I say unabashedly that my husband taught me to cook. My mom spoonfed me through my thirteen years of acting. Living on my own for a few years necessitated the need to cook but I merely wrote down her instructions in a diary that sits preserved in my kitchen till date.
I never succeeded in making the perfect rice, doing my own laundry and recognising and perfecting my household chores until I started living with my husband.
The rules of society claim that a woman must run her home while managing the day to day workings of her husband's life. Most women today are an exception to the norm. I demand one hundred percent commitment from both partners and fifty-fifty share of all chores between spouses.
I am also exceptionally fortunate to have a hubby who is sensitive to my requirements.
He recognises that being an actress, I never had enough time to learn home skills.
However, I am particular about cleanliness and order. I leave no room for error or complaints and I demand the same skill set as I strive to master his expectations. Above all, we are best of friends and formality has no place in our marital relationship.
A few days ago, John was invited for invited for breakfast by his acquaintances at his mixed martial arts training classes.
He flatly refused saying, “I have to go home and make breakfast for my wife." While most of the men and women stared at him in disbelief, one guy shook his head and said, “Nope. That's not how it works. I have to teach you how to be a man."
Aha! The age-old redundant perception of manhood that claims man controls and dominates woman!
My darling John laughed it off and left for home and hearth. For he is among the growing clan of intelligent and sensitive men who believe in marriage as the union of two loving equals. He prefers to be talkative, sharing and open to communication and that is why he remains endearing and 'happily married'. As for the chastisers, most of them are divorced, battling for custody, cheating on spouses and too proud to bend their backs to love a woman and openly admit it.
The writer is a popular actor Meera Vasudevan.
