A Normal Marriage

Stories

### Chapter 1: Chapter 1

There is something so serene as well as tumultuous about nights when the entire world is asleep and those agitating thoughts keep you awake, making the mind gasp for a moment of peace and fall into the abyss of sleep.

Was it so much to ask?

Yes.

The mind is complex combine it with the emotions, rest is not assured at all.  Night keeps one on their toes and with no army on your side but only demons to fight against, nights are gruesome.

Tring....

Anisha turned to the bedside table and switched the alarm off. Getting off the bed she opened the blinds and went inside the washroom to freshen up.

Around twenty minutes later she was dressed in a beautiful Pink saree, hair tied in a messy bun, forearms clad in pink bangles. She stared at the mirror, at the woman she had become. Finally she put a Bindi on her forehead and filled the vermillion in her maang ( Partition). Now she was ready, the lady of the house, Mrs. Anisha Abhimanyu MaanSingh.

Taking a quick glance at the wall clock, she knew it was perfect time to go downstairs and start her day just like any other day which comprised of making a wholesome breakfast for the family, doing house chores like cleaning, dusting followed by cooking lunch followed by a short afternoon nap and then cooking dinner again. There was nothing exciting in her life apart from a few trips to the market once or twice a week or a few chats in the evening with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, she was a simple housewife.

"Anishaaa"

"Haaa, mummyji " ( Yes, mother-in-law)

" Do you know where is Abhi? He is not answering my calls and is not even in his office! I'm tired of that boy, has no regards for his family and his beautiful wife!"

Anisha gulped ofcourse she knew where her husband was, the reason behind not answering his mother's calls and his absence at the moment. Quickly thinking of a reply that would placate her mother-in-law, she said, " Mummyji, wo exercise karne chale gaye the subah jaldi...aate hi honge abhi park se" ( He went to exercise early in the morning, must be on his way home from the park)

" Accha, accha, ek kaam kar Abhi ke liye chhad hum sabke liye fresh fresh orange ka juice bana de, breakfast healthy karenge exercise ke baad!" ( Do one thing make orange juice for breakfast, healthy food after exercising.)

Anisha nodded making her mother-in-law smile at her and off she went probably looking for her husband, Anisha's father-in-law.

Anisha quickly put the dal and rice container in the pressure cooker and set it to cook while she looked for her phone placed on the top of refrigerator.

Once she got a hold of it, she dialled her husband. The phone was answered in three rings making her frown

" Hello!"

" Ji, wo ..."

" Maa dhund rahi hai ?" ( Is mother asking for me)

" Ji " ( Yes)

With a sigh he said, " Tell Maa I went out to exercise."

" Ji yahi bola ...." ( That is what....)

" I'll be there in ten."

With that the phone was slammed shut leaving Anisha to wonder where was he actually.

Thinking no more about it she took a few oranges out and started making the juice.

Healthy food her mother in law had stated but all it took was more of her energy and time. Others might find it a burden of a task but she loved it, anything to make time pass and anything to let her mind not think of what she had become and what she aspired to be.

She was a housewife and was content with whatever she had.

Although she resembled most of the housewives around the country one thing she lacked was her husband's affection.

So how is it?

Please let me know.

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### Chapter 2: Chapter 2

There is a saying " Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder". It has a very positive outcome on the ladies insecure of their appearance. But what about those who are beautiful and being ignored?

Those who are forced to wear their hair in a messy updo and are dressed conservatively enough to not let anyone even guess their body curves!

Anisha is a gorgeous lady who has beautiful hazel eyes, a pointed nose and plump pink lips adorning her face framed by few tendrils. She was beautiful, even if she wore a jute sack!

Alas, Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder!

Whatever Anisha wore failed to gauge a reaction from her husband. The man never batted an eye when she entered his life wearing that beautiful bridal dress or even when she wore beautiful sarees sporting his favourite colour! It was as if his body was wired to not give her any attention.

He even went as far as to eat his not so favourite vegetables rather than grimacing and throwing a tantrum. To say Anisha was praised by her mother-in-law her words were, " Ye to beta mein kar hi nahi paayi jo tumne kar diya, Abhi ne lauki khaa li bina koi natak kare! Wah beta, Abhi sudhar raha hai !" ( Wow, child this is something I couldn't do, Abhi are bottle gourd without throwing any tantrum! You are good for him)

God only knows Anisha had no idea Abhimanyu MaanSingh disliked bottle gourd and couldn't complain about it, he never conversed with his wife, let alone she would know his favourites.

Anisha had gracefully accepted her fate and started making efforts on things expected of her, like being a good daughter-in-law.

Her mother-in-law was modern enough to not let her step in kitchen in the first six months of her marriage, or so she claimed. But Anisha was bored, she didn't have a husband who was affectionate and would consume those initial six months.

She had a husband who would go to office everyday, knowing he had a newly wedded bride at home doing nothing!

Her boredom let her to ask rather persuade her mother-in-law to give her an entry into the kitchen and there was no going back.

She woke up at five in the morning, got dressed for the day and went downstairs to make a cup of steaming hot coffee for herself which she had by herself in the verandah of the house. Around six she started preparations for lunch alongside preparing the bottle of protein shake ready on the dining table for her husband.

By the time he was back from his home gym/ park breakfast was ready and so was lunch except for the chapatis which she made while her husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law got ready for office. Those three men never went to office without their lunch by the side, courtesy of Anisha.

"Anisha bete"

" Ji, Papaji" ( Yes, father-in-law)

" Mera aapse ek sawaal hai ." ( I have a question for you)

Anisha gulped, she always became nervous when it came to answering questions. Currently, everyone was having breakfast while Anisha was pulled from her la la land and subtly everyone had their attention pinned on this conversation making her nervous.

" Kaisa sawaal Papaji ?" ( What kind of question, father-in-law), Anisha asked innocently whereas the husband beside stiffened at the question.

" Bete, aapne shaadi ke pehle socha tha ki aap aise roz khaana banaoge aur humara wait karoge aur phir bartan dhona, kapde dhona, ghar manage karna, kya ye sab aapke kya kehte ho tum bacche  "wishlist" me tha kabhi?" ( Child, before marriage did you ever think you would cook food, wait for us then again wash utensils, wash clothes, manage the household, was this ever in your wishlist?)

Anisha felt a sudden tightening of her throat and hot tears pricking her eyes. She gulped nervously, she was put on spot, never expecting such an intimidating question out of the blue.

She cleared her throat, once, twice and then said, " Nahi...socha tha magar.."   ( No, I had thought but...)

She was cut off by her father-in-law, " Ye nahi ki pure din yahi kaam karungi! Hai na ?" ( Never thought you would do these chores through the day, right?)

She merely nodded.

" Bete, aap aise ghar me gumsum si kaam karti rehti aur hum log office chale jaate hai, aapki maa ka club hai, bhabhi bhi office jaati hai. To sirf aap ghar me kyu rahe? Mera ye order hai ki aap muje do din me bataye ki aapko kya karna hai, padhai phirse start karni hai ya kaam karna hai, aur me naa nahi sunuga ! " He asked of her sternly.

( Child, you keep working in this house while we men go to office, your mother-in-law has Club and sister-in-law has office as well. Why should you sit at home, then? It is my order that you tell me within two days what you want to do, whether you want to resume studying or start working and yes, I won't take no for an answer!)

Let me know your views please!

Keep voting and sharing!

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