Laugh

There was an apartment house with thin, modern walls. Many families lived there. You can hear everything that was going on, on the other side of the walls. There was no need to go to movies or any other entertainment - it was available and just without any efforts - just lying on the bed, and all-around things were happening.

The most amazing part was that always from every apartment came screams, shouting, fighting, beating - things being thrown, plates being broken; just from one house there was always heard great laughter. The whole neighbourhood was surprised; they seemed to be the ideal couple - never anything except great laughter was heard from that apartment.

One day, a neighbour asked the man " You are the ideal couple - not only in this building but perhaps in the whole world. Nothing else is heard except laughter. Can you tell me the secret?"

He said, "Don't ask me. It is better not to ask, not to say anything about it, because I feel like crying".

Neighbour said, "I am praising you and you feel like crying?"

He said, "You don't understand at all. The reality is, she throws things at me. When she hits me, she laughs; when she misses, I laugh. But don't tell it to anybody. This arrangement is going on well." But the same man, after five years, went to the court - he wanted a divorce."

The whole neighbourhood was surprised. The neighbour who asked about the secret of laughter never shared his conversation with anyone because it was their private things. Everybody was just amazed, "What happened that they have gone to the court? And, we hear, for divorce!" Few neighbours visited the court to find out.

The judge was asking. "How long have you been married?"

They said. " For six years".

So why do you want now to divorce? What has happened?"

He said, "What has happened? She throws things at me."

The judge said. " Recently she has started throwing things at you?"

He said, "No, she has been throwing things from the very first night."

The judge said, "You amaze me. If she has been throwing things from the very first night, then for six years what have you been doing? Why did you not come earlier for a divorce?"

He said, "You don't understand. Now she has become so practised that she never misses. It is always she who is laughing. For months I have not laughed; now I can not tolerate it. At first, it used to be almost fifty-fifty. One time she will laugh, one time I will laugh. It was okay. We were equal. Now it is intolerable - only she laughs, and I am just standing there like an idiot, with never a chance to laugh"

This story offers a dark twist on the concept of a happy marriage. Here's a breakdown:

The Illusion of Laughter:

• The apartment building represents a community where everyone's lives are on display, but not always what they seem.
• The laughter coming from one apartment creates an illusion of a perfect couple.

The Twisted Reality:

• The laughter stems from a dysfunctional dynamic – the wife throws objects, and the laughter depends on who gets hit.
• This "arrangement" might seem functional at first, but it's built on passive-aggressiveness and emotional manipulation.

The Breaking Point:

• The husband endures the situation for five years, finding humor in the "misses" and maintaining a sense of balance.
• As the wife's aim improves, the laughter becomes one-sided, leaving the husband feeling like a powerless victim.

The Courtroom Revelation:

• The husband files for divorce, shattering the illusion for the neighborhood.
• The judge exposes the absurdity of the situation – the husband tolerated abuse for years.

The Moral of the Story:

• Appearances can be deceiving. Laughter doesn't always equal happiness.
• Ignoring or enabling unhealthy dynamics can lead to a tipping point.
• Communication and addressing problems head-on are crucial for a healthy relationship.