HOT SOUP
As is usual with most married couples, Hoja occasionally had
quarrels with his wife. But this time, it was different. Hoja`s words had
offended her so much that she was not ready to forgive. She wanted to give him
the lesson of his life. She had her plans.
She was a good cook. She was especially good in preparing
mouth watering soups. She knew that Hoja was especially fond of mutton and even
more so if it was mutton soup, garnished with spices and curry leaves. So she
prepared a delicious soup and kept it boiling hot , its rich aroma filling the room. She was sure as soon as her
husband came, he would gulp down the hot soup, scald his mouth and throat and
shriek with pain. She sat down eagerly waiting for Hoja to return home and take
his just punishment.
After sometime, the wife forgot about the revenge, the rich
aroma of the soup prompted her to have a small sip. Forgetting how hot the soup
was, she herself gulped down a little and was severely hurt. Her eyes were
misty from pain. Still she waited patiently for the husband to arrive and take
his punishment. A little while later, Hoja arrived and found the delicious soup
waiting for him. He went to straight to the soup bowl and gulped down a little.
Of course he was hurt and angry. But he could not understand why his wife was
crying. He asked her an explanation. She replied that she was crying on account
of her dead mother. Hoja replied that he too was crying on account of her
mother. What bothered him most was why his mother in law left for her heavenly
abode, leaving her daughter behind!