Roles interchanged...
“Had a tough day today…”
It was understandable. Anyone coming back from office would be exhausted after a hard day’s work. A cheerful beaming face at home (that’s me) welcoming with a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea with ‘Good Day” biscuits always helped.
“Honey, how was your day?”
How consoling when the question is asked back with similar concern. Hmm…
“We have run out of coffee powder…” I have to come out with what I need. Otherwise where will we get time?
“How many times have I told you not to start complaining or asking something as soon as I enter the house? Don’t you realize how exhausted I am?”
The exasperated tone would suppress anyone from further proceeding with the conversation. But there is nothing wrong in trying. I continued..
“Abhishek fell down and hurt himself..”
“What happened??”
“He slipped and fell from the stairs..”
“Abhishekkkkk………” A desperate call for Abhishek.
An angry stare….I was scared of it…I have to do my best to bring the temper down.
‘How careless can you be? You don’t even have the time to monitor him carefully?”
“What were you doing? Watching TV?”
“No…I was washing clothes….”
“When will you learn to manage your time? The kid is more important than washing those clothes!”
“We will take him to the doctor..”
“Should you wait for me to take him to the doctor?” I look down and listen patiently to the yells and screams.
‘Have you made the dinner?”.
“Yeah, rotis and dal..” A routine question and a routine reply
“Same stuff again? Why don’t you make something different? Vegetables and stuff? What for do I earn? Remember I am a Software Engineer with a handsome salary earning a whopping salary. What more do you want? Do I have to eat this stale thing everyday?”
“Sorry. This was what I could do today. You know how difficult it is...To look after Abhishek and do the cooking as well...”
“Do you know what will happen if I resign and stay at home?? Or what if they throw me out of the job?”
Silence is better than retaliating, isn’t it?
This work-life balance is becoming so difficult to maintain..
“Don’t give me excuses, right?” Should one talk back at this juncture?
“Look, I am doing my best. I am also a human. This is a temporary phase. I will also get a job soon. Both of us will work and things will improve” My voice becomes soft and husky though I am trying to put up this fight boldly..
Tears are ready to jump out of my eyes. No, I will not cry….because I am a man.
It was understandable. Anyone coming back from office would be exhausted after a hard day’s work. A cheerful beaming face at home (that’s me) welcoming with a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea with ‘Good Day” biscuits always helped.
“Honey, how was your day?”
How consoling when the question is asked back with similar concern. Hmm…
“We have run out of coffee powder…” I have to come out with what I need. Otherwise where will we get time?
“How many times have I told you not to start complaining or asking something as soon as I enter the house? Don’t you realize how exhausted I am?”
The exasperated tone would suppress anyone from further proceeding with the conversation. But there is nothing wrong in trying. I continued..
“Abhishek fell down and hurt himself..”
“What happened??”
“He slipped and fell from the stairs..”
“Abhishekkkkk………” A desperate call for Abhishek.
An angry stare….I was scared of it…I have to do my best to bring the temper down.
‘How careless can you be? You don’t even have the time to monitor him carefully?”
“What were you doing? Watching TV?”
“No…I was washing clothes….”
“When will you learn to manage your time? The kid is more important than washing those clothes!”
“We will take him to the doctor..”
“Should you wait for me to take him to the doctor?” I look down and listen patiently to the yells and screams.
‘Have you made the dinner?”.
“Yeah, rotis and dal..” A routine question and a routine reply
“Same stuff again? Why don’t you make something different? Vegetables and stuff? What for do I earn? Remember I am a Software Engineer with a handsome salary earning a whopping salary. What more do you want? Do I have to eat this stale thing everyday?”
“Sorry. This was what I could do today. You know how difficult it is...To look after Abhishek and do the cooking as well...”
“Do you know what will happen if I resign and stay at home?? Or what if they throw me out of the job?”
Silence is better than retaliating, isn’t it?
This work-life balance is becoming so difficult to maintain..
“Don’t give me excuses, right?” Should one talk back at this juncture?
“Look, I am doing my best. I am also a human. This is a temporary phase. I will also get a job soon. Both of us will work and things will improve” My voice becomes soft and husky though I am trying to put up this fight boldly..
Tears are ready to jump out of my eyes. No, I will not cry….because I am a man.
6 comments:
Last line had me smiling :)
Nice one Priya!
vi
rofl..
It could be a possibility happening discretely right now..and openly pretty soon..
Vi..thanks :)
Gi..what are you hinting at ? :))
hmmm... i should have expected it... the title stated it clearly. i was so into the narration that i forgot the title and its implications. the ending was a surprise... :)
a very good one :D
Good one, but definitely not impossible. This will happen, in the not too distant future :)
Thanks, Inder, for your comment. Keep reading:)
Hifzur, thanks for reading :)
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