woman next door, Antara, who had the privilege to choose her identity, to do what she liked.
Rachna could not fathom if the “Working Woman” tag was a jinx for her. She felt jealous of Antara, the woman next door!
The grass is (always) greener on the other side!
Very nicely written. True story of women’s emotion. I really like your writing Shubham it’s very realistic. Loved the story.
Thank you so much. Happy that it resonated with you!
Excellent
The narration is quite expressive Shubham not only it projects the current tragedy that the society has inflicted on individuals but also the travesty that come whatever we aren’t ready to recognise the effort put by the homemakers in our day to day life. Stay Woke.
Looking forward for more such tales..
Very well written Shubham, a true story resembling most of us out there.
Been on both sides and this is absolutely relatable! I love the way you’ve underlined the insatiable demands that women confront, no matter what role they play.