Making of a Housewife: Chapter 10 - The New Neighbour

A few months later, as usual, on one hot Sunday afternoon, Aruna was busy with her office works, and I was trying to have my regular afternoon sleep wearing my nighty, after finishing all house works. I have now stopped counting for how many months being jobless and living as a house husband. I lost all hope and stopped my efforts in getting back to a job and earn money. Aruna was understanding and mostly have not spoken much about it. And only during some very serious arguments, she harshly called me as ‘useless’ and ‘incompetent’. Aruna was now moving up the ladder in her career. And her salary and bonus is very much enough for us to run our family, savings and pay our EMI.

However, It wasn’t so easy being a jobless guy. I had to lose all my male dominance and ego I developed all these years, to live together with her. It took me long time to realize that, I am ‘NO’ longer the head of this family and now it’s none other than my wife Aruna. I spent almost all my bank savings here and there and eventually, have to rely on her even for my pocket money.

Now it has become my day to day life to do all household work and please her – or at least, not to make her angry. I cook food, which is always based on her wish and the ways she likes. Over time, I started to accept her authority towards me. I felt happy when she praised for my works and cried when she scolded me for my mistakes. I can’t remember the last time we both had lunch or dinner together – or spent time watching a movie. I don’t like the English channels she watches and she hates the mega serials I prefer.

With this new life, I made few new lady friends, who works in the beauty parlour – that we visit regularly and some of Aruna’s office colleagues – who came to our party. My parlour visits has become more frequent and compulsory. Aruna always wanted me to keep my beard and moustache clean shaved, so I started shaving every alternate day. Over time, it caused some allergy and irritation to my face, and the parlour girls suggested me to do a permanent laser hair removal treatment.