Maya stood on the dais, her face beaming. It seemed impossible that she was really the winner of the Women Car Rally. A year ago she didn't even know how to drive.
Two events had shredded away her fears of sitting in the driver's seat and lead her to this moment. The first was her husband's offhand, dismissive and humiliating words addressed to his elder sister, and second was an article she had read on FB about a 65 year old woman learning to drive and going on to win a car race. She would seethe with jealousy every time her best friend came driving to her home and they would go for a drive or for an outing. And even though her friend exhorted her to learn driving she could not muster the courage to sit behind the steering wheel.
And then one day her husband's sister reprimanded her for being a modern woman and not knowing how to drive a car as yet. "What will you do, if there is an emergency and there are no drivers around?" she demanded. As, during those days, Uber and Ola services were yet to make their entry, Maya had no reply. And then her husband replied for her, derisively, "Leave it, sister. It's not her cup of tea. She's too lazy. Besides it's better that she doesn't learn to drive, or I'll be bogged down with more tension. As it is, I already have my hands full."
Maya never felt so humiliated in her life. Though she knew that her husband Rajeev loved her and pampered her, she felt she had failed to earn his respect. As a house-wife she kept her house in running order, but she had maids to help her out. While Raajeev had built up a successful business from scratch, she felt she had made very little contribution towards his growth. Moreover, because of her infertility problem, (or maybe that was just an excuse she used to justify her laziness), she was not even able to complete her PhD for which Raajeev was very keen on.
So his words, pricked her and would not let her sleep. She thought about it the whole night and longed to do something to earn her husband's respect. The next day, while going to drop her daughter to school, she noticed a big field in the vicinity and an idea formed in her mind. She surreptitiously began to learn driving with her driver after she wormed out a promise from him not to let it be known to anybody at home. At home, nobody noticed that she returned back an hour late, as both her mom and her husband remained sleeping when she reached home. She learned to drive within 2 months.
But she was still wary of letting her husband in on her secret. She waited for the right moment.
And then she heard of the rally and learned that her husband, who was the president of their City Athletic Club, was the chief guest at the Closing Ceremony. She knew she had to join the rally and show her worth to her husband.
Now as he walked towards her to hand her the trophy, the beam on her face reflected in his and with a huge smile on his face, she knew she had won his respect, along with his love.
Maya never felt so humiliated in her life. Though she knew that her husband Rajeev loved her and pampered her, she felt she had failed to earn his respect. As a house-wife she kept her house in running order, but she had maids to help her out. While Raajeev had built up a successful business from scratch, she felt she had made very little contribution towards his growth. Moreover, because of her infertility problem, (or maybe that was just an excuse she used to justify her laziness), she was not even able to complete her PhD for which Raajeev was very keen on.
So his words, pricked her and would not let her sleep. She thought about it the whole night and longed to do something to earn her husband's respect. The next day, while going to drop her daughter to school, she noticed a big field in the vicinity and an idea formed in her mind. She surreptitiously began to learn driving with her driver after she wormed out a promise from him not to let it be known to anybody at home. At home, nobody noticed that she returned back an hour late, as both her mom and her husband remained sleeping when she reached home. She learned to drive within 2 months.
But she was still wary of letting her husband in on her secret. She waited for the right moment.
And then she heard of the rally and learned that her husband, who was the president of their City Athletic Club, was the chief guest at the Closing Ceremony. She knew she had to join the rally and show her worth to her husband.
Now as he walked towards her to hand her the trophy, the beam on her face reflected in his and with a huge smile on his face, she knew she had won his respect, along with his love.
