It was Friday evening. Ali and Sara were sitting in the lounge, engrossed in what they were doing. Ali was playing on his tablet while Sara was preparing for her exams.
“Sara, give me a glass of water,” Ali asked. It was the third time in an hour that he had asked her to do one of his little chores. But this time she became furious.
“Ali, can you please get your own water? I am already occupied with my syllabus, and you are disturbing me,” Sara replied angrily.
“I am not disturbing you. I just asked for water. What’s the big deal in doing these little things for me?” Ali asked.
“I always do these things, and I still do, but you also need to understand that I am studying and have an exam tomorrow,” Sara said in an upset tone.
“Really? Don’t I go out and buy groceries even during my exams?” Ali replied angrily.
“What’s wrong? Why are you arguing with each other?” their mother asked, having overheard them from the kitchen.
“Mum, Ali was disturbing me while I was studying by asking me to do this and that. Every time I try to focus, he comes up with something else,” Sara said dejectedly.
“Ali, behave responsibly!” their mother said.
“Mum, please don’t be unfair. I buy groceries even during exams. I never make lame excuses,” Ali replied.
“Ali, buying groceries is different from sitting at home and asking someone else to keep doing things for you when you can easily do them yourself if you get up,” their mother explained.
But this infuriated Ali even more, and he didn’t seem to understand a word.
“Okay, then let’s switch your duties for one day and decide,” Mum said, making up her mind.
“Okay, Mum, I agree. Now Sara will realise how much work I have to do outside in this hot weather,” Ali said, pointing towards Sara.
“I agree,” Sara said with a smile. The next day was Sara’s last exam, so the change would take effect the following day, after school.
The next day, when both siblings reached home, they freshened up and had lunch. Then Ali washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen while Sara went to watch Harry Potter. In the evening, Sara went out to buy groceries. She enjoyed it, as she also got the opportunity to buy her favourite snacks.
Meanwhile, Ali had to make the evening tea for the whole family. Although he had never made tea before, he enjoyed preparing it and spending time in the kitchen.
Once the tea was ready, he washed the dishes and cleaned the counter and the dining table. All the while, his younger siblings kept asking him to do various things.
Just when he thought he was done and could start his homework, his mother called out, “Ali, set the dining table for dinner.”
“But Mum, I’ve only just sat down!” Ali protested.
His mother looked at him and gestured for him to get up.
Ali grumpily got up, set the table and helped his mother. Meanwhile, Sara watched TV and observed everything.
Even during dinner, while Ali was engrossed in eating, his mother kept asking him to pass dishes to his siblings and father, bring water and do other little tasks.
Ali was exhausted. He had his homework on his mind, too, and it all irritated him.
As soon as dinner was over, he got up and rushed to his room, but then he heard his father call out.
“Ali, where are you going? Aren’t you supposed to clear the plates and wash the dishes? Your mum is tired after making the dinner,” his father said.
Ali felt like crying. He looked at Sara, who was reading a novel.
By then, he had realised that he had been at fault all along and that Sara was right. She did more work than he did.
As Ali washed the dishes, his father made tea. Once everything was done, they sat together and his father turned to Ali and asked him to share his thoughts.
Ali looked miserable.
“I want to apologise for what I said to Sara. Switching duties has made me realise how wrong I was. I have also realised that Mum does a lot of work while we sit in our rooms and enjoy everything. I will help Mum in the kitchen, too,” Ali said.
“I am so proud of you, Ali!” his father said as his mother and Sara smiled.
So, readers, doing household chores is not just a mother’s or a girl’s duty. It is the collective responsibility of every member of the family. Help your mothers and sisters with household chores, including in the kitchen, with kindness and respect.