Daughter-In-Law’s Birthday

| Dr. Swatee Miittal | July 2024 | Flash Fiction |

“So how are we going to spend your birthday today?” He snuggles in next to her.

“Ordering pizza, binge watching Netflix !” She yawns.

“Really ? You don’t want to go outside ? We can invite your friends over.” He’s surprised.

“No. It has been a rough week at work, I just want to relax at home today.”

At the breakfast table her father-in-law wishes “Happy Birthday Beta”.

“Thank you papa” she responds, touching his feet.

“So, how do you want to celebrate ?”

“Doing nothing Papa” she laughs.

“Why ?” He exclaims.

“She doesn’t want to go outside, so we’ll order food at home.”

“Order food ? Why ? We will prepare your favorite dishes at home !”

She bites her lower lip in concern.

Experience had taught her father-in-law’s “we will prepare” only meant her mother in law and her. 

She looks at her husband. 

“Papa it’s her birthday, why make her sweat in the kitchen ?”

She musters up some courage “Yes papa, I don’t…”

“Beta, what are you saying ? How much time does it take to prepare a meal ? Your mother used to prepare food for over fifty people alone ! Today there will hardly be fifteen people!” remarks the father-in-law who has not stepped inside the kitchen for decades to pick up a glass of water for himself.

“Fifteen people ?” She exclaims.

“Beta, Bunty called yesterday, he and his family are in town, so we invited them today. Your Chachaji and Chachiji will also be coming. You want to invite anyone else ?”

She looks at her husband, he was already on his way out, shrugging helplessly. 

This was not how she wanted to spend her birthday, this was not why she had taken a leave from her office.

Back at her home she would have simply said no.

Then why was she hesitating here ?

Because she was afraid. 

She was afraid she would be labeled as the “ultra-modern bahu” who did not respect traditional family morals and values. She would be labeled ‘lazy, irresponsible & spendthrift’ for choosing to ‘order food’ instead of preparing home-cooked meals for guests like her mother-in-law.

Therefore, she spends the entire afternoon cooking with her mother-in-law – preparing kadhai paneer, saag, mix veg, dhahi bhalle, chutney, biryani & kheer. Hours later, sweating profusely they begin setting-up the house.

Meanwhile the father-in-law goes for a stroll, discusses the sorry state of politics with a friend over phone, drinks chai, watches news, reads newspaper, forwards messages in WhatsApp family groups & takes a little nap. 

The guests arrive, they sing for her, she cuts the cake and returns to the kitchen.

She prepares and serves chai-pakodas to all. She makes orange slush for the kids, serves cake to the guests. Sets dinner at the table. Polishes the cutlery. And returns to the kitchen to prepare puris.

She could hear their laughter, their lively voices as she dips the eleventh puri in oil.

She could hear them celebrating her birthday.

_________________________

_{Dr. Swatee Miittal, an artist, writer, and storyteller is committed to shedding light on societal issues through deconstructing old narratives. With a Ph.D. in audience behavior with respect to theater and storytelling, she has crafted stories addressing gender equality, relationships and mental health. Her work has been recognized with the International Inspiring Women Awards, The Philip Kotler Indian Achiever’s Award, and the Outstanding Artist Award by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.}

_________________________

Homepage image by Ashwini Chaudhary via Unsplash 

Find The Mean Journal on Instagram @MeanPepperVine