The Last Laugh

I was relaxing in the veranda when I heard a shout from the gate. Someone was calling for the maid. I didn't quite catch it, so I asked, "What does she want?" The lady immediately replied, "Anna, I want to talk to Jyoti, the maid."

The lady, another maid herself, had come seeking work and was hoping to connect with Jyoti. After Jyoti went to talk to the lady, their conversation took an unexpected turn. The lady's concerns shifted from finding work to her husband's struggles with drunkenness.

She was aware of the "secret" that Jyoti's husband, notorious for his drinking and violent behavior, had abruptly stopped drinking. It was an open secret among the maid community, who all pretended not to know to avoid his wrath.

Jyoti returned shortly, asking me to write down the name of a nearby medical shop. I asked her why, and she revealed that it was next to a homeopath who provided the medicine that had helped her husband overcome his drinking habit.

I was astonished but also cautious. I warned her that if this secret gets out to her husband, he'll likely flock to the drunkards he used to drink with, and they'll all relapse into drinking together - like lemmings! (Ha ha ha)

The maid appreciated my point and laughed heartily, clearly amused by the vivid imagery. And with that, we shared a hearty laugh, savoring the humour in the unexpected twist.