Way Of Living

By Meera

'Ma, I need my headband, where is it??'.

'Sangavi, it's in terrace. I am busy in kitchen, can you help yourself?'. She ran upstairs.

'Ma, am so hungry, what's for lunch ma??'. My youngest son came running to me.

'Ha...ha... have your breakfast and milk, think about lunch, when it's your break in school, Yadhav!'.

'Ha...ha... Rightly said Mithran... Yadhav sit next to pappa and have your breakfast!!'.

'Is the lunch ready Sumithra??. I will pack them fast, if they are!!'.

'Ma, it's ready for all three of them. But first, have your breakfast with your son!!'.

'Pa, you have to take your medicine on time!. So have your breakfast soon pa!!'.

'Sure ma!!. Come, you sit with us too, we will serve each other, if needed!'.

'I will be there pa!. Let me get our jug of juices, Coffees and milk for Sangavi and Raghav!...Sanga...vi!!'.

'Sangaviii!!!'.

'Coming maaaa!!'.

'Come fast, you are getting late for school. We are waiting to have breakfast with you!!'.

Teasing and laughing at one another we had our hearty breakfast in the morning, while pa, sat to watch his morning news and ma went onto water her plants.

'Sumithraaaa!!'.

'Kids... Are you two ready!?. You are getting late!!. Come fast, Yadhavvvv.... Sangaviii!'.

'Hey!!. Do you realise your yelling, Mithran!!'. He was wearing his socks while rearranging his shoes.

'Oops... Sorry Mithra...!'. He chuckled.

'Why did you call me!?'.

'Oh...yea!!. I called you. So, what about the groceries, electricity bills, water tax, milk and vegetable shopping. Are you doing it today, or should we do it by this weekend??'.

'I will try to do it, as much as possible. Rest we will figure it out in the weekend, Mithran!!'.

'Sure, Mithra...'.

'Mithra.... Mithra....!!'.

'He's calling you!'. He winked at me.

'He's calling you!'.

'Am calling you!!'. Pa pointed Mithran.

'Pappa... Calls her Sumi, Mithra!!'.

'Yea... Ma!!. I chuckled at him.

'Yes pa, why did you call me??'.

'Look at what the news says!!'.

'What pa?'. I heard it and read the flash news on Tv.

'Due to the spread of COVID - 19 cases in high numbers, we have decided to have lockdown for three weeks from now!'. I got perplexed and looked at Mithran.

'What's lockdown pa??'.

'Yes, pa what is it??'.

'I don't know it either. I have no clear idea about it. Sounds like, some kind of restriction!!'.

'What...restriction!??'.

'Ma, don't panic!!'.

'Yes, don't panic. I have heard about this. We have to stay at home, without getting out often!!'.

'Ohhh.... What about the ration supplies, then pa!?'. I am at home everyday, there's no lockdown for me!.

'The government will come up with some solution, Sumithra!'.

'So, no school ma, is it!?'.

'No, school??. Can I not go??'.

'Seems, like that kids, but today we can go. So, let's hurry up and get going. Bye pa, bye ma. Bye Mithra...'.

'Bye Mithran!'.

'Will you be able to manage??'.

'Yes. I will, Mithran!'.

'Take care of them and you...!' .

'Sure!!'.

'Wake up, wake uppp, wake up sooon!!!'. Aunty patted our door as every morning!.

'Go... and open the door, Surya!!'.

'Cominggg Ma!!'. He opened the door and she came dashing inside.

'Should I have to come and wake you up every morning!?. It's 7 in the morning, the kids have to go in an hour!!. Hurry up and come fast!!'.

'I am a working women Aunty, I know to manage!'.

'Then do it, don't make me wake you up everyday!!!. Be quick, I need my coffee!'.

'Yes, get me my coffee too!!'. I headed out to the living room.

'Suganyaa.... Bring me my coffee!!'.

'Sure Uncle!!'. He kneely read his newspaper, while I went inside the kitchen.

'Uncle, Aunty have coffee!!. Surya, here's yours!!'.

'Why do you have to get up late every morning, Suganya??'.

'Uncle, sorry I overslept!!'.

'What are you making for lunch for the kids and Surya??'.

'Aunty... I ...'.

'What should I make for breakfast!??'. My maid yelled from the kitchen.

'I will make some rice Aunty!!!'.

'Make a quick breakfast Suganya. The kids had to leave soon!'.

'Sure Aunty....!'.

'Ma, have you seen my math textbook??'.

'Its in the bed side table Saranya, come I will help you!!'.

'Ma, leave her, tell me where's my school bag ma?. I have to arrange my books. Fast ma, am getting late!'.

