Maike – The In-Law’s Place

The nagging started a few days ago. It had been going on for some time now. I could sense the signs, but failed in measuring their intensity. The short less-than-a-day visits still existed, but they somehow failed to reduce the anxiety that was building up.

My sweetheart had been throwing up tantrums for a couple of months now. She was longing to visit her family. I attempted to assuage her feelings by paying a couple of visits. But I failed in detecting her real want. The need to spend a few days away, with her folks.

Basically, I tried to think like myself, while being in her position. It was an experiment doomed from the start. Things, that are irrational by definition, should not be rationalized. It is a mistake I often make, a trap I frequently fall into. And it happened, again.

She, without an alternative, decided to force me to drop her off at her “parents’” place. It is hard without her. But I guess like all human beings, I would adapt to the situation. And more importantly it is only a few days. I guess these days of solitude should help me reflect upon the situation properly and learn my lesson properly.

p.s. My sweetheart is my dear car, a Silver colored 2005 Model Suzuki Swift. It has been a few months since I last drove her to the workshop. There was no need. A recent accident necessitated a visit. I would have to re-acquaint myself with my legs or a motor-bike for the coming few days.

The Tissue Paper and the Handkerchief

“What am I?” asked the sad and distraught tissue-paper. It could not reconcile to its present fate. All the sweet words and promises, comparisons and hopes, utility and necessity, somehow couldn’t add up to what these words were supposed to mean. It was confused and devastated, unable to come to terms with its present situation. To understand, let us try to go through the same path that landed our dear tissue paper in hell.

The tissue paper was a lively character. It was enthusiastic and firmly believed in doing its best. It tried hard and liked to see the simplicity in everything. It had adopted honesty and frankness as the basis of its interactions with others. One fine day, a user came across. Like most others of her/his ilk, the intention was clear. Use the tissue paper. However, there was a slightly different aspect as well. The usage was not to be limited to the usual, but had a deeper need to it. It was something the everyday tissue paper might not have been able to do, or would not have liked to do. Hence there was a need to get our dear tissue paper to fulfill the roles chalked out for it.

Thus, a plan was devised. It was simple, but required a slight maneuvering on part of the user. The plan had its base in using the tissue paper’s simplicity of thought. The tissue paper was approached, cautiously at first. Upon winning its trust, the tissue paper was made to feel it had the same place in the user’s importance list as her/his handkerchief. The tissue paper actually felt as valuable, if not more, as the user’s handkerchief. For a brief moment, it got misled. It overestimated its importance. The fleeting, but deceptive, feeling convinced the tissue paper to render as worthy a service as it could possibly do. It did its best. It was still in its state of dream, when it suddenly found itself in the dust bin.

It was a hard shock to take in. It could not understand what had just happened. The handkerchief was still the favorite; it was in the user’s hand. The fall from grace, both figuratively and literally, was hard to take. It was under a state of shock.

This brings us to the real questions. Whose fault was it? Was it the user’s fault or the tissue paper’s? Was it not foolish of the tissue paper to compare itself with the favored handkerchief, despite words to the contrary? If it is that dumb to believe in such promises, then does it not deserve the turmoil it is presently finding itself in? These are questions that remain unanswered. They would each bring out a subjective view. Views, each differing from the other due to the different co-ordinates of life we occupy.

Personally, I believe the tissue paper was totally wrong for being so naïve. It should have learnt the lessons of life better. It should have realized its worth correctly, the sole purpose it was supposed to serve. If a fish jumps out of its pond, it asphyxiates to death. One cannot feel sorry for such an event. It is inevitable. Life has a hard way of teaching us the vital lessons. Our poor tissue paper probably learnt its. Hopefully, it won’t be forgotten.