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3. WAY OF METING OUT PUNISHMENT
There was a family of five – two brothers, their two wives and a widowed sister. Both the brothers and their spouses had a lot of affection and respect for the sister. One day, the sister, in her insecurity, thought, “Today, they all dote over me. What if tomorrow, they throw me out? Let me put them to test”.
Once, the elder brother was returning home. At that time the sister told the elder sister-in-law (bhabhi) loud enough for her husband to hear, “One should keep one's hands clean”. The brother heard his sister's advice and thought, “Why has my sister given such an advice? Surely, my wife must have committed a theft”. From thereon, he stopped talking to his wife and even kept his interaction with her to the minimum. After some time, the wife could bear it no longer. She was perplexed at her husband's behaviour, so she had a talk with her sister-inlaw (husband's sister). The sister realized the situation. She told her brother, “It is not what you imagine. I had suggested very casually to never think of committing a theft”. The brother started behaving normally with his wife again. The sister was reassured that her brother and sister-in-law had respect and affection for her.
On another occasion, the younger brother was returning home from the shop. The sister advised her younger sister-in-law loud enough for the brother to hear, “Mind your sari”. The brother started wondering why his sister had spoken thus. Surely, it might be because
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