Sunday Story "My Live-in Sasuraal" Season 3 - Episode 1 - The DIL-MIL Relationship

Have you checked out the last episode of Season 2?

While returning from the office, Anika thought of visiting her mother. It had been more than three months since they had a ‘heart-to-heart’ conversation. At the doorstep, Anika noticed her mother talking to their maid’s daughter. Her name was Aarti and she was Anika’s age. While Anika stepped into the house and shuffled to the kitchen, the maid’s daughter eyed her with curiosity.

“Is Didi okay? She looks tired. Is everything alright at the in-laws’ place?” As Aarti asked her with a mixture of sneer and courtesy, Anika hated her for that.

“Yes, everything is alright at Didi’s in-laws’ place. Didi is a bit tired, you know because she had been to work.” Anika answered sarcastically, her eyes shining as she poured water into a glass.

Soon, Aarti left, and Anika and her mother were in the living room, all by themselves.

“She asked out of kindness. You were too rude to her, Anika. I have always told you to be compassionate towards them.” Mother began her usual grudge but Anika turned a deaf ear to her.

“Oh Mom, please don’t start it. I am here to meet you after three months and you are concerned about Aarti and her family.” Anika groaned.

“I am not preaching, I am simply saying that you should be a little considerate about the underprivileged people. You don’t have to be a saint, but at least, talk to them properly.” Mother sat opposite her on the couch and rummaged through the newspapers on the coffee table.

“Do you really think she asked me that out of kindness? It was clearly written on her face that she expected something wrong from my end. She could have asked ‘How are you’ but instead, she asked you, ‘Why is Didi looking tired and blah blah’?” Anika commented spitefully.

“She was concerned about you. Maybe, they don’t have a proper way of communicating with others, but she is a nice person.”

“She is a nice person because you are super-nice and generous with them. You sponsored her education, paid for her marriage expenditures and now, you are even helping financially with her baby. Why won’t she be a nice person to you, Mom?” Anika asked in rage. “You have always treated her like a daughter and expected me to be nice to her.”

“Have I ever lacked in fulfilling my mother’s duties towards you, Anika? I have always been for you at all times. Just tell me once when I was not there for you and I will take back my words.” Mother pointed her out and Anika was quiet for a while.

“All this is stupidity, Mom. Like a mother? Like my daughter? You remember I once shared with you that my college class teacher was like a mother to me. Could you even accept it as an adult? And you have been nagging and scolding me since childhood to be nice to Aarti. Do you think it is normal?” Anika answered quietly in a broken voice, with a visible tint of anger in it.

Mother was speechless for a few moments as she recollected the way she had reacted to Anika’s statement in the past. She wanted to defend herself, but fortunately, they were interrupted by Anika’s father, who rejoiced joyfully when he noticed Anika in the living room.

“Mother and daughter are having a great time, it seems.” He sang merrily.

                                                            -x-

Anika had saved herself from a heated argument with her mother, but it seemed she had something in store at her in-laws’ place. Akash’s mother, Vaishali seemed to be in a bad mood that day and the root cause of her ‘rough day’ was Anika.

“Beta, I have reminded you several times to inform Daadi about your plans of visiting your parents’ place. She and Badi Chaachi are both conservative regarding this. If you keep visiting your parents uninformed, it is obvious that Chhoti will also want to do the same.”

“Aunty, what about you? Do you think I should inform every lady in the house before visiting my parents?” Anika counter-asked. She was upset because of her row with her mother.

“Beta, I know you are like my daughter. I don’t treat you as an outsider.” Vaishali began softly and the words ‘like my daughter’ irritated Anika the most.

“I am like your mother, beta. I don’t know why you behave in this way. You could have at least given me a call, and I would have managed it on my end. I know you aren’t still married to my son, but it doesn’t mean you can behave erratically, and visit your parents without informing anyone.”

“Aunty, we will talk about this later.” Anika managed to answer as she didn’t want to blabber in rage and disrespect Vaishali.

At night, before Vaishali left for her room, Anika approached her. Though Vaishali pretended that she didn’t want to talk, Anika convinced her into a conversation.

“Aunty, I am sorry I didn’t inform you. And seriously, you don’t have to force yourself in treating me as a daughter. I am better being your daughter-in-law and I am okay with you being a mother-in-law.”

Vaishali stared at her in disbelief and wondered what Anika was trying to convey. “Beta, I have suffered the torture of a mother-in-law and I had promised myself that I will never be like a mother-in-law with my daughter-in-law. I will never scold her, taunt her or criticize her. She will be my daughter. We will never fight or disagree.”

“Aunty, it is okay.” Saying so softly, she hugged Vaishali. “I had a terrible argument with my mother today and we have our ugly fights and conflicts. I resent her for so many reasons and she does it too. If a mother and daughter’s relationship can be strained, why do we have to expect a MIL and DIL relationship to be that of a mother and daughter? We will have our fights, disagreements, and conflicts. It is okay, Aunty.” She released Vaishali from her embrace and looked at her lovingly.

“Beta, even I think it is wrong to visit your parents’ house without informing anyone. I am sorry, but it has been in our family traditions for years. You might say we are not open-minded but we dislike it. It was not Badi Chachi who questioned your gesture, but it was me who didn’t like your behavior.” Vaishali said apologetically but felt better when she released her hidden emotions.

“Sorry, my dear mother-in-law. From next time, I will keep it in mind.”

“Even if you forget, don’t worry. I will get a chance to scold you next time.” Vaishali sniggered comically.

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