My mother- in-law has settled herself comfortably in the home. There is no point in telling her that she should make herself feel at home here. She always feels at home everywhere in this world. It is me who feel out-of-home in her presence.

Well- I have never been able to earn brownie points as far as my mother-in-law is concerned. To say that she hates me would not be entirely false. She has always disliked me. She never wanted her daughter to marry me. Even to this day, she strongly believes that her daughter deserved someone better.

It’s so strange- there are some people who just never like you. She always ends every chat concerning me with the comment that oh- he is so common!!!. I feel highly irritated by this. I have never made any claims to be a distinguished person. I am common and will always be common only. I am happy being common. What’s so bad about being common? Why should someone’s life be all about becoming special or important?

I am happy in my little world. I don’t cheat with anyone. I pay my bills on time. I never spend more than I earn. I love my family. Isn’t it fine? I really can’t understand this obsession with being different. Every human being is different in their own right.

I don’t think I can tolerate this behaviour any more. There is a limit to everything. Nobody should interpret my silence as my weakness. It makes me very sad that people who are close to me insult me at every possible opportunity. Whatever might be the limitations of a common man- surely this one is not one of them.

I am proud of myself and I will not let anybody run me down for their foolish pleasure.

I am feeling restless now. I must take your leave. Please take care. Bye

The next time the ‘common man’ was taunted with the remark- that he is so very common; he didn’t let it go. He looked squarely in the eyes of the person and said- “yes, I am common. Do you have a problem?”