NOV
22nd August 2009, 06:41 PM
A story I wrote more than 10 years ago. :)
Remember the puzzle that used to be posed to you when you were very young? You are travelling in a boat with your mother and your wife. The boat is sinking and you can only save one woman. Who will you save? Everyone expected you to say "mother". The rationale was you could marry another wife but can only have only one mother. How horrible!
Society always seem to place mothers one nodge above other women, inlcuding the wife. I don't have any difficulties in accepting that mothers are special - that's why you have mother's day - but why must the wife play second fiddle to her? Why isn't there a wife's day?
Even more terrible, is the "ex" title. You don't have ex-mother, ex-children, ex-nephews, etc. By why ex-wife? Terrible isn't it?
Come on, face it. A mother does what she does, because that's how nature planned it. I mean, no one really wants to be born! I can appreciate the mother's sacrifices, but my question is, isn't that to be expected?
I remember as a young adult, my mother used to bring me my dinner while I would be watching television. And when I had finished, she would diligently collect the soiled plate and bring a bowl of water to wash my hands in! Yes, I was served hand and foot and I suppose I should be grateful for it. But then the joyshe received from serving me would more or less equate my gratitude. It is a question of who satisfies whose needs.
But a wife is a different kettle of fish altogether.
She is born in a different family, raised in a completely different environment, doesn't know you from Adam and then suddenly transforms after marrying you.
Now her whole world revolves around you. She lives her life for you. She is happy when you are happy, and sad when you are depressed. But why should she behave this way? What does she share in common with you, except for a license?
Now here is an all-sacrificing woman worthy of all the tributes.
She puts up with your mood swings, entertains you, readily agrees to have your company, bores you children, takes your name, nurses you, worries for you; in toto her life seems to be meaningless without you. And you dare to compare her with a mere mother??
If it were me, given that above situation, I'd be giving my life trying to save my wife. For whom I am precious because she genuinely loves me, and not because nature planned it that way. Shouldn't I be more grateful and indebted to my wife than a mother, who would behave the same to any of her children?
And my wife - what a sweet angel she is.
I parked my car a few houses away. She was not expecting me. It will be good to surprise her. I can imagine her delight at seeing me, even now and I get a hot flush.
God, how much I need her. I slid in the keys and silently enter the house. I don't see her anywhere in the hall ... or the kitchen.
With stockinged feet, I run up the stairs. The bedroom door is open. I hear happy noises inside. No, its singing noises. I gasp in pleasure. My heart is beating so rapidly. Through the glazed door, I see that she is in the bathroom.
I quickly disrobe. And hide behind the cupboard. She is toweling herself dry. I am now feverish with anticipation. God. I need her now.
She slides open the bathroom door and carelessly tosses her hair. And then she catches sight of me. She stifles a scream. And then smiles broadly. No words are needed. She senses my urgency and silently glides to my open arms.
I take her in my mouth. Hungrily. She returns the favour. Passion, like a wild fire quickly spreads to her. We are groaning, gasping for breath. I carry her to the cool welcoming bed.
Afterwards, I take out a cigarette and my lighter. She touches my perspiring hands and take the lighter away from me. With a flick she lights the cigarette. I inhale deeply.
"Jaya, excuse me for a while, I need to make a phone call."
"Who?"
"Who else? My wife of course."
Remember the puzzle that used to be posed to you when you were very young? You are travelling in a boat with your mother and your wife. The boat is sinking and you can only save one woman. Who will you save? Everyone expected you to say "mother". The rationale was you could marry another wife but can only have only one mother. How horrible!
Society always seem to place mothers one nodge above other women, inlcuding the wife. I don't have any difficulties in accepting that mothers are special - that's why you have mother's day - but why must the wife play second fiddle to her? Why isn't there a wife's day?
Even more terrible, is the "ex" title. You don't have ex-mother, ex-children, ex-nephews, etc. By why ex-wife? Terrible isn't it?
Come on, face it. A mother does what she does, because that's how nature planned it. I mean, no one really wants to be born! I can appreciate the mother's sacrifices, but my question is, isn't that to be expected?
I remember as a young adult, my mother used to bring me my dinner while I would be watching television. And when I had finished, she would diligently collect the soiled plate and bring a bowl of water to wash my hands in! Yes, I was served hand and foot and I suppose I should be grateful for it. But then the joyshe received from serving me would more or less equate my gratitude. It is a question of who satisfies whose needs.
But a wife is a different kettle of fish altogether.
She is born in a different family, raised in a completely different environment, doesn't know you from Adam and then suddenly transforms after marrying you.
Now her whole world revolves around you. She lives her life for you. She is happy when you are happy, and sad when you are depressed. But why should she behave this way? What does she share in common with you, except for a license?
Now here is an all-sacrificing woman worthy of all the tributes.
She puts up with your mood swings, entertains you, readily agrees to have your company, bores you children, takes your name, nurses you, worries for you; in toto her life seems to be meaningless without you. And you dare to compare her with a mere mother??
If it were me, given that above situation, I'd be giving my life trying to save my wife. For whom I am precious because she genuinely loves me, and not because nature planned it that way. Shouldn't I be more grateful and indebted to my wife than a mother, who would behave the same to any of her children?
And my wife - what a sweet angel she is.
I parked my car a few houses away. She was not expecting me. It will be good to surprise her. I can imagine her delight at seeing me, even now and I get a hot flush.
God, how much I need her. I slid in the keys and silently enter the house. I don't see her anywhere in the hall ... or the kitchen.
With stockinged feet, I run up the stairs. The bedroom door is open. I hear happy noises inside. No, its singing noises. I gasp in pleasure. My heart is beating so rapidly. Through the glazed door, I see that she is in the bathroom.
I quickly disrobe. And hide behind the cupboard. She is toweling herself dry. I am now feverish with anticipation. God. I need her now.
She slides open the bathroom door and carelessly tosses her hair. And then she catches sight of me. She stifles a scream. And then smiles broadly. No words are needed. She senses my urgency and silently glides to my open arms.
I take her in my mouth. Hungrily. She returns the favour. Passion, like a wild fire quickly spreads to her. We are groaning, gasping for breath. I carry her to the cool welcoming bed.
Afterwards, I take out a cigarette and my lighter. She touches my perspiring hands and take the lighter away from me. With a flick she lights the cigarette. I inhale deeply.
"Jaya, excuse me for a while, I need to make a phone call."
"Who?"
"Who else? My wife of course."