Saas, mother-in-law

A mother-in-law is always a much maligned figure, but in the Indian context, most of it is justified. Long after he’s grown up, his mother remains the most influential person in a man’s life, and almost every saas feels it is the duty of her bahu to defer to her on everything. 


The saas is often the prime instigator in cases of bride burning and bride harassment, and even when not that overt, the saas often tries to dictate how the bahu dresses, and how she ‘behaves’. 


Yes, there are exceptions. But you wouldn’t find them in movies or soap-operas.
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There are words, and there are words. Some words can be easily translated, others need to be described.  In April, I’ll attempt to capture the Soul of 26 'Indian' words in a  drabble of exactly 100 words.