A SLAP to wake you up
But it set me thinking. Covid -19 and the ensuing world wide turmoil and unrest has left me quite introspective these days! But this time the thinking process was powered by the movie " Thappad" which had left a deep impression on my sensibilities.May be as a homemaker for whom the home is the pivotal point, I could relate a lot to many of the instances in the movie. A doormat, a sounding board - that is what often a homemaker is. The 'thappad' in the movie may be physical , but often for a homemaker it could be years of collected emotions , a residue of many incidents and instances, that triggers one volcanic eruption . Bound by affection, instincts and duty you forget yourself and toil on for years. It might have often left you restless and many a times guilt- struck , thinking that you are not able to match up with the pace you have set for yourself and do justice to your multiple roles. Often at the eleventh hour, one of the family members may thrust their procrastinated work under your nose and without a choice you have to reach up to help, letting your incomplete works to trail behind. You patiently sit and listen to frustrations, apprehensions, failures and victories . But often your little joyous moments, your fears and apprehensions have to be kept under wraps as you do not want to burden the rest.
But then a moment or a few moments dawn upon you ,making you snap out of that 'taken for granted emotional and physical bondage'.You look around for support . There may be sympathetic onlookers, but none can fathom what is actually happening. You see them retreating with a look that says, you are a super woman, tend to yourself!! You are left high and dry waiting to be consoled, but quickly realize it is up to you to look after your bruises, up to you to get back on your feet. But not to go back to where you started, rather to remember each moment, that you have only one life. So, it is okay to spend time indulging in what gives you happiness, so that the restlessness in you will not make you stagger again. Why not let/make others do what they have to rather than briskly finishing of chores and tasks , as a start?
And if you think that in this era , the traditional division of labour between the husband as breadwinner and wife, a married woman whose main occupation is caring for her family, managing household affairs, and doing housework ,even if she has a career, doesn't exist , then you are wrong . I had often thought that home makers in the generations following mine didn't have such "thappad' moments, not physical ,rather, those moments of revelation when you realise your doormat status. But movies like "thappad",which is still being made and is being appreciated and applauded by young and old alike, prove that it isn't so.
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