You Only Live Once
Casually, I asked her, while we were working in the kitchen, “Where does your husband work?”
She replied, “He doesn’t work”.
“Is he unwell or needs a job?” I asked with concern.
“Actually, he doesn’t want to work. I support him and my kids”, she explained.
“Isn’t he responsible for his family?” Her calmness baffled me.
“My requests to him to work for our better future has always resulted in abuse. How long can one endure that? I’ve made peace with my situation. I’ve learnt to let go. After all, you only live once”. She said with a contented smile.
This post is in response to Write Tribe Prompt # 3
May 28, 2013 3:57 pm|
Goes to show different people have a different take on “you only live once”. This doesn’t seem all that uncommon in India though. The term “contented smile” at the end there indicates to me that she’s quite happy with her life. And surely, that’s what’s most important?
May 28, 2013 5:41 pm|
Instead of cribbing or being frustrated about it, she has accepted her situation. She has moved on. And that has given her the inner peace hence the contented smile. 🙂
May 28, 2013 4:40 pm|
Well, you feel you know everything, and then suddenly you learn something new.
This kind of acceptance is difficult, to be sure, but enviable.
May 28, 2013 5:49 pm|
I guess, once we accept the things that we cannot change, we get some kind of insights/understanding… and this helps a lot.
I read this somewhere about dealing with such situations: “Name it, claim it, and let it go.”
May 28, 2013 4:44 pm|
YOLO 😀
May 28, 2013 5:49 pm|
Yes 🙂
May 28, 2013 6:19 pm|
You know it may seem like a fiction story but actually its a reality for many.
Richa
May 29, 2013 8:02 am|
It is based on a real life story of my maid, Richa! And there are som many like her!
May 28, 2013 7:35 pm|
I loved this piece, but it does take a great lot of courage for someone to be as content with a situation like this.
May 29, 2013 8:04 am|
Oh yes, it is certainly not easy. And what stumped me was that an uneducated person (never been to a regular school, I mean) like her is so wise and mature in handling her life’s trials and tribulations!
May 28, 2013 10:05 pm|
Oh my!!! I know there are women like that…who endure it all…
May 29, 2013 8:04 am|
Yes, endure it and defend it too!
May 29, 2013 2:01 am|
I don’t know who you have in mind,but,our maid has an identical story.
One feels so sorry when one sees or hears of such people.
But,we have only one life.
May 29, 2013 8:07 am|
This is the story of my maid. True, there are so many of them who have to lead a life of abuse and misery, very few are able to come out of such sorry situations, though!
May 29, 2013 2:09 am|
This is very sad. A poignant and soul stirring. incident.
May 29, 2013 8:10 am|
It is! I am glad that she decided to move on and find happiness despite the sad situation!
May 29, 2013 4:32 am|
Very sad state. But true for many around us. I guess the idea is to adjust to the lesser evil among the two. But for how long?
http://www.heresmysay.com/you-only-live-once/
May 29, 2013 8:14 am|
Yeah, that’s true. I guess, till one can endure that…
May 29, 2013 5:13 am|
wise lady although life must have been really harsh for her to accept reality so coolly… we have so much to learn in life, will keep this line in mind the next time I feel like cribbing…
May 29, 2013 8:16 am|
It was a very important life’s lesson that I learnt from her… to let go… to move on and to look at life positively!
May 29, 2013 6:19 am|
Isn’t this the plight of most of the maids in India?? And I know many educated Men also doing this!! But I like the spirit of your protagonsit. She is taking the situation head on instead of crying over it.
May 29, 2013 8:18 am|
Very true, even educated men subject their women to a lot of physical and emotional abuse. This is my maid’s story and her outlook towards her life taught some big lessons. Another thing I like about her is that she is always smiling… a difficult thing to do under the circumstances… but not for her!
May 29, 2013 6:28 am|
It is our perceptions that bring about happiness, sadness, bitterness, elation etc. isn’t it?
May 29, 2013 8:22 am|
Well said. They say, change your attitude, change your life!!
May 29, 2013 6:39 am|
How many of us are really contented with life! I still remember my growing up days when we had not a tenth of the material possessions or worldly pleasures that our children have and we were contented with life. But our kids want more, and perhaps, this more will never be enough…sigh! Gone are those days. ..I must give it to that lady who has come to terms with her life and what it has to offer!
May 29, 2013 8:27 am|
Agree with you, times have changed dramatically and so has the contentment or satisfaction levels. What this lady has taught us is that… there will be challenges in our life, always, tackling them with a positive attitude, makes all the difference!
May 29, 2013 7:48 am|
This is unfortunately the plight of many women. Very nicely depicted.
May 29, 2013 8:27 am|
Thanks Suzy 🙂
May 29, 2013 8:09 am|
The story of so many unknown faces around the world. A very simple yet poignant take on the prompt.
May 29, 2013 8:27 am|
Thanks BG 🙂
May 29, 2013 8:38 am|
I thought he was just a house husband and she is happily working 🙁
sad
May 29, 2013 9:21 am|
😐
May 29, 2013 9:20 am|
I like it.. like her attitude.
May 29, 2013 9:21 am|
I like it too! 🙂
May 29, 2013 3:39 pm|
very nice bt SAD
May 29, 2013 5:25 pm|
Thks 🙂
May 30, 2013 4:55 am|
very unfortunate and sad.. you have written it out so well Shilpa!
I wish she could walk away from such a relationship…
May 30, 2013 5:46 am|
The sad part is that she was never asked… the decision was just dumped on her and she had to do that! The worst, the decision was taken by some council… not even her family! 😐
May 30, 2013 4:33 pm|
Such a sad, sad situation – not even sure I want to applaud her attitude, but she really has no choice, does she? 🙁
June 5, 2013 11:02 am|
story of many women in the lower strata of society.
June 6, 2013 9:39 am|
Good post, Shilpa. This again shows how far today’s Indian women have come, they are no longer choosing to be victims of family’s decsions or situations but have the conviction to step out of their painful circumstances and find a ray of sunshine elsewhere. Best of all, they are ready to work hard for it.
June 15, 2013 12:06 am|
A sad situation but one that happens all too frequently in real life.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com