DAUGHTER versus DAUGHTER IN LAW

DAUGHTER versus DAUGHTER IN LAW

Summer is has arrived in Pune and the weather is terrible. 

It is very hot and sultry. 

So here is a story to cheer you up in this hot climate.

BLOW HOT BLOW COLD
A Teaching Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE

It was a hot and humid summer afternoon in a sea facing flat on Marine Drive in Mumbai.

A young woman was unable to bear the stifling hot climate.

So she switched on the air-conditioner in the room to cool off a bit.

Her mother-in-law came into the room.

The moment she saw her daughter-in-law (whom she barely tolerated) relaxing in cool comfort, the mother-in-law shouted at her daughter-in-law sarcastically:

“You think you are a Maharani or something? 

Just look how you sit in such style with the air-conditioner full blast all for yourself. 

Who is going to pay the huge electricity bill – your father?”

“I’m feeling hot,” the daughter-in-law said. 

“It’s not at all hot – just open the window and let the cool sea breeze in,” the mother-in-law shouted.

The young woman moved to open the windows.

The mother-in-law looked at the daughter-in-law and commanded:

“Shut off the air-conditioner at once and do not unnecessarily put on the air-conditioner. 

Electricity costs money. 

Besides, sitting in an air conditioned room is not good for your health. 

You must get used to the climate and learn to adapt with nature!”

Scared of her mother-in-law, the hapless young woman had no choice but to obey her commands.

The young woman switched off the air-conditioner and sweltered in the oppressive heat.

Suddenly the young woman’s sister-in-law (her husband’s sister) arrived on a surprise visit.

The mother-in-law was overjoyed to see her darling daughter whom she adored.

She could not bear to see her own daughter “suffering” in the heat so she turned towards her daughter-in-law and scolded her daughter-in-law:

“What are you doing just sitting there? 

Why have you opened those windows to let the hot air in? 

And why is the air conditioner switched off in this oppressive heat?

Close the windows and switch on the air conditioner at once. 

Do you want my daughter to suffer a heatstroke?”

Then the old woman turned to her darling daughter and she stroked her daughter's hair and lovingly said to her daughter:

“My poor dear, it is so hot here and how you suffer in this terrible heat. 

You must take care and protect yourself from the harsh vagaries of nature!”

Seething inside but silently complying with her mother-in-law’s instructions, the bewildered daughter-in-law said to herself:

“What a miracle indeed? Wonder of wonders! Have you ever seen a room with such a variable climate? Yes, the same room where it simultaneously blows hot and it blows cold at the same time!”

Moral of the Story:

 

Most people are partial and biased, have likes and dislikes, and therefore have double standards of behaviour. 

This is particularly so in the case of daughters and daughters-in-law.

I have observed that most women have double standards in the way they treat their daughters and their daughters-in-law.

This is human nature and there is nothing you can do about it. 

So if you do not like it you have to just lump it because there is nothing you can do about it.

Of course, you can just remember this story BLOW HOT BLOW COLD and have a laugh.

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like this story?
I am sure you will like the 27 fiction short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL 
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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
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Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.