'Its under the sofa Raghav, I have arranged your books for today. It's on the coffee table!. I will be back soon to get your bag!'.

'Come fast ma!!'.

'Suganya.... Where are the lunch boxes. It's getting late!!!'.

'Here Surya, I will bring the breakfast to the table!!'. I filled the three boxes and ran to the kitchen.

'Ma... Where's my milk??'.

'Ma, bring me my porridge soon!!'.

'Here have some dosas, Surya. Raghav, here's your milk. Here's your Porridge, Saranya!'.

'Sugannyaaa.... Bring me my breakfast!'.

'Sure Uncle!!'. He was sitting in front of his Tv news and I heard aunty's chant from the Pooja room.

'Where's my breakfast, Suganya?'.

'I will bring them now, Aunty!'.

'I need my morning tea. Have to head to other homes, to do my work. So, can I get my tea soon!?'. My maid called me from the kitchen.

'Sure, in minutes!!'.

As I packed my breakfast along with my lunch boxes, Uncle yelled.

'Have a look at this news, Suryaaaa??'.

'What is it pa, tell me what is it???. I have no time to see it. Suganya... Suganyaaa.... Have you seen my charger??'.

'The government has announced lockdown for the whole country!!'.

'So what pa, Suganya... My charger...?'.

'It means we all will be at home, until the next announcement, Surya!!'.

'Here's your charger!!'.

'What!!??'.

'So, there will be no school??'.

'Yes, Saranya!!'.

'Hurray!!!, There's no school!'.

'That's from Monday Raghav. Today we have. Let's hurry or else we will miss the bus!!'.

Once the kids left, uncle sat with his sudoko game and Aunty got ready for her massage time.

'Sugannnya...!'.

'What about the bills??'.

'I will do it by today Aunty. I have paid the gas bill, phone and wifi recharge, for this month!!'.

'Yes, pay them on time!. There should be no dues!!'.

'Sure Aunty!!'.

I ran to get ready for my office....

Lockdown time

'Ma, it's no different than the normal days!!!. It's as chaotic as it was before lockdown!!'.

'So true, Sumithra... Now, they will begin hurrying us, before they got on with their phones and laptops!!'.

'Ha...ha... Yes Sumithra. It's so funny to see them get halfway ready for their meetings and classes!'.

'Ha...ha. Mithran is always on his shorts pa and Sangavi on her long skirts. Yadaav is the worst. He sits with his sketch pen colored hands, for his classes!!'.

'Let's finish our chores soon. Let's play some games together and watch some old movies!!'.

'Sure ma!!. I will finish the lunch soon too!!'.

'I will fetch some greens from downstairs and I will give you a hand in cooking!!'.

'What have you three planned for today, Mithra!!'. Mithran sat with some veggies to cut.

'We will watch some movies and play board games Mithran, will you join us?'.

'That's great. I would love to Mithra, but, I have lots of work from office!. I will be quite busy today!'.

'Pa, will you color my books along with me!!?'. I chuckled.

'Sure Yadhavvv, let's do it after lunch!'. He chuckled at me.

'Ma, can we make some yummy cake??'.

'I haven't done it anytime, Sangavi!'.

'I will buy the needful, sumi!. Let's do it!!'.

'Thank you, Pa!!'.

'Yes, I will search the recipes for you ma!'.

'I will help you with the cake Sumi, let's try!!'.

'Sure Ma, I am excited. Let's try our hands in baking!!'.

'I am excited tooo, ma!!'.

'Pa, color the flowers black, pa!!'. Raghav shouted in excitement.

'I have never seen a black flower, Yadav!!'.

'Have you seen it Mithraaa???'.

'So, what pa??. Color it, as I say!!'.

'Sure Champ!!'. I laughed at Mithran.

'Ha...ha, sumi!. Look at how your son, makes him do things!!'.

'Yea, I saw Ma. Mithran's face is colored...ha...ha!!'.

'Stop looking at them you two!!. Let's focus on our baking!!'.

'Where's pa, ma??'.

'He's gone for groceries. Sangavi has given him a long list!!'.

'Am here sumi. Let's do baking. Sangavi, I have bought every item from your list!!'.

'Am afraid it will turn up bad!!'.

'Its a trial ma!!. Let's see!'.

Half an hour later:

'Hmmm... It smells so good, Mithra!!!'.

'Yes...The cake smells so good, Sumi!'.

'The cake would turn up well Sumi!!'.

'Hurrayyy!!'.

'Yipppeee!!'

'Thank you ma, pa!!. Let's wait until then!!'.

'No way ma. Let's play shuttle until it bakes!!'.

'I will join you two, Sangavi. Let's go!!'.

