Ridhima and Arjun were dating each other from college days. It was almost like destiny for both of them. Friends first and then turned lovers. When Arjun popped the question of marriage after 5 years of dating, Ridhima’s happiness knew no bounds!
Now the telling parents part. While Arjun’s parents were pretty cool with Ridhima, Ridhima’s parents were the ones who took a little time but eventually agreed for the alliance. Both sides had their get-togethers and they were very happy with each other’s families. In a month, the couple was engaged to each other.
One morning, Arjun’s mother unusually called up Ridhima. The call caught Ridhima pretty unawares. She had a very formal relationship with her to-be MIL(Mother-In-Law). Ridhima was very careful around her and very cautious of what she did or said. Ridhima had heard tales of bossy and mean MILs from her friends, so she just did not want to mess up her relationship before the wedding.
Arjun’s mother had called her home that evening. “I need to speak to you about something very important. Come home after office.” She had said. Ridhima readily agreed but anxiety and nervousness creeped in almost immediately after the call. She immediately tried to call Arjun. He was already in office and busy in a meeting. “In meeting. Call you later” he texted her.
“Oh my God! What is happening? Is aunty having a problem? Why isn’t Arjun picking my call? Oh yes, he said he has a meeting. But is he ignoring me or does he actually have a meeting!? What is the family upto?” crazy thoughts clouding her mind. Ridhima had an almost restless day until lunch time.
Around lunch time, Arjun called her back. He did not seem to know anything about why his mother had asked Ridhima to come visit them in the evening. “Mom just asked me to come home early in the evening. She did not tell me that she called you home too!” said Arjun. Ridhima’s restlessness turned into panic. One again she got lost in absurd thoughts “My MIL doesn’t like me. She is planning to tell me today to stop seeing her son. But she was ok during the engagement, what happened now!?”
Arjun broke her thought flow “Hello… Hello Ridhi… Are you there?” “Yes! Yes” replied Ridhima. “I will pick you up on my way home. Be ready by 5pm. Ok Ridhima!?” After a long pause, Ridhima replied in the affirmative.
Ridhima was not able to concentrate on her work for the rest of the day. She kept looking at her wrist watch. Her heart beating faster as the clocked ticked away.
Ridhima and Arjun reached his home by 5.30pm. His mom just made some tea and prepared Ridhima’s favorite snack item…Samosa. Ridhima forgot about her anxiety for a second when she saw the Samosa, but then in no time the anxiety was back.
Arjun’s mom made her feel comfortable and offered her more snacks. “You children will be very tired after a long day at work. Eat…” No matter how calm Ridhima tried to show on the outside, her heart was racing on the inside.
After a little chit chat with both of them, Arjun’s mother picked something like a pamphlet from the side table and passed it on to her son. Arjun looked at it “Cooking classes for Beginners” it read. He handed it over to Ridhima thinking that’s why his mom had called her home today. “No…No son. That’s for you. I will give Ridhima her copy too” said his mom.
Arjun looked at his mom all confused. Both his and Ridhima’s pamphlet were the same. “What am I going to do with this mom? This is for Ridhima” said Arjun a little arrogantly. “No son… this pamphlet I have got for the both of you. Since I know both of you do not know any cooking, I have registered for this very lovely Cooking classes in our area. If you’ll start off now, by the time you get married, both of you will at least know the basics” said Arjun’s mom.
“Mom! I don’t get it! Why do I have to learn cooking? Let her do it. It’s a girl thing.” Said Arjun.
“Oh! Since when did cooking become an only girl thing?” replied his mother. “Your dad cooks… And he is very well a man as far as I know.” His mother smirked.
“That’s because dad enjoys cooking. I don’t. I don’t even know to make tea.” Said an irritated Arjun now. Ridhima was silent. She was too confused to react to the situation unfolding in front of her. She silently watched the mother and son converse.
“That is exactly why I have registered the both of you for cooking classes. I know Ridhima also doesn’t know cooking. Just like you, she also was busy with her studies and then later on started working. Both of you have never been away from home, hence you both never had to learn cooking. But now since you both are going to start off your new life together, you need to know how to cook to survive.” His mom kept emphasizing on the word “both” throughout the conversation.
“Mom! But I don’t want to do it. Let Ridhima do it. I am not interested.” Said Arjun putting down the pamphlet on the coffee table.
“You are marrying and bringing home your wife. Not a maid!” this time Arjun’s mom’s voice was pretty stern. “You both are going to be working. She is also going to be equally tired when she gets home. How do you expect her to do the cooking every day? She also works hard at office just like you! If you both share the tasks, it will be easier for the two of you” relaxing a bit, she continued with a smirk “And if she gets frustrated, you don’t want Ridhima to leave you and go right?”
