Relationships

"Can a relationship be like a tea-stain?" This week's Creative prompt by Preeti Shenoy.  Her third book Tea for two and a piece of cake released yesterday and I'm eagerly waiting for my Pre-Ordered copy.

Image Link

So, It's a complicated question to answer I would say. Actually it has different aspects and so you may get different answers.

Those people who are blessed with a healthy and blissful relationship they can find their relationship like a beautiful garden, where everyday new flower blossoms. Where air is suffused with sweet fragrance. Where the aura tinkles with chirpings of cute little birds and of course, where some flowers and leaves wither away like ups and downs in every life.

But everyone in this world is not so lucky to cherish this kind of relationship. Some relationships are indeed like tea-stains. You can’t get off with it. No matter how desperately you want it to.

Mr. Akash, an ordinary school teacher married his very ordinary looking daughter Sumi, applying all his effort and money. He got all the praise as he chose a very good looking and financially settled groom.

How an ordinary looking girl like me can have such a handsome husband? Sumi felt proud of her fortune. But sometimes destiny devises cruel plans draining all the momentary happiness.

Few months fled in ecstasy. But then gradually, ugly truth stared to take shape in front of Sumi. His husband had a serious affair which he didn’t intend to end. When she questioned that, she got a repulsive remark for her looks.

He started to ignore Sumi. He used to shout at her every silly mistake. But he did not fail to fill her lap with a girl child.

Her wallet remained empty. For her and her daughter’s minutest need, she had to beg in front of her husband. Her mother-in-law often showed her helplessness.

Years passed by. Many times she wanted to end this useless relationship. Many times she wanted to escape. But where can she go? She can’t stay with her parents, leaving her husband. What people will say? They will assail her parents with unanswerable questions. What will happen to her sick mother-in-law? She couldn’t dare to step forward.

That day her husband came home and ordered a cup of tea. But in discomfort to face him or maybe hesitation, her hands trembled and splashes of tea made dirty spots on her husband’s sparkling white shirt.

“What the hell are you doing? You can’t do anything properly?” He barked.

“S..Sorry. I’m really sorry. I..I’ll wash this.” She managed to utter.

“You’ll wash this. Sure, but this stain will never go.” He said in an angry tone and stalked out of the room.

“This stain will never go.” This statement echoed in Sumi’s mind. She instantly realized that their relationship is also like a tea-stain. It will never go. She just has to bear it.

The fear of society’s piercing eyes and sometimes filthy comments for a single woman, future of her children and prestige of her parents, compel her to bear all this. She can’t get away from this ugly relationship. She thought and blinked her tears in order to pretend strong.