Our Mindset Episode 9
I came home from the fields, tears streaming down my face. The children were playing on the porch. I wiped my eyes as I looked at them. My true weakness—my two children. They were my world.
I endured my husband’s mistakes, injustices, cruelty, and all the suffering just for my children. And my husband knew this very well. That’s why he was so carefree. He took me for granted because he had gotten me so easily.
He was well aware that no matter what happened, I would never leave him for the sake of my children. Insult and humiliation were nothing new to me.
Since my wedding, I had endured torment from my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, mother-in-law, distant relatives, my husband’s two sisters, and even my brother-in-law’s four children. In that house, I wasn’t even valued as much as a servant.
The only person who never troubled me was my father-in-law. A simple, kind man—not just to me, but to everyone. He never hurt anyone.
A thought crossed my mind. The women in the village had suggested getting a goat. But I didn’t have the money. My mother had goats at her place. I decided to call my father and ask for one.
“In a few days, your grandmother will bring a goat for you,” he said. Hearing that filled me with joy. Grandmother—my mother’s mother. My father’s parents had passed away.
The next day was Sunday. The groceries, flour, and vegetables at home were almost finished. The weekly market was held on Sundays in the village. It had already been decided that Sunday would be my only day off for household chores.
But my aunt-in-law didn’t approve of that. She wanted to create conflict between me and my husband so she could get rid of me quickly.
Early in the morning, she came to the fields to wake us up. Her plan was to make sure I wouldn’t get a chance to do any housework. I assumed she would just collect the milk and leave. The barn was cleaned, and the buffalo was milked.
I told my husband, “Take the buffalo to the pond, bathe it, and take a bath yourself. We have to go to the village.” While he was gone, my aunt sat on the cot, lazily swinging her legs, while I continued my morning chores. My brother-in-law was busy on his phone. The buffalo was bathed and fed.
I told my husband to give it water later, then took him along with me on the bike.
I was afraid of that buffalo. It acted like a mistress of the house, never letting me get close. How was I supposed to give it water?
I thought he would return soon after finishing some errand. We had only one mobile phone, and it was always in my husband’s pocket. I would get to use it only for five or ten minutes when he allowed me.
So, I had no option but to wait. The market was crowded, and I watched the vehicles passing by to pass the time. But every now and then, I wondered—why hadn’t he come back yet?
For the first time, I realized that there was a large settlement across the river. The streets were bustling as if a fair was in town.
The entire day passed in waiting. None of the housework was done. By evening, at seven o’clock, my husband, my aunt-in-law, and my brother-in-law returned to collect the milk.
Thankfully, my husband had at least brought the groceries. After my aunt left, I asked him, “What did you do in the village all day?”
“I chopped wood, bought groceries for the month, and got the grain milled.”
My aunt had taken him shopping. While she browsed, he walked behind her, carrying two bags in both hands. They had an old house, like a mansion. They cleared out its junk and sold it.
My aunt had deliberately kept him occupied in the village all day. She wanted to make sure none of my work got done and that we would end up fighting because of it.