Mind Your Own Business!

Do we really need to poke our noses into other people's affairs? No, we don't!

- Padma V

"Nirmala aunty will be coming tomorrow, and she will be staying with us for a month." My mother gave us the news as soon as we reached home from school. My aunt was friendly, no doubt but interfered in everyone's affairs unnecessarily. My father tolerated her because she was his elder sister, but it was too much for us. "Why did you prepare this curry today, when will you learn to make rotis softer, why did you make the dal so spicy…" Her complains towards my mom would be endless. "Why can't you mind your own business?" my sister and I often whispered to each other and giggled.

Gardening is my mother's hobby and her garden is spectacular. Our neighbors often poured in to have a glimpse and take pictures. "So many beautiful flowers, all getting wasted on the plants. If I had such a garden, I would pluck all the flowers and perform puja for at least an hour each day. I don't understand why people can't sit and pray," Nirmala aunty grumbled. My parents however silently smiled and said nothing because they believed in the theory that the hands that help are more powerful than the lips that pray.