Thanks again, Mr. Maupassant
The Balance
Her husband was brought home, dead. They had sent off the kids to school that morning. After an hour he complained of a mild chest pain. Before she could find people to help, he collapsed on the road. And, never woke up again.
As the news of his death was broken to her, she immediately thought of her two kids. The elder one, a boy, was 10, and the younger one 8, a girl.
She thought the earth was about to cave in, swallowing her. How nice it would be, she thought, if that could happen? While her husband was alive, they only had a hand-to-mouth existence. None starved. He was smart enough to find some jobs, however menial, ensuring to meet his family’s basic needs. Children were sent to attend the free school, which also fed them in the afternoon.
She had never been good at dealing with people. As a child, she remembered that she had a tough time looking into others' eyes while talking to them. She had been a timid child herself. Her children were no different.
After her husband's demise, she quickly came to terms with reality. There were some savings; no big deal though, but can last to feed the family for a week. She hailed from a remote village, down south. Her parents had had no great possessions.
After the last rites of her husband, she took some quick decisions. One important thing was to move into a smaller home in a shabby neighborhood. She did that to make a saving on their monthly rent. She could make more savings by cutting on milk and limiting the number of meals she ate. She took to drinking more water, more often.
She immediately looked out for employers needing domestic help. Two days’ search yielded good results. She could find job as a house-maid with six homes in her neighborhood.
She ensured that her kids attended their school, without any break. She knew that her forming a “routine” is the most important task. They say kids should never be exposed to shocks. She knew that her kids, now exposed to a rude shock, have to be brought back to a normal tone of life.
The neighborhood saw the father-less family returning to normalcy, fast licking its wounds.
That was a bright morning. She had just sent her kids to school. She was hurrying towards the first of the six homes. The routine of the day had just begun for her.
--------------------
Luv,
Vijay
Her husband was brought home, dead. They had sent off the kids to school that morning. After an hour he complained of a mild chest pain. Before she could find people to help, he collapsed on the road. And, never woke up again.
As the news of his death was broken to her, she immediately thought of her two kids. The elder one, a boy, was 10, and the younger one 8, a girl.
She thought the earth was about to cave in, swallowing her. How nice it would be, she thought, if that could happen? While her husband was alive, they only had a hand-to-mouth existence. None starved. He was smart enough to find some jobs, however menial, ensuring to meet his family’s basic needs. Children were sent to attend the free school, which also fed them in the afternoon.
She had never been good at dealing with people. As a child, she remembered that she had a tough time looking into others' eyes while talking to them. She had been a timid child herself. Her children were no different.
After her husband's demise, she quickly came to terms with reality. There were some savings; no big deal though, but can last to feed the family for a week. She hailed from a remote village, down south. Her parents had had no great possessions.
After the last rites of her husband, she took some quick decisions. One important thing was to move into a smaller home in a shabby neighborhood. She did that to make a saving on their monthly rent. She could make more savings by cutting on milk and limiting the number of meals she ate. She took to drinking more water, more often.
She immediately looked out for employers needing domestic help. Two days’ search yielded good results. She could find job as a house-maid with six homes in her neighborhood.
She ensured that her kids attended their school, without any break. She knew that her forming a “routine” is the most important task. They say kids should never be exposed to shocks. She knew that her kids, now exposed to a rude shock, have to be brought back to a normal tone of life.
The neighborhood saw the father-less family returning to normalcy, fast licking its wounds.
That was a bright morning. She had just sent her kids to school. She was hurrying towards the first of the six homes. The routine of the day had just begun for her.
--------------------
Luv,
Vijay
posted by Vijay at 8:57 PM
1 comments
