Our Mindset Episode 42
I had no problem with the new cow, but I still asked my husband, “Mami has brought another animal. Will you be able to handle all this extra work? Why don’t you ever say anything to her?”
He replied, “The buffalo is getting old. I don’t think she’ll conceive again, and her milk production has decreased. She’s only giving milk once a day now. We’re planning to sell her soon, so we got another cow.”
That evening, there was a gathering in the fields. The children had their dinner and gone to sleep, but I was still awake. Tatyaji’s tempo arrived late. Since the kids were asleep, I went outside to meet him and asked, “Why are you so late today?”
He sighed, “The trip was far today, and the vehicle had a puncture, so it took longer.”
As we were talking, Bhabi’s husband passed by on his bicycle. Tatyaji handed me some chocolates for the kids and left. Unlike Bhabi, who was kind and loving, her husband was short-tempered.
The next day, when I went to work, I was surprised to see Rahul’s mother—one of the three kids who used to accompany Balu—working in my place. Bhabi calmly asked me, “What were you talking about with Tatya so late at night in our fields?”
I explained, “He always brings chocolates for the kids. They were asleep last night, so I went to collect them myself.”
She sighed, “I have no issues, but my husband has misunderstood. He believes you and Tatya are having an affair.”
I tried to explain, but she cut me off. “Look, just don’t come to work for a few days. You can stop by in the afternoon to collect fodder, but don’t take this to heart. I trust you. If something was going on, you would have told me. But my husband has forbidden me from letting you work here.”
She handed me the fodder she had set aside and said, “Go home.”
I felt terrible. Tears welled up in my eyes as I walked back home. I didn’t know if her husband had spread the rumor on purpose or if someone else had planted the idea in his head.
When my husband saw me return early, he asked what had happened. Since I never lie, I told him everything. He didn’t say much.
The next morning, Tatya’s tempo drove through the village, but there was no music playing. He didn’t honk at the kids or glance towards our house like he usually did. Every day, when his tempo passed near the garden, we would know he was there because of the loud music. But today, everything was silent. That meant the rumors had reached his house, too. Soon, the whole village was whispering about an affair between me and Tatya. His father would glare at me in anger whenever he passed by.
I had gotten used to working with Bhabi. My days were filled with chores, and I never had time to think about anything else. But now, I was worried—what would I do from tomorrow?
I asked my husband, “If you don’t have any work today, can you take me to the village? I need to get our ration card from Mama’s house. I also want to meet the tailoring class instructor. Would it be okay if we took the kids along?”
First, we went to my uncle’s house. I told them, “If anyone in the village has an old sewing machine, let me know. I’m going to start tailoring classes from tomorrow.”
Mama’s son said, “Our sister is also home. We’ll send her to the classes with you until she gets married.”
Her name was Tejaswini. She used to call me ‘Vahini’ (sister-in-law) since I was married into her extended family.
Mami said, “I’ll be at home. You can leave the kids with me while you go.”