In everyone’s life, there are some actions or events that define who or how a person is. I am also not an exception. But among all, there is one that disillusioned me of a lifelong misconception about myself. The irony of my life led to a subconscious false and flat (stereotypical) lifestyle that needed a shock (climax) to wake me up to true self discovery.
I was a child of a conflicting family who had no normal boyhood. In the middle of all the conflicts, I grew up as a timid and inhibited child. A thousand nights passed by without any sleep or peace. For this reason, I had to be patient about everything. I grew up as a quiet child and grew more and more serious and aloof. I was regular in prayers, as well. At one point, everyone started thinking and saying that I was a mature and patient boy. The greatest irony is that, my painful weakness was given the name of strength. Listening to this a million times, I also developed the idea of myself as a mature and patient person. I grew up being viewed as the good boy of the neighbourhood. My friend’s parents used to discuss with me in private about their kids. All this created this misconception that I was special and above others. After many years, the day arrived when this patience and maturity were put to test.
I was a university lecturer and a married man. Ours was a love marriage going against my family. So, naturally a lot of marriage rites were left to be done. Literally, my wife did not receive a lot of things that were very normal for her to expect. So, she was hurt. Being an introvert by nature, she did not express anything to me. I also could not realize anything because I was burdened with the new responsibility after marriage. I was rushing for my new job.
Months went by, and I travelled across the entire country for conducting company trainings. My wife kept to herself how much she was suffering. The loving life turned lifeless. Mornings arrived and nights went past us in a boring cycle of daily chores and meaningless conversations and television shows. (stereotype) And then arrived the afternoon that culminated in my disillusionment. (contextual climax) My wife was overstressed with all of what she had kept hidden inside. At a very silly matter, she started quarrelling and suddenly started mentioning all her feeling of emptiness, regret behind marrying me, angst and hatred for the life she had. The suddenly she spoke out how much she regretted that I was her life partner. And the balance tripped. I slapped her hard; very hard. Then I went outside. When I returned home after two hours, I found a note on the bed. She had left. I could hear the echo of my breath inside my chest as loudly as (simle) the sound of my steps in the empty corridor (symbol) which ended in my bedroom, straight from the front door.
Had I been mature, I would never have raised a hand. My virtuous patience would conquer my anger. But it did not happen. For the first time I rediscovered myself truly. (theme of self discovery)Boasting to be a good husband, I could neither feel her pain, nor understand her reason of shouting, and not even the helplessness she felt. I failed, and then I knew who I was.
