The Poison Within

“Holding anger is poison...It eats you from inside...We think that by hating someone we hurt them...But hatred is a curved blade...and the harm we do to others...we also do to ourselves.” ― Mitch Albom

Ashlesha had a love marriage with Akash and started living in a joint family with him and his in-laws. After a few weeks, she realized that she could not cope with the joint family's pressures and was incredibly annoyed with her mother-in-law. Akash's mother was a little conservative and not very well educated. In comparison, Ashlesha had excellent schooling and had completed her double masters from an institution of repute.

Soon, the situation started deteriorating as differences arose. Over time, the frequency of quarrels increased, and animosity between them deepened. Ashlesha got frustrated that she began researching ways to kill her mother-in-law. Once, as usual, after a bitter quarrel left for her father’s home. Her father, who was a famous doctor, heard her patiently. Then, she pleaded with him to provide her with medication that would kill her mother-in-law.?

“Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again.” ― Veronica Roth

Her father, a wise man, was aghast at her request. But he also felt pity for her situation and told her that if the poison is detected in the autopsy, both of them could land up in jail on murder charges. But, his daughter was in no mood to listen and understand. Finally, her father gave in and told her, “Ok, beta, I will give you some pills as per your wish, but these pills would slowly affect her health and cannot be detected by any tests". Ashlesha nodded in consent as her father continued, “Every day when you prepare food, dissolve one pill in your mother-in-law's meal and continue that for three months, and it will show the results". Ashlesha was happy that her father came around and agreed to help her, so she hugged him happily. Before she left, her father gave her one piece of advice: "I do not want anyone to doubt you, so you need to treat your mother-in-law with much respect and care for the entire three months". "Sure, Papa," said Ashlesha.

Ashlesha then returned to her in-law's place and started mixing the medicine in her mother-in-law’s meals every day. Also, she started behaving very well with her mother-in-law. She would act politely even if her mother-in-law said something unpleasant. With time, her mother-in-law’s behaviour also began to change. Because Ashlesha treated her with love and respect, she too started showering praises and became very affectionate. Two months passed, and the atmosphere of the house completely changed. There were no quarrels. Both would often praise each other in front of relatives and neighbours. A bond like a mother and a daughter was formed between the two; they would share their stories and come in each other's support if anyone said anything.

Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” ― Albert Einstein

As the attachment grew, Ashlesha started worrying about her mother-in-law's health and fearing that she might die soon. So, she returned to her father's house and told him, “Papa! I was wrong about my mother-in-law. She is a wonderful human being, and I couldn't understand her earlier. Please give me the antidote to cure the effect of the poisonous pills you gave me! I don’t want to lose her, she is just like my mom, and I love her very much”. Her father smiled and said, “Which poison? I had just given you water-soluble vitamin pills."

Ashlesha was startled at the response! Her father continued, "Look, Beta, each person is unique, and their behaviour is shaped by their nature and circumstances which they faced in their lives. This is the root of all the differences. However, trying to understand the other character and being the first to show affection leads to miraculous outcomes. Love can change a person in ways one can never imagine."

Starting this children's day, if you wish your child to learn values... begin with a story. As Albert Einstein said

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”