𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝗡𝗢 𝗝𝗢𝗬 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥

𝙽𝚘 𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛

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Johnichan set off for the office with the thought, "Even if I die now, it doesn't matter." Happiness had entered his life unexpectedly. In these indescribable moments of exhilaration, he felt like stripping off his clothes and running down the street singing a song.

That morning, at precisely five o'clock, while Johnichan was repeatedly reciting the Bible verse, "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you submit to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior," he heard a thud and a cry from the bathroom.

Those sounds were from Johnichan's wife, Gracekutty, who had slipped and fallen in the bathroom. What could bring more joy to a husband?

Johnichan felt immense joy, energy, strength, and enthusiasm upon hearing Gracekutty's cries. Johnichan and Gracekutty had been married for five years. In these five years, Johnichan had endured so much sorrow and suffering. How many times had he taken the cow's rope to hang himself? After a long gap since the honeymoon's intoxication subsided, happiness had returned. This is what the elders say: if there's a hill, there's also a valley!

On the first of the previous month, Johnichan had put twenty-five paise in the church's offering box, wishing for Gracekutty's hands and legs to break. His suppressed resentment had come out as, "If this doesn't work, Lord, I will become an atheist." It seems the Lord yielded. Gracekutty says she has a sprain in her back, pain in her knee, and a tingling in her head. Even if her hands and legs didn't break, this much was enough. Praise be to God.

Johnichan reached the office and smiled at everyone. An unusual smile. A beautiful smile that came from the depths of his soul.

After that, Johnichan called the peon and ordered tea and plantain fritters for everyone in the office. Then, unusually, he sang a church hymn at length. Johnichan's rendition proclaimed that one doesn't need great talent to sing a church hymn.

While eating the plantain fritters, Johnichan glanced sideways. At whom? At Menaka, the celestial nymph. Johnichan reminisced about a time, ages ago, when he was alone, naked, doing penance on one leg in a dense forest. The sandalwood-scented woman who had danced before him, shedding her clothes, was now sitting right in front of him, eagerly eating a plantain fritter!

Johnichan had been trying to win Menaka's affections for some time, but without success. He knows that if Gracekutty finds out about this, his life will be in danger. But in this world, can one achieve success without taking risks?

Johnichan looked at Menaka again. Absolutely no gratitude from this woman. Couldn't she express her thanks for the plantain fritter with a beautiful glance...?

In the evening, Johnichan went to the pharmacy and bought oil and ointment for Gracekutty. He had to show that he was sad about her condition. Otherwise, there would be trouble. It's difficult to express sadness outwardly when you're happy inside. He wondered if Gracekutty's back was broken. Maybe her spine was broken in two. Building the bathroom when they built the house was a good idea after all. Thinking all this, Johnichan left the pharmacy.

Then, when Johnichan regained consciousness, he felt like he had reached heaven alive. Angels in white robes were flying through the clouds. Where is the Lord? He longed to see him. After a while, he became doubtful. Was this heaven or hell? Right in front of him was a demon with horns and tusks! There are no demons in heaven, are there?

After some more time, Johnichan realized that he was in a hospital bed and that Gracekutty was sitting in front of him. Gracekutty's face was filled with sorrow. She was saying, "It's okay, only your hands and legs are broken. And a minor head injury. Still, shouldn't you be careful when crossing the road, dear...?"