Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi...

Yesterday was a south-indian reply to karva-chauth festival and my first one at that. My MIL made it a mandate for me to get home from the office which is 15 kms away by 1:30. That is apparently "the" time when one month ends and the new one begins. And if I tie a yellow thread at that very moment and pray for my husband's long life and blah, I'll gain salvation. (Holy crap..! In retrospect thats quite a cool way to be sure to get a ticket to heaven!).:-)

Just when I have finished reading the morning newspaper, she breaks the news to me about the other terms and conditions about the festival which weren't as 'easy' as travelling back and forth 30 kms and spending 200 bucks for a yellow thread. I was supposed to be on a fast too. Now how unfair on someone who is supposedly known to be 'underweight' and on regular days fed up to the brim with a perpetual complaint that she doesn't eat enough. I was totally devastated on the prospect of starving. Well.. you know, I may not exactly look like the "khate-peete-ghar-ki-ladki" types but then I hate to stay hungry. And I admit I do get into one of those eccentric moods then, ready to lash out on anything that comes my way - living or non-living. As though reading my mind (says who that MIL and DIL do not share a telepathic connection), my MIL promptly called one of her friends and had a hurried whispered conversation. At the end of it, she reached a consensus that I can have roti and sabji. I jumped at the idea and got into the kitchen before she changed her mind..:-)

Since I had gastronomical interests to take care of, I decided to get to my workplace after witnessing the 'divine' intervention of the new month. I quickly got a couple of potatoes to boil and made a quick aloo-methi ki sabji and kneaded the dough for roti. When something as auspicious as this was to happen, how could I be walking around the place in a sleeveless salwar kameez? I was promptly asked to change into a 9 yards saree. Yikes!! After much-required help from my MIL, I managed to drape myself into one and did some parrot-like activities, repeated whatever she asked me to say/do in front of the so-many-idols-of-dieties which occupy nearly 1/3rd of the kitchen (Talk about space constraints in Mumbai!!)...Soon after, I was asked to tie the yellow thread around my neck and pray for the longevity of my husband's life. I was also permitted to eat some prasad made for the occasion (Thank God for small mercies)..:-)
I quickly made a beeline to change into my salwar-kameez again, had the aloo-methi and roti which for some reason tasted the yummiest. And made sure I got to work by 3pm.

Every now and then, my thoughts drifted towards food. Having scandalizing thoughts like how does my starving make any difference to my husband's life? Or for that matter me attaining salvation? Why is it that the wife bears hardships like suffer pangs of hunger while the husband eats what he likes? Why is there there no such tribute that a husband does for a wife? why why why... ? I could go on forever on this one but will save it for another time and another day. Anyways, I got home at 11 PM and was more than glad to see food laid out for me on the table. So what if it is still the same aloo-methi and roti which no one ate? It still tasted the best. Talking of no one eating it, I realised my MIL has been on fast too and she hasnt eaten half as much as me. I felt an instant sense of sympathy for her though I dont think she minds going on hunger trips every now and then on pretext of one pooja or other. But at the end of the day, I know she cares and I care too. After all Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi....!