It has been 18yrs to my marriage and so our relation have seen many ups and downs and gone through many hard and soft situations.
In 18yrs, I have been to my inlaws place a billion times and has always taken over the kitchen as soon as I land there and that was very well expected also always!
There had been times when, helper was available and many times, it was only me.
Even after having kids, whether young or a bit grown up, it was me taking care of kitchen when I was there.
A month back or so, my sister-in-law was not keeping well, (brother-in-law’s wife). To take care of her, came in my sister-in-law (husband’s sister).
It was highly appreciated as Nanad came to help Bhabhi, its a rare case scenario.
In general it’s only Bahu of the house, whose family can survive without her, even her young Kids are never that young that she can skip any duties at inlaws place. ( Though her Kids in teen are still very young and need her 24×7, if any emergencies arise at her mother’s place)
So, my Nanad was taking care of Bhabhi and one week after her, my husband went to meet my Bhabhi.
The day he reached, he told, situation here is not good. Bhabhi is not in good shape and she is literally helpless and nearly bed ridden. She can walk and all but she cannot do any work.
That was the first day and after the first day…he explained me the situation again but the words changed a bit. They way to explain things where little different and condition was told as it got worse.
It goes as,
Bhabhi is not well.
You know everything Palak (name changed, foreseeing the peace at home) has to do. Bhabhi can’t cook. Breakfast to dinner, all is taken care by Palak.
It was more of Palak emphasizing the work she was doing then only my hubby saying it. Everytime she entered kitchen, the news was shared with everyone. “Chalu ab mein khaana banaon, Okay! I will prepare tea now … blah blah”
First 2-3 days, I replied Hmm… ,okayyy!
But 4th day , I lost it and said…
That is what I do everyday.
(My words choice was actually, “That is what I am expected to do everytime, every day, whenever I am at inlaws place , but I kept it light
From morning to night, breakfast to dinner, I do it without a helper and I have kids who are in their teens. So I need to cook a little extra .
And with all adults in that house and a patient so nothing fancy has to be cooked. Just a normal daily food. Whats so hard in it?
What so different is she doing? And she has a helper available 24×7, I don’t!
My hubby realized and said..
It has been decades seeing Bhabhi and you working while Palak sits and chit chat. So I found it little strange to see Bhabhi sitting and talking while Palak is cooking in kitchen.
Its always expected from Bahu to work and Daughter to sit as she comes from her sasural or her nuclear family, where she has to work a lot.
Bahu are the same! They work a lot at inlaws place and even if they are from nuclear family..its only them working there too.
Funny to know, after going through school and colleges, even working in MNC’s or other place the mindset towards Daughter-in-law and Daughter didn’t change.
