In the neighborhood, Shyam ji was known as a husband who kept a distance from household work. His wife used to say that Shyam ji’s greatest achievement was that he was very good at sitting with his hands folded and doing nothing.
In the morning, as soon as his wife Rama ji started doing household chores, Shyam ji would sit on the sofa with a newspaper as if he were thinking about the country’s major problems. He would sometimes turn the newspaper page, sometimes change the TV channel, but when it came to work, he would always say, “I am resting a little now.”
One day, Rama ji said, “Go and bring vegetables from the market today.”
Shyam ji said, “Okay, but first I will think about which vegetables are the wisest choice.” And he sat on the sofa and started thinking.
After an hour, Rama ji asked, “Where are the vegetables?”
Shyam ji said, “The thinking process is still going on.”
In the evening, Rama ji angrily said, “You just sit with your hands folded doing nothing.”
Shyam ji smiled and said, “This is also a kind of yoga posture; it is called the ‘lazy meditation pose.’”
Rama ji held her head in frustration.
The next day, the electricity went off. Rama ji said, “Call the electrician.”
Shyam ji said, “I am researching technical knowledge; maybe it will fix itself.”
But when the mechanic arrived, it was found that the wire had burned out.
People in the neighborhood often said, “Shyam ji is very calm by nature.” But Rama ji knew that behind his calmness was the amazing art of avoiding work.
One day, suddenly Shyam ji stood up and said, “From today, I will help in household work.”
Rama ji was surprised.
Shyam ji picked up the broom, but after five minutes said, “The broom handle is too short; my back is hurting.”
Still, Rama ji smiled because she knew that Shyam ji might not change completely, but his art of sitting on his hands would remain immortal.
RAJEEV VERMA 