Reading Time: 5 minutes
Enakshi rues about the trial and tribulations of work-from-home and the different world orders of parents’ and theirs. She speaks of coping with all these and more, exclusively for Different Truths.
Life is a string of different beads. They are multi-coloured and each one of them is different. Some may be ostentatious, some may be sparkling, some may be dull, yet some may be revolting. But all these different beads come together by means of a single thread. Such is our life too! We all are different. But we come together in life owing to varied circumstances. Each of us is of a different colour, different exterior and an entirely different interior. We behave differently, we decide differently, we have our own ideas and beliefs, we do things differently. When a child is young, it is imperative to teach the child to be able to decide what is right and what is wrong, for the world outside is not only harsh but also mean. Unless one learns to be worldly-wise, it becomes extremely difficult to survive in the rat-race that awaits us all! But when the same child grows up, it is equally imperative to give him the freedom to choose without being judgemental.
Each of us is of a different colour, different exterior and an entirely different interior. We behave differently, we decide differently, we have our own ideas and beliefs, we do things differently. When a child is young, it is imperative to teach the child to be able to decide what is right and what is wrong, for the world outside is not only harsh but also mean. Unless one learns to be worldly-wise, it becomes extremely difficult to survive in the rat-race that awaits us all!
With work-from-home being the new normal, it has become quite a task to be at home at all times and work for endless hours trying to get our hands on the salary (that too, if we are lucky). With the employers assuming that we do not have any other work at home than to connect to the Wi-Fi and attend calls at random hours or extend our shifts from the usual timings, we are bearing the brunt of the choices we haven’t made. We did not decide to stay at home and work from there. We did not decide to bring upon work on ourselves. We are trying our best to stay safe and keep others safe as well. But then who cares? As if the extra working hours coupled with extra household chores were not enough, young adults have now moved to their hometown thinking that this is a good chance to be with the family and spend quality time with them. Sadly, it is just a desire that hardly comes to fruition.
My husband and I made the same move and now we cannot help but think of the obstacles that are coming in our way. The very first problem that awaited us was that of the Wi-Fi. We hail from a small city that does not have the culture nor the resources to have a full-fledged Wi-Fi system. With online classes and corporate sector fully functional, the usage of Wi-Fi is undeniably high and thus, without Wi-Fi, our work-from-home can basically come to a standstill. The next problem we faced was that of ‘too much company’. It might sound rude, but I will be honest here. My husband and I are not used to being around people 24×7. Call it a result of our lifestyle in a metropolitan city or our innate habit, we both like to have our space (especially because we work in quite different fields altogether). The constant badgering of our parents, their temper tantrums, and their idea of assuming that work ‘can be managed in a noisy environment’ often drive us up the wall. If we try to argue the toss, all we get in return are cold stares or sardonic remarks. The third and the prime obstacle that we are facing is that of lack of freedom. As a couple, we hardly find time to speak with each other alone. Most of the time is spent in a common area where all the family members gather and engage in their work. Now, will not it be rude to move into a private space because we want to discuss something? Right from clothes to words that we speak – everything is measured before the public display. Often, there are clashes in the ideas, the prime reason for that being the fact that our parents think we are still the teenagers who need advice before doing anything. They deliberately misconstrue our actions and words and then begins the great cold war that ends abruptly when hot and yummy food is served on the table.
The point here is not to grumble about the choice we have made but to understand what goes behind making the parents understand that their children have grown up. It is a debilitating topic, for I, too, sometimes feel that I need my parents to guide me. The problem arises when unsolicited advice becomes a part of our daily lives. Right from the way you brush your teeth or how you fold a bedsheet to how you eat or what you eat – everything is being watched or monitored and that irks a lot.
The point here is not to grumble about the choice we have made but to understand what goes behind making the parents understand that their children have grown up. It is a debilitating topic, for I, too, sometimes feel that I need my parents to guide me. The problem arises when unsolicited advice becomes a part of our daily lives. Right from the way you brush your teeth or how you fold a bedsheet to how you eat or what you eat – everything is being watched or monitored and that irks a lot. Both of us are grateful for this time when we do not have to worry about booking our tickets for the return journey after two weeks or so. We have all the time to be with our family and celebrate our big days with them. Yet we miss the life we had back in our city (of work, as one might call it). We miss being able to stay up till late as and when we pleased. We miss having heart-to-heart talks with each other as and when needed. We miss the informality. Yet, somewhere in the corner of our hearts, we know that this is a chance that will not come again. So, we are trying to fit into the schedule of our families. At the same time, we are in the process of understanding that different folks have different strokes (even when you are related to them)!
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