Short Stories** - Ugly Truth

“It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

​Mira sobbed in a dark room. After 10 years of marriage how could her husband, Joy utter such an inconsiderate statement?

She had worked so hard to build their love nest, took care of their two beautiful daughters, while he was constantly away from home, dealing with his corporate clients in India and abroad. Ten years ago, she had been so sure that she was taking the right decision and encouraged no discouragement from her parents' side, who had been reminding her of the usual problems that waylaid inter-religion marriages. They had tried vainly to reason with her that since she had been brought up in a devout Hindu household, it would be impossible for her to adjust in a Catholic environment that permeated Joy's home.

Mira and Joy had interacted on a social networking site, they eventually decided to meet and fell in love. Joy had just started to chase his corporate dreams in a reputed multinational company in Mumbai, while his parents were settled in Kochi. Mira on the other hand, had left her hometown Nagpur to pursue higher studies in Pune. Joy had swept her off her feet with his charming manners, incessant phone calls and letters every week. Mira was literally sleeping, eating and breathing 'Joy'.

After a series of threats, tears, cajoling and reluctance from both sets of parents, it finally dawned on both set of parents that nothing they did would alter the inevitable as far as Joy and Mira were concerned, so the parents acquiesced. The much in love couple settled finally in their love nest. Life started on a normal footing once they returned from their honeymoon.

Mira picked up a job in a local school and Joy chased his ambitious corporate dreams. Mira spent her days teaching in school in the morning and then cooking, cleaning and taking care of Joy's every needs. Eventually, nature took its course and one morning Mira joyfully discovered two distinct colour bands in the pregnancy test she undertook at home. The rounds to the gynaecologist started every month and Mira went through the routine alone since Joy was always busy with his business trips. After nine months 'Ahana' was born through Caesarean section. Joy was not present at childbirth, as he was abroad on a business trip. He met his daughter for the first time after a month. Joy was not a hands-on parent, but he showered his daughter with gifts to make up for his long absences. Mira left her job and devoted herself full time taking care of her baby's every need. She tried hard, but Joy always found faults with her housekeeping and kept complaining about her neglect of her duties as his wife. Joy was steadily climbing the corporate ladder and his sense of responsibility weighed heavily in favour of office rather than his home and hearth. Mira took up her teaching job again. She kept herself content and busy looking after the children at school and her little angel back at home. Now, Joy found more reasons to complain as Mira couldn't accompany him to his official parties, where kids were not allowed. Life's cycle for Mira took a jolt after five years, when Mira discovered two bright purple lines again in the test kit. Once Joy was back from the trip, he was perturbed to hear this news. He wasn't looking forward to embracing fatherhood all over again. During her second pregnancy, Mira developed lot of complications; she was detected with preeclampsia, severe recurring headache, gestational diabetes and also hypothyroidism. Mira was under constant medication and repeated medical supervision. Joy always found enough reason not to accompany Mira except when his presence was specifically sought by the gynaecologist.

Finally the D-day arrived and Mira was scared to discover in the morning on her way to the bathroom that her water had broken. She was immediately rushed to the nursing home and through C-section Mira delivered a bonny baby sister for Ahana.

Life took on its own course once Mira came back home. Joy's absences from home increased and the times he came home, he was always fatigued for all other activity except his performances on their conjugal bed. Mira took everything in her stride till one day Joy returned from his official trip. After dinner, when the kids fell asleep, Mira came back to their bedroom and found Joy waiting for her after having his usual routine of two pegs of whisky. The moment she reached within his arm's length, he drew her close and urgently peeled off her clothes. Mira snuggled closer to him, revelling in his closeness. When the last item of clothing was discarded Joy moved to the side of the bed to switch off the light. Mira was curious to know about the need for such modesty after so many years of married life. She stopped Joy by playfully drawing him back and forbade him from switching off the lights as she liked watching Joy's face so near to hers. Joy stopped in his tracks and in his drink laced voice said, "You know Mira, though I love you yet you have become so disgraceful to look at these days, what's with so much of pregnancy fat stored in every nook and corner of your once lithe body, along with those ugly stretch marks traversing the length and breadth of your stomach which by the way has bulged in epical proportion. I fail to evince any desire for you when the lights are full on, that's why to make love to you these days I need the lights out."

Mira was appalled, shocked and stunned by her husband's callous and uncouth remarks. Once Joy fell off to sleep, Mira sobbed her heart out in that dark room, lying in her ten year old marital bed. Her heart was bleeding profusely by the pricks of Joy's callous statement. She listlessly fell asleep after hours of venting her anguish. Life continued on its usual routine from the next morning onwards on the surface. Mira, in her mind vowed to take charge of her life again. She enrolled for her doctoral program, took care of her health and fitness. She eventually completed her Ph.D. Once her younger daughter was old enough to go to play school, Mira started looking out for better job prospects and one fine day, her wish was fulfilled. She got a call from a reputed college in Australia to join as faculty member after she underwent rounds of interviews over telephone and Skype. Mira was ecstatic to find a new purpose to her life. She went through her routine at home normally and awaited Joy's return from one of his numerous official trips.

Joy noticed Mira's new found confidence and her svelte figure. He complimented her by saying, "Wow Mira, you finally did something for me, you shed off those disgraceful pounds, I would be so proud now to show you off again to my colleagues." Mira remained quiet. At night while getting ready to sleep Mira was nudged amorously by Joy. She lay unresponsive, which further fuelled Joy's advances, he forcefully tried to grapple her. With a calm demeanour, Mira brushed his hands aside and told him, "I am glad Joy, you noticed my new svelte figure, but let me clear your misconception, whatever I have done now with my body and my life is because I wanted to do it for my own 'self'. You know what Joy? I am unable to ignite any passion in my body for you since now you too have managed to pile on pounds of fat to your body and to your mind. To let you close to my body now, I would need the lights to be definitely out." Joy was dumbstruck with Mira's calm statement and didn't know how to react. He never expected such a reaction from his usually docile wife.

Joy backed off and eventually drifted off to sleep lost in thoughts. In the morning, Joy was amazed to see Mira and the kids dressed and ready along with luggage. He skeptically asked Mira about her plans, to which Mira informed him that for years she had lived life as per his convenience, now she wanted to take charge of her life and give her kids a life where they could blossom and evolve as complete human beings. She informed Joy about her job offer and her future plans, which did not include his presence. With this declaration, she and the kids turned the door knob and walked out of the house, which for years they had desperately tried to build up as a home. She remembered a quote from Anais Nin: 'There comes a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud is more painful than the risk it takes to blossom.' She felt completely at peace after years, as she knew the risk that she was taking for herself and her daughters would be worth it, if not she would make it worthwhile.

#ShortStories #inspirational #emotions