~*SPILLPROOF*~
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
“If we heard correctly, your fiance is settled abroad right?”
“Yes”, Sagarika replies coyly.
The collective ‘Ooos…’ from her classmates flush her cheeks pink.
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The bell rings, Sagarika rushes to open the door and smiles welcoming Govind home.
It has been a long, lonely, boring and dull day. After finishing all her chores, she’d been eagerly waiting for Govind to get home. She longed for some company. This was her fourth day abroad, at her husband’s place. The last week had passed by in a flash. The marriage, the ceremonies, the rituals, the goodbyes had all been over before she could even comprehend. The longest flight of her life with her husband had seemed surreal. She kept pinching herself time and again to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
Govind entered the home disinterestedly.
He dumped his office belongings on the dining chair and commanded, “After freshening up I need a cup of warm milk. When you heat the milk, turn off the flame as soon as it starts boiling and then serve it to me. Don’t heat the milk in microwave, I like my milk to be heated on the stove rather than in microwave.”
Sagarika rushed to the kitchen, poured milk from the can into a pan and turned on the gas knob.
“Can you hand me my towel? I forgot to get it.”, Govind called her from inside the bathroom. Sagarika turned the gas knob to low and proceeded to fulfill Govind’s demand. She came back to see the milk just starting to boil; soon it would be time to turn the stove off, she thought.
Govind’s loud voice startled her “Why are my bag and clothes still lying on the table? Why haven’t you kept them at their proper place?” He sounded displeased.
She turned the gas flame to low again and dashed to clear the table. Upon returning back to the kitchen, she was treated to the sight of spilled milk all over the pan and subsequently the gas stove turned off.
“There goes the milk! I told you specifically to turn off the flame once it starts boiling but your carelessness made it spill over; now I have to do without my cup of milk.” Govind was surely disappointed. Rest of the evening passed unceremoniously sans any communication. Sagarika’s repeated requests to reheat the milk went unheeded.
The very next day, while speaking with her mother over phone Sagarika sought tips to prevent spillage of milk. That night when Govind distracted her with orders, the milk didn’t spill because she’d kept a spoon inside the vessel as instructed by her mother and turned off the stove at the nick of time. The smile on Govind’s face as he entered the kitchen was heartwarming. Sagarika had felt ecstatic, as good as having passed an examination. He’d exuded happiness and warmth the entire evening and that night became the most memorable among all the nights of their married life.
The very next day though things were back to square one. Govind had made Sagarika run errands which included running out to his car and fetching his file from his car seat while he was glued to his phone attending a conference call. She remembered switching off the gas flame while stepping out but surprisingly it was on when she got back and the milk had subsequently spilled out from the vessel. She’d wanted to ask Govind if he turned on the flame after sending her out but had decided against it as he already was in a nasty mood the entire evening. She wasn’t sure if the spilled milk was to be blamed for this or the conference call which didn’t end for quite a long time.
Soon this became a ritual, a routine which Sagarika detested but got habituated with at the same time. The fate of her day hung on preventing the milk from spilling. It got tougher and tougher with each passing day to carry out this otherwise simple task of warming a cup of milk for Govind the right way. It didn’t take long for her to figure out that he was obstinate and adamant that she failed. It was some sadistic side to his otherwise seemingly normal personality. She wanted to discuss this with a friend or family member but didn’t know how to put it in words. Was her husband a maniac, a fascist? May be, may be not. Other than this minor hiccup, he seemed perfectly sane. As time went by, she accepted this as a part and parcel of her married life in silence.
A couple of heated and spilled cups of milk later, the day finally arrived when their only daughter Sarika was married and sent off to her husband’s house.
After moving in and setting up their new home together, Sarika’s husband requested for a cup of tea one fine day. While brewing the tea, Sarika couldn’t help but recollect her mother’s scared face while she warmed milk for her father every day. She remembered her mother wincing every time he gave her a chore while she was glued to the milk pan. Her mom usually requested Sarika to keep an eye on the milk lest it gets spilled while her dad’s errands kept getting tenacious and more difficult. One day Sarika had even asked her dad about this crazy obsession of his and the intention behind trying to fail her mom on purpose. He had lost his mind and rushed to hit her. The look of anger in his eyes had made Sarika shiver in fear. She had decided never to discuss this again and stayed away whenever this drama unfolded in the evenings. She often wondered why mom never resisted or questioned this. If only she had not allowed this facade from day one would her life have been so much better. Sarika’s reverie was broken with the milk spilling out from the pan and before she could turn the knob, Abish, her husband had rushed to the rescue and said “I got this!”
