To the ‘Good’ Indian Husband: This Is Why Your Wife Probably Hates You
Over the last couple of years, I have met women who evidently hate their husbands. There is not an iota of doubt in my mind that, that is the case. They loathe their husbands, and in all cases, the reason is hypocrisy.
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The husband who thinks ill of others and whose actions hurt everyone around him, especially his wife, stands in front of the portrait of a goddess chanting verses full of virtue and values. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
The husband who taunts his wife for not taking his permission to party with her friends, talks of women’s rights and liberation amongst his friends and family. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
The husband who doesn’t consider his wife’s opinion important, discusses in public how he and his wife take joint decisions in all family matters. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
The husband who tells his wife to ‘cover-up’, talks to his friends about how audacious, smart and hot, he thinks his colleague wearing a mini-skirt, is. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
The husband who doesn’t help his wife with household chores, even a bit, talks about his love for kids in front of extended family members. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
The husband who asks his wife to quit her job, rambles amongst his couple - friends how important it is to have a partner who is ambitious and financially independent. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
The husband who raises his eyebrows every time his wife talks about visiting her family, complains to his parents how less he gets to meet his married sister and how the family she married into needs to be more understanding. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
And then, there are other kinds of men too.
The husband who physically assaults his wife, passionately discusses the Nirbhaya issue during a family get-together. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
The husband who demanded dowry during his own marriage, demeans his sister’s in-laws for asking for too much. The wife stands behind him, smiling through gritted teeth.
The husband who treats his wife like any other household help, feels heart-broken at the sight of his sister doing all household chores alone. The wife stands behind him smiling through gritted teeth.
And it continues…
My heart goes out to every woman who stands behind her husband, unwillingly and probably because she has no choice, smiling through gritted teeth. You are indeed one strong woman.
This story was first published here.