A Poetess for a Wife

Introduction

Suresh was the most faithful servant of the village landlord. He had been employed in the landlord’s household since childhood and was treated almost like a member of the family. Extremely fond of singing, he hummed various tunes even when engrossed in work.

The Joy of Singing

Other servants, along with the landlord, enjoyed Suresh’s songs. In fact, he was liked by all for both his sincere work and his jolly nature. The landlord’s wife was particularly fond of him, viewing him as a son. Under her care, Suresh had grown into a young man and was always obedient to her.

Finding a Bride

Concerned for Suresh’s future, the landlord’s wife took it upon herself to help him get married. She asked several confidants to find a suitable bride. Soon, a priest introduced her to an orphan girl from the neighboring village named Veenati. People spoke highly of her, saying she was as harmless as a calf and as amiable as a cat. The landlord’s wife approved of Veenati, and soon Suresh and Veenati were married.

Veenati’s Talent

The couple was provided with a small house behind the landlord’s. Veenati quickly proved to be an intelligent and hardworking partner, winning the landlord’s wife’s favor. When the landlord’s wife discovered Veenati’s talent for writing sweet verses, despite her lack of formal education, she felt proud.

“Veenati, the neem tree is glowing with flowers. Can you compose a verse on its beauty?” she would ask. “My niece is getting married. Can you write a poem expressing my goodwill for her?” Such requests became common, and Veenati always obliged promptly, which made Suresh equally happy.

Jealousy Among the Servants

However, the other household servants grew jealous of the couple. One day, while Suresh was nearby, they talked among themselves, pretending not to notice him. One remarked, “I often worry about poor Suresh because of his wife.” Another added, “Suresh seems quite proud of his wife’s poetic talents. Don’t you know that allowing a woman to write poetry could ruin her modesty? Will she care at all for Suresh?” The third chimed in, “Well, with Suresh being so young, he doesn’t realize he’s becoming a henpecked husband by letting her write poetry.”

A Turning Point

The servants’ remarks struck a chord with Suresh. He quickly returned to his hut to confront Veenati, who was busy with her notebook. “Will you please stop playing with your useless words? How much time do you waste on those vain exercises? You should devote that time to doing something useful,” he scolded.

Veenati put away her notebook and went into the garden to prune the plants, trying to hide her tears. From that day on, she stopped sharing her verses with the landlord’s wife and spent her time working diligently.

Loss of Joy

Days passed until one day, while working in the garden, Suresh began humming as usual. Suddenly, the landlord shouted, “Will you stop humming like that, uselessly?” Shocked, Suresh fell silent, and his enthusiasm for work vanished. The next day, when he sang in the cow shed, he faced another rebuke from the landlord. After that day, Suresh never smiled, losing his jovial spirit.

Concerned, the landlord questioned, “What’s the matter with you? Why do you look so lifeless?”

A Realization

Suresh responded, “Sir, to be frank, I find it incredibly hard to work without singing. If I do not sing, I feel depressed!”

The landlord replied, “Now, my boy, think of your poor wife. How do you expect her to be happy when you do not allow her to write verses? If you suffer from suppressing your artistic urge, shouldn’t she also suffer while suppressing hers?”

Hearing this, Suresh stood in silence for a while and then expressed his regret, promising to apologize to Veenati.

Renewed Spirits

The landlord smiled and said, “Now, my boy, sing to your heart’s content!”