It was a nothing-special-about-it kind of day. Time was just perfect. At least that’s what Mrs Chitterchatter thought.

Simply because the morning rush hour that sees her juggling frogs was over.

The house help had come and left the house sparkling clean. One needs a brave heart to say so as the house help, most of the times, is in ‘sky is falling down’ type of hurry and her terms of employment has unwritten “no questioning” clause.

The food was ready and kitchen as usual was happy to see her stay away from it. Mrs Chitterchatter believes in giving enough space to kitchen for her relationship with it to stay put!

The news-paper was read and it had roped in much needed serenity.

That day she decided to peel the peas as she had brought not just one or two kilograms but a whopping 5 kgs of them! The day before, she couldn’t resist the temptation of buying the fresh ones from the market at dirt cheap rate, going by the mega metro standards.

Her ego swells up ant size (for the uninitiated – it’s the ant from the ant and the grasshopper story) when her next-door neighbour or friends come rushing to her to borrow bowl full of fresh peas at odd hours of the odd seasons. Another reason is she finds peeling and storing green peas therapeutic.

5 Kgs of peas for ant size swelling of ego? Isnt that too much! Not for her because she shares the roots with hunter – gatherers.

As her hands got busy with pea peeling, her mind wandered to the far-off lanes of memory, crossing over sometimes to present day thoughts. She was so lost yo-yoing between yesterdays and today that she was jostled out of serenity by the sudden buzz of the doorbell.

Failing to decipher the time of the day, she hurriedly opened the door and met with a surprise. There stood Giant Little Kid and Innocent Baby in their sweat soaked avatar!

“Its already the time?”, she wondered as they ambled inside throwing shoes and socks one way, school bag the other and finally throwing themselves on to sofas.

Aghast at the sudden disruption, she got rattled a bit. A heap of peeled and unpeeled peas stared at her so did the hurricane hit look of the living room.

“Children pick up yourself and your stuff. Off to bath”, she goaded them.

“Mom, we are tired”, replied the children in unison.

“And how about you? When are you going to clean up your mess of 5Kgs?”, chastised Mrs AlwaysDoubtful avatar popping up in her mind.

“I will, I will. Don’t I even have freedom to decide what I should be doing when?”, questioned Mrs YouOnlyLiveOnce avatar nestled calmly in another corner of her mind.

The function of freedom is to free someone else. And look at you. Forget freeing someone else, you have imprisoned yourself under the heap of peas”, remarked Mrs AlwaysDoubtful sarcastically.

“Its worth its weight for the handful of serenity it fetches”, said Mrs YouOnlyLiveOnce avatar with a smile sending Mrs AlwaysDoubtful to retreat.

So, tell me whom would you side with, Mrs. AlwaysDoubtful or Mrs. YouOnlyLiveOnce ?


I’m Writing Bravely for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – March 2019 hosted by Write Tribe
Its Day 3 and I have used word prompt “Serenity” and the quote prompt “The function of the freedom is to free someone else” – Tony Morrison and the picture prompt of the day as well.
You can read my Day 1’s post, “Charcoal and Limestone” here. Day2’s post “Inverted Reality” here
For stories on Mrs ChitterChatter, Giant Little Kid and Innocent Baby, read here


16 Comments

shravmusings · March 6, 2019 at 11:13 am

Wonderfully crafted to show the different aavtaars of a woman

Amarjeet Sonia Madaan · March 6, 2019 at 11:31 am

Nice post.?

BellyBytes · March 6, 2019 at 11:35 am

I admire Mrs. Chitterchatter’s ability to attain serenity after reading the news! I find the newspapers and particularly the New channels a major source of torture…. But I understand it in the larger context, reading the newspaper is the final bit of free time in the morning….. And yes I can understand too your frustration with Mrs. Doubtful … Why shouldn’t we all be free to pursue our own wishes in our time?

Shubhra Rastogi · March 6, 2019 at 11:56 am

A beautigully written post

Bhagyashree · March 6, 2019 at 11:57 am

Very imaginative. I woul side with Mrs. YouAlwaysLiveOnce

Akshata Ram · March 6, 2019 at 12:35 pm

Peas shelling is not my cup of tea and imagine 5 kgs… will drive me nuts.. happy to see Mrs Chitterchatter again ?

    Shilpa Garg · March 6, 2019 at 6:35 pm

    Exactly my thoughts. I hate shelling peas and 5 kgs at one go…. NEVER!!
    I will agree with Mrs YouAlwaysLiveOnce today though I am usually in Mrs AlwaysDoubtful avatar! 😀

Balaka · March 6, 2019 at 12:47 pm

I liked how you used all the three prompts.. and at each sentence I was nodding my head in agreement..kahani ghar ghar ki.. I particularly liked when you wrote the maid is always in a ‘sky is falling down’ mode..and also how kids throw their stuff all over the place (in my cas even thw better half does the same) this post is not your story alone it is our story ♥️♥️

Writing Journey · March 6, 2019 at 1:27 pm

I would go with youliveonlyonce. I have tried my hand at being a perfectionist. The OCD just drove me crazy. There is no need to hurry in life. There is no compettition.

Abhijit Ray · March 6, 2019 at 7:48 pm

Nice story. Enjoyed it.

Meena · March 6, 2019 at 8:31 pm

5 kgs of peas! Oh lord! I can go maximum 1.2 without getting bored! As for your question, I will always go with Ms YOLO. Good one Anagha

Kalpana Solsi · March 6, 2019 at 9:26 pm

Loved all the ladies of he story. each one brings her own identity and fun quotient. I do peel and store 5 kg peas to use them in the off seasons.

https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/03/peas-in-pod.html

Reema D'souza · March 6, 2019 at 10:57 pm

wow! I loved how you used all these prompts! I’m on Mrs YOLO’s side! Enjoyed reading this.

Madhavi · March 7, 2019 at 12:11 am

While peeling the peas her mind wandered…and then she jostled out of serenity by the sudden buzz of the doorbell. She must have gone into a state of meditation.

Michelle · March 7, 2019 at 3:03 am

Great story! I enjoyed reading this!

Anshu Bhojnagarwala · March 8, 2019 at 3:28 pm

Mrs. ChitterChatter is back and accompanied by her friends too. I like this version of this feisty lady – she is doubtful at times but always bounces back 🙂

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