Look Within
Words 194
“What’s the matter?” Madhu asked. “Had a tiff with your hubby?”
“When don’t I?” Trupti kicked a pebble, “All he thinks about is work and money.”
Madhu hesitated. “Perhaps you should…”
“Not you too!” Trupti groaned. “Have a baby and everything will be fine!”
“Perhaps you should learn to appreciate him.” Madhu advised. “Raghu’s a nice boy, steady, decent, doesn’t smoke or…”
“The perfect matrimonial catch.” Trupti sneered.
“Was there someone else?” A sudden doubt assailed Madhu.
“I don’t get this marriage business. Why can’t we lead our own lives, the way we want to?”
“Because each of us is incomplete.” Madhu said. “See that wall?”
“You should see it in spring, it turns orange…”
“Ever wonder why the creeper grows up?”
“To avoid getting trampled or munched up?”
“Not just security but also the space to showcase herself.”
“Yeah right!” Trupti scoffed.
“It’s there,” Madhu pointed out. “It’s up to her to utilize it.”
“What does he get?”
“She’s the wall’s raison d’etre, and also gives it stability and keeps it grounded.”
“But are they happy?”
“Nobody else can make you happy. You have to teach yourself to be happy, to be content.”
***
Written for the Sunday Photo Fiction – a story in 200 words or less. Thanks to Alistair Forbes for the photo and hosting the challenge. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here.
For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 155
Nice story💛👌
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Thank you 🙂
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Beautiful story, reminded me of host and parasite relationship learnt in microbio lecture, host also gets benefited and the parasite also thrives, but yes, so well put happiness is a state of mind that is in your own hands that no one can give it to you, such a blunt yet complete summary of the relationship, thank you for putting it in such beautiful words…
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Thank you for all your kind comments and appreciation 🙂
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I think the moral of this story is so perceptive and inspiring, and expressed in such an elegant and easy-to-read way 🙂
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Thanks a lot!
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As always, thank you for reading, and comment if you see fit.
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As always, thank you for reading, and comment if you see fit.
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The message about being happy from within is great 🙂
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Thank you Christy😊
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Another truth of life conveyed beautifully 👌🏼
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Thanku😊💕
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Yes, I definitely agree that one must find one’s happiness from within. Good story, Dahlia!
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Thanks so much Sascha😊
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Good advice. If I understand this correctly, no one forced her to get married. My mother used to say some girls don’t think beyond the wedding day. Good writing, Dahlia. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I completely agree with your mother! Thanks Suzanne 🙂
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This is a powerful piece of writing. I enjoyed thinking about what you wrote
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Thanks Michael 🙂
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The last lines ❤ I shall take the message to heart.
Truly, it's no body's job to look after your happiness but only you must do it.
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🙂
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Arranged marriages can be so awful when people don’t know each other as well as they would want to. Good story Dahlia
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Thank you Alistair😊
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Great lesson. Thanks.
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Thank you 🙂
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