He not only proceeded to brewing the tea but also smiled at her while doing so. At that moment, Sarika’s cloud of thoughts fizzled off, her doubts, her fears, her concerns, her suspicions about her married life reduced to ashes and a realization dawned upon her that if not anything, her marriage was “spill proof”.
If you like what you read make sure to follow the blog’s official pages so that you never miss out a post. Pour your thoughts, perspectives about the story in comments below. Its always good to get some feedback.
I loved this story – it was very well written. I can relate to it in a way (not within my own relationship). It certainly kept me wanting to read more. Thank you for sharing!
Such an interesting story! I enjoyed reading it!
Really enjoyed reading it. You are a great storyteller (writer) and I am glad it ended with ‘spill proof.’ Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed this – interesting concept! I’m glad it ended well (though I feel sorry for the mother)
Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to send a feedback 🙂
Great story!! Loved the narration!
Thank you so much for the feedback! 🙂
Great read. Very well written and really interesting. I started off hating men whilst reading this haha.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Alyssa
THESACREDSPACEAP.COM
Thank you so much for reading 🙂 Am glad you liked it 🙂
Too many more to come cheers!!!
Thank you dear 🙂 So good to see your comment here 🙂 🙂 🙂
Great Post!
Thank you for reading 🙂
What a sweet story! Wonderful, uplifting ending.
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading and commenting.
💕Oh, I loved this story! Well written! “Spillproof” had me riveted from beginning to end. The mother made to feel she could never satisfy her husband contrasting with the daughter’s realization that her husband was already satisfied with her regardless was beautifully conveyed. Looking forward to reading more of your work!💕
What a brilliant one line summary to my story. Thankful to you for saying that and grasping the idea behind the story. Thanks a lot for stopping by and reading and leaving a feedback 🙂
This short story was so beautiful! You are such an amazing writer!
Thank you so much for reading and the wonderful feedbacks. It made my day!!
This has to be my favorite of the stories you sent me. I love the ending!
It’s my favorite story too! The very first post of my blog, close to my heart 🙂
Okay, this was good. I literally said “aww” when I finished it!
Thank you so much! 🙂 🙂
There is something so simple but so beautiful in this piece. You convey really good imagery and metaphors with your words and the more I read, the more I wanted to read more. I really enjoyed reading this piece and thank you for dropping this as a link on my tweet, I’m very happy I read this piece.
Am on cloud nine to receive your lovely comment! Feedbacks like these are all a creativity needs to garner support and get motivated to write more. Am hoping you find time to read my work in the future. Your comment made my day 🙂
You write beautifully! Thank you for sharing!! xo
Thanks a lot for taking out time to read 🙂 🙂
Wow…so thought provoking. Beautiful story alpana !!!
Thank you so much 🙂 🙂
Wow!! What a lovely li’l piece Alpana. I wish you could see the big smile this post brought to my face. Keep writing. Love u lots.
Im on cloud 9 seeing your comment….. Thank you so much for the lovely compliment 🙂
Awesome one… Just a small thing can create such a huge impact in a person’s life … Keep writing girl
Thanks a lot Kirti for the feedback and keep reading 🙂
Each and every small things that happen in our life, do happens with a reason. We need eyes like you to see through them. Loved it.
I cannot express my happiness to see your comment on my blog; am so happy! Thanks a lot 🙂
Beautiful narrative of a subtle nuance of married life. Like the surprising but pleasant ending
Happy writing Mitali!
Thanks a lot dear Aunty 🙂
Excellent narration of a girl’s married life’s peculiar problem or the adjustment to weird behaviour of the partner…you left your readers to think why the husband is behaving like this…very absorbing n well knitted story…loved it very much…
Thank you so much dearest aunty! Hoping you read and shower your love on my future posts as well 🙂
Very well written dear ,so much has been conveyed and beautifully presented. Set me thinking about any such event in my life
Thanks a lot Pragnya aunty!! Its my pleasure that this piece of writing could make you nostalgic 🙂
Fantastic… easy read and stretches yr thoughts in compassion for the mother and relief for the daughter. Would love to read more
Thank you immensely for the compliment aunty 🙂
Kudos girl!!! Was glued to the story till the end.. Keep Writing 😍😍😍
Hoping to garner appreciation from your end on all my posts 🙂
Had never thought about small things like this from a woman’s point of view. It might be nothing from a husband’s point but such things can shatter the self confidence of a wife. Small adjustments from both can make so many things SPILLPROOF
Thanks a lot for the detailed response 🙂
Wonderful description, great moments. Overall a fantastic point to learn
Thanks a lot. 🙂
Fantastic piece 👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻 To many more …
Thank you so much for all the support.
Awesome piece of writing
Thanks a ton 🙂