Ridhima let out a slight giggle. Arjun stared at her and then looked at his mom, this time understanding what his mom was trying to say. Son and mother looked at each other for some time, and then Arjun uttered the golden words “Ok Mom!”
Ridhima was stunned at what her to-be MIL had just said. Her MIL was nothing like what she heard from her friends about their MILs.
Arjun’s mom updated both of them about the details of the cooking classes and winded up their evening chat. Just when Ridhima was about to leave, she turned and walked upto her MIL and gave her hug. Her smiling MIL embraced her, understanding every bit of the emotion Ridhima had in that hug…
Love this. I love how the mother went with equality!
Debbie
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Thank you! An attempt to break the stereotype.. I am glad you loved it…
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Stopping by from A-Z Challenge. I was glad to see the MIL was trying to do something nice and it wasn’t all the anxious things she was thinking it could be!
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Thank you! I am glad you loved it..
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Glad to see that the MIL was doing good!
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Thank you…
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This was quite a cute little story. I think Arjun needs to update his ideas!
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Thank you! Oh yes.. he sure does have to… 🙂
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Such a sweet story. The MIL is changing the stereo type definition of self. Kudos!!
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Thank you so much! I am glad you liked it!
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Lovely story and perfectly put that cooking is an art of survival and it cannot be pigeon holed into a girl/boy thing
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Exactly! Thank you for dropping by.. I am glad you liked the story!
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Loved that piece. My MIL is like Ridhima’s. Not for the cooking part but in her own ways and it does feel great. I love the message that we expect bad things first based on pre conceived notions which are not always true.
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Thank you! You’ve been lucky to have an MIL to share similar ideologies like the one in the story!
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Awww,,,such a sweet story it is…
Launching SIM Organics
*Menaka Bharathi*
*SimpleIndianMom*
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Thank you! I am so glad you liked it…
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Reblogged this on Adi's Journal.
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Simply amazing…. Lets grab a cup of Coffee for your amazing story… 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you!! I am glad you liked it.. I am more of a tea person.. But nevertheless loved your post!!
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How very thoughtful of the mother in law. Beautiful and inspiring story 😀
From A to Z
Yogasana
Cherry Blossoms
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I simply loved this one! If only all MILs were like this..
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I know..”If only”!! Thank you for dropping by.. glad you loved the story!
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Oh my God!! Such a beautiful post!! Loved the way you’ve weaved the story and I like your blog’s name as well!
Such a wonderful MIL! My MIL too is a wonderful woman and supports me in every way possible but I doubt she’ll make his son cook! Though her son loves cooking.. obviously occasionally 😛
Cheers
BoisterousBee
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Haha!! You are lucky for a supportive MIL and an occasional cooking hubby too!! 😉
Thank you for dropping by… I am glad you loved my story! 🙂
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I would love to become such a MIL one day, you know just let behing the stereotypes
Launching SIM Organics
*Menaka Bharathi*
*SimpleIndianMom*
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Exactly my thought.. to leave behind the stereotypes.Such women inspire other women. Glad you liked my story! 🙂
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Aww that is such a cute story – Lovely MIL to have
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Thank you!! 🙂
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Totally love the theme of this story. Ideally, this should be the norm, if you ask me. Am totally in favour of both sharing the roles 50-50 and can’t believe it is still an issue in 2017.
Godyears.net
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Thanks a lot! I am glad you loved the story.. Well its difficult to shake the age old tradition but with open-minded women we can maybe bring about a change!
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A MIL who is a mom.. What more can a girl who may walk into that house ask for..loved the narrative..
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Thanks a lot for dropping by.. I am glad you loved the story…
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Great story! Definitely a struggle for some to understand that cooking is not just for one gender! Love the struggle between them! I will be back for sure!
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Thank you so much! I am really glad you loved the story.. Do visit my blog page for more 🙂
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Ah wouldn’t all of us love to have a mother in law or even a mother like that……
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Oh yes… everyone would love .. A woman who would treat the girl and boy equal!
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Cute story…I wish my MIL was like that.
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Thank you! We all wish the same… but i guess it will take some more time for MILs to have an open mind!
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Great story, I wish that my MIL had been like that.
Melissa @ My Creatively Random Life
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Thank you!
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Haha I like Arjun’s mom. Good woman!
Anna
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Hopefully every MIL is reading this :))
Completely loved the narration.
Cheers
AuraOfThoughts
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Thank you so much!
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