A HAPPY HUSBAND

“I am not going. Would you like it if I force you to go to a place you dislike?” I was trying all variety of verbal intrigue just to make him sense my displeasure of ruining a peaceful day at home. He maintains a silence whenever I am annoyed which irritates me. That is a clever tactic men employ when they know they cannot win over an argument. But this time he had to answer. I had put a question to him. I waited.

“Well”, he said, “I would go for you, if you wanted it.”

I had expected that answer. He was trying to remind me of the innumerable number of times he had accompanied me to varied places of my interest. Still that was not a reason for persuading me to go alone to a place where I hardly knew anyone.

“So you want me to go.”  I persisted not wanting to let go of the argument that I had started. I knew I had to go for that official function in his organization anyway but I did not want to let him have his way that easily.

“Attend the function for me this time. Please.” There was no touch of male domination or assertion of authority in his voice. It had come down to plain pleading.

With the most possible facial contortion that I could feign, I said “Ok, I will go this time but do not force me the next time.”

“I won’t” he said firmly like a minister taking his oath. Once the oath taking is over, no one remembers the lines.

He has to catch his midday flight to Srinagar and I have to attend the Women’s Welfare Association meeting of his organization in the morning for him or rather for his sake. It was not for my welfare anyway.

It was past nine and there was no sign of the coach which was supposed to pick me up. With his vehicle to the airport waiting below he stood in the terrace with me, his hands tied behind his back. There was a palpable tension in his manner. With an occasional glance and a nod he would try to reassure me there was nothing to worry. “If the coach does not come you relax. No need to go.”

I gave him a stern look. “So do you mean that I draped a saree in the morning to sit at home?”

Sometimes, contrived or real, men can give such pathetic looks that would make even a rhinoceros shed tears. That look shut me up.

A frantic coach driver gave me a call. The coach was stuck in traffic and there was another car coming to pick me up. I could see the relief in his breath.

The car arrived. The relief in his face was immense now. Once I was inside the car and the door was shut I could feel the liberation in his voice too. “Take care” he said and I stretched my lips to smile.

I discovered that a sweet neighbor, whom I was meeting for the first time was accompanying. It doesn’t take much time for two lonely ladies to befriend each other. The auditorium was full by the time we reached but we quite enterprisingly found a couple of seats which were reserved for some ‘still not turned up guests’. The pageant was splendidly colourful and I found myself happily joining the splendor and familiarity of the atmosphere. The spirit of a group of talented women mingled with the demand of a certain occasion can produce a pleasingly prolific outcome. Moreover, I found myself in the company of some long lost friends laughing and embracing each other.

With eyes and stomach duly satisfied, for the snacks were as good as the programme presented, we returned with the joy of three hours merrily spent.  

When I took my cell phone in my hands; I saw the message “Landed in Jammu”. I pressed the call button. “Hello” came his voice. “I am back.” I mumbled.

“How was it?” I could make out that he had recognized traces of the excitement of the last three hours in my voice.

“It was ok.”  I said.  “Call from Srinagar.”

I had the reward of good day out compromising a comfortable day at home but I believed I earned it.

Husbands feel and depict themselves as victims with no choice in the family drama. On the contrary they are clever aspirants of a peaceful family life. They always win with their seemingly giving in performances.