Once there lived a woman named Leela. She was married to Ranjit, a hardworking but oppressive man. Ranjit had strong opinions about how Leela should behave and what she should do. He’d not hesitate to shout or even use force. Leela was leading her life suffocated and unhappy.
She tried her best to please Ranjit, but no matter what she did, it never seemed to be enough. She felt like she was walking on eggshells around him, afraid to say or do anything that might invite his anger.
Leela used to spend her free time depressed. She couldn’t shake off the feeling of frustration and helplessness. She longed for a way to break free from the chains of her oppressive marriage and find happiness on her own terms.
One day, as Leela was washing clothes, she found herself lost in thought. Just then, the words of her school teacher suddenly popped up in her mind. “Believing that someone’s behaviour disturbs me reduces power to choose my happiness.” She could clearly remember how patiently and passionately her teacher used to impress this upon them. She was always at the side of her students who would suffer any kind of mental disturbance.
Leela had a vivid remembrance of her past experiences with her teacher and how magical her suggestions worked in solving their problems. At once, Leela took a decision! A decision to change her perspective. Instead of allowing Ranjit’s behaviour to dictate her happiness, she chose to focus on the things that brought her joy – spending time with her children, pursuing her hobbies, and nurturing her own sense of self-worth.
As days turned into weeks, Leela noticed a subtle shift in her relationship with Ranjit. By letting go of her need to please him at all costs, she found herself becoming more confident and assertive. She began to speak up for herself and set boundaries when necessary, no longer willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of keeping the peace.
To her surprise, Ranjit began to take notice of the change in Leela. At first, he was resistant to her newfound independence, but as time went on, he started to respect her more and more. He realized that he could no longer control Leela like he used to and that she was no longer willing to tolerate his oppressive behaviour.
One evening, as they sat together under the stars, Ranjit took Leela’s hand in his and looked into her eyes with a newfound sense of admiration.
“I’m sorry, Leela,” Ranjit said softly. “I realize now that I’ve been unfair to you. I want us to be equals in this marriage, partners who support each other and lift each other up.”
Tears welled up in Leela’s eyes as she listened to Ranjit’s heartfelt apology. She knew that their journey wouldn’t be easy, but she also knew that they had taken the first step towards building a healthier and more fulfilling relationship.
From that day on, Leela and Ranjit worked together to overcome the challenges that had once divided them. They learned to communicate openly and honestly, to respect each other’s boundaries, and to celebrate each other’s successes.
And as they walked hand in hand into the future, Leela knew
that true happiness came not from trying to change someone else’s behaviour,
but from taking ownership of her own happiness and choosing to live life on her
own terms.