Friday, June 10, 2005

Working Relationships

A couple of weeks ago I was married in a simple ceremony. After the paperwork I was given unceremoniously given a ‘Thaali’ and I stepped into my husband’s house at the auspicious time of 9:30 am. Things were good in the beginning. My husband was very kind and considerate. Then things began to change. I was given a lot of work to do. My husband became a cold unfeeling task master and I was made to work the whole day and even late evenings. I had no respite on weekends too. I was given a small amount as pocket money which was barely enough to keep my body and soul intact. Even holidays when everybody was enjoying the break, I worked like a dog. I longed to go home in the evenings and I called my parents when I could take it no more. But my parents like most Indian parents advised me to keep trying to make the relationship work. My friends were sympathetic but many were in a similar situation. And whenever I could steal the time I would meet them and we would weep on each others shoulders.

After a some time I got the courage to walk out of the relationship. I threw away the ‘Thaali’ and savored my new found freedom for a whole new month. Friends and relations were aghast as my husband was a well known person. And then the gossiping about me sitting in the house and all that. I started to feel the pressure of the society. And soon I fell headlong into another relationship…. and another ‘Thaali’.

I guess God felt pity on me because this time my husband was a nice man, who treated me with great respect. He encouraged me to study further and even gave me a better stipend so that I could be independent. Slowly under the guidance I became more confident as a person and began to grow professionally and personally. I was allowed to go home in the evenings and during weekends and I looked forward to getting back to his home every Monday. I am still married to him.

I display my ‘thaali’ (access card) proudly around my neck as I am proud of this relationship (just completed two months of successful Internship in this organization). And the result of this loving union is the big bundle of joy I am holding in my arms now (I just got a raise!!! ).

22 comments:

Jake said...

how big is the bundle ? when are you shring the bundle ? any joy ought to be shared you know .. ;)

Matter of Choice said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Matter of Choice said...

when your arms ache after holding the bug bundle

when you are fed up of sleepless nights due to the big bundle

when you are tired of making plans for the big bundle

when immediate gratification is sought by the big bundle

i hope you would know whom to call :))

Sinfully Pinstripe said...

Now that was a real touching post. Oh, and congrats for your raise.....
Hmm, I am due for a peformance appraisal too.... my first ever!

Praveen said...

Congrats on completing one year and the raise! The last para was a surprise, I couldn't guess it :-)

chupru said...

One for the Raise and one for the Husband, hip hip …...

[hands on cheeks]
Wonder why you use the word “Husband” and not “Boyfriend”. “Boyfriends” give you’re the liberty to “try and throw”; and of course, less the cynical eyes of society.
{these days... women.. hah aullways need commitment}

jay menon said...

first I read it as "bundle of JAY ;)" so after the first rude and impotent one, u got into this gentleman hubby, btw well written.....If u ever need a divorce do lemme know....lawyer hu na ;) and congrats

Amit said...

The terrors of corporate life...brrrr!!

Guess this must be the only family where the more "Bundles of joy" you make, the happier everyone becomes. ;-) and i like big fat bundles....

Jiby said...

anjali, this is black humor at its best...i walked out on two wives and a third walked me out...all in the last one year. neways the new babe is bein nice to me...hope she doesnt get bought out soon though! thankfully didnt have to face the awful music that lasts btw one affair to the next as i wuz far away from home. congratulations on the bundle of joy...it sure will keep growing bigger!

Sujith said...

interesting!

jay menon said...

Hope u don't do any extra marital by doing part time copywriting anywhere....adultry is a ground for divorce u see ;)

zimblymallu said...

i think we've managed to discuss all the facets of your relationship.

chanakya said...

and to think just this morning i was reading saki.

Congrats on ur second hubby though. may u have lots of bundles of joy.

unfuel the planet said...

Congrats :)
We all wish for your lifelong service in the organisation.

flaashgordon said...

Here i am ; albeit slightly late....Did get quite a jolt when I read the first line! "U Married?"

Then felt all sheepish as I got the analogy. Cute n damn cheeky comparison; but quite unique and apt.Slightly different tho' from ur other blogs

Hope u have a gr88 time with this hubby and get more bundles of joy than u can handle!Let me know if u r game for an extra-marital affair;-)

I'm also with my 3rd wifey..well its more like live-in relationships in this sector !!!

Neither of my previous wives gave me any significant bundles of joy for all i invested in my relationship..(I thot i'll buy a car with my bonus and turned out that it is not even sufficient to buy a tricycle)

hope this one will be different...but else potential wifey 4s are waiting

Kousik said...

It is great challange to enjoy your job. Nice to know you're doing so ...

Ajit Menon said...

I had come to realize that to be Real Man, one should have the guts to treat one's woman as an individual and not a slave.

But I have seen hazaar families with servile women and domineering, dictatorial husbands leading extremely happy lives with many bundles of joys. So I guess it all boils down to the mental makeup of each person. And what they want in a relationship. My wife is pretty much liberated person in a conventional way. She has her own opinions and I respect them. By the way, we are on our way to having our own bundle of joy ourselves.

Mint Chutney said...

I too left my "husband" after many years. Now I have a marriage that gives me more freedom than I could have ever imagined.

P.S. I used the(")just in case my real husband ever reads this. : )

Unknown said...

touched!

Woodooz said...

Phew ! Never realized you were talking about being married to work until I came to the last line.

Interesting.

Ganja Turtle said...

Woman!!!

For two days I missed the end and thought the last Mallu woman in the world with a slightly decent sense of humour has gotten married...now the light is back in our lives! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Lol.. Very nice.. I had to read it twice to get it. Dumb me :D