(I have read this story like a million times and each time it gives me a different perspective on the way our emotions work, on right and wrong, on hatred, about people and their way of thinking....and each time one more understanding knocks at my door of learning....i am sure this would help you too....)
Curtain Rods!
She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.
On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.
On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candle-light, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring-water.
When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods.
She then cleaned up the kitchen and left... When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days.
Then slowly, the house began to smell.
They tried everything; cleaning, mopping and airing the place out.
Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned.
Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting.
Nothing worked!!!
People stopped coming over to visit..
Repairmen refused to work in the house.
The maid quit.
Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.
A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house.
Word got out and eventually even the local realtors refused to return their calls.
Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.
The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going.
He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house
Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10 th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day.
She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.
A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home........
And to spite the ex-wife, they even took the curtain rods....
What does this story tell you?
What does the shrimp represent to you?
Does it say that to get even we should turn mean like the wife?
Was the wife completely sensible in wanting to continue living in that house?
What does "..and they even took the curtain rods.." at the end mean and represent to you? What did you understand from that?
Where can you apply this story in your life?
Is this a comedy or a sad story?
1 comment:
Such a beautiful story. Can be understood (or misunderstood :-D) in so many ways! This is just my interpretation and I am sure there can be many more, like all the other stories here.
What does this story tell you?
- You can never escape your karma.
- Be calm and find solutions. Dont get emotional for those who dont value your emotions.
What does the shrimp represent to you?
The shrimps represent the ghosts of the past, which haunt us and are difficult to get rid of. These can be the guilt or the bad karma, which will drive everyone away from us, until we understand and take responsibility to cleanse it.
Does it say that to get even we should turn mean like the wife?
I am not sure that the wife was means. She was definitely calm and peaceful even in the most horrible phase of her life.
Was the wife completely sensible in wanting to continue living in that house?
For a third person it might feel that it would be difficult for the wife to live in that house. But if her conscience is clear and she is sure that she was not at fault or loss because of her husbands actions, she might be just as well living there. It is possible that she decorated and maintained the house for so many years, so why not?
What does "..and they even took the curtain rods.." at the end mean and represent to you? What did you understand from that?
You cannot escape from your karma. You will always carry it with you. You might feel you are acting clever by cheating someone, but will have to face the karma someday (in most cases you will facilitate your bad luck yourself. Like goes the saying "Vinashakale Vipreeta buddhi"
Where can you apply this story in your life?
To be mindful that every mean act of ours is going to have an equal and opposite reaction
Is this a comedy or a sad story?
This is a practical story. It might be sad for the new couple, but this is teh fact of life.
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