'What about your coloring Yadaav??'. Pa laughed.

'You color so well!!'. Ma smiled at yadhav.

'Ma, pa... Leave him!!'. Mithran whispered and I chuckled.

'I know, but dad's not that great. He never listens to what I say!!'.

We all laughed out together.

'Hey, don't cheat Yadaav. You grabbed only four points!!!'.

'No!!. You are wrong. Liar, I made five points!!'.

'Ma, tell him that am not a liar!!'.

'Ma, tell her that am not a cheater either!!'.

'You are!!!'.

'You are!!!'.

'You both are...n!!!'.

'What???'.

'What??'.

'How can you say ma, am I a cheater??'.

'How can you call me a liar, ma??'.

'Hey, ha...ha... Stop it you two. I said you both aren't cheaters and liars'.

'Let's start a fresh game!!'.

'Sure!!'.

'Yesss!!!'.

'Hello??'.

'Hi...!'. Who is she??.

'Wake up!!!. Wake uppp, wake upp soon!!'.

'Now what Aunty??. Why to wake up soon??'.

'What do you mean by why to wake up soon??. You have to Suganyaaa... The kids have classes and Surya has work from home'. So do I.

'Its just 8 in the morning, Aunty. Let me get some more sleep. I will wake up at 9. I will manage cooking in an hour, Aunty. All their classes and work starts at 10'.

'Get everything sorted on time!!'.

'Sure Aunty!!'.

An hour later,

'Suganyaaa... My coffee!!'. I walked sleepily to the living room.

'Suganyaaa... I need my coffee!!'. I heard Aunty's furious voice from somewhere.

'Suganyaaa... Get me my coffee!!'. Uncle yelled by reading his newspaper.

'I don't want dosas for today's breakfast, let's have pasta Raghav'.

'Sure Saranya!!'.

'Let's have some pakoras and chai for their break!!'.

'Sure Aunty'.

'Make chicken briyani... Mutton chops and a good crab soup for lunch!!'.

'Sure Uncle!!'.

'Go quick and fetch the meat or else you would end up with bad stocks!!'. I have to manage my loads of office work in between these cooking sessions. Yes, I can do it. Am a multitasker.

'I will buy the meat for you Suganya...'.

'You would end up buying the stale ones, Surya. I know how to buy the fresh ones. I will do it'.

'Okay!!. I will help you with the cleaning then??'.

'You know am better at it, Surya!!'.

'What about chopping??. Teach me once, I will help you with it!!'.

'I am good at that too. I can manage without you!!'.

'Ma, make some oreo cookies!!'.

'Sure Raghav!!'.

Post lunch :

'Raghav... Saranya... Come let's do some cycling near the garden downstairs!!'.

'I feel sleepy ma!!. I had a heavy lunch!!'.

'I am going to sleep for an hour ma!!'.

'We should play for a while everyday kids. Go out with ma!'.

'Leave us alone, pa!!'.

'No, come on you two. I will teach you, on how to play basketball!!'. They sluggishly came to the ground.

'Come on Raghav, aim high for the net??'

'I can't ma!. Am tired and am short for this game!!'.

'Yes ma!!. Am tired too. The sun is scorching hot!!'.

'Come on. Be a sport and aim for it once!!'. I heard someone laughing and I approached her.

'We both are leaving to home!!'.

'Bye ma!!'.

'Hello...'. She looks like a housewife

'Hi...'.

'What do you do??'.

'Am a homemaker!!'.

'Oh... you are just a house wife. I work in a MNC'.

'I am a homemaker. There's a difference!!'.

'Its all one and the same. You have no experience of working then??'.

'No!!'.

'How can you let yourself waste your life. I can never. We women are born multi taskers, perfectionist, unbelievably efficient and are good at managing things. We should know our worth, we should value us!!'.

'I don't know about that. I know one thing that, am not good at everything. I can never be an efficient mom all time'.

'Ha... Ha... Yes!!. You can never be!!'. I laughed at her as she walked away.

New normal

'Where's your lunch box Sumithra!?. Let me pack it with others too!!'.

'Ma, I will be back before noon, I don't need lunch boxes!!'.

'Take it with you Sumi!!. You would be hungry before you reach home!!'.

'Pa, please I will come home soon. I will eat with you two as always!'.

'Mithra... Don't be scared. Be calm, you will be fine!!'.

'It's your first day of bike training ma... Good luck!'

'Will it be fun ma??'.

'I don't know Yadaav... It should be I guess. I am nervous and excited!!'. I chuckled at Mithran.

'Aren't you thrilled Mithra??'.

'I am, a bit Mithran!!'. He chuckled back at me.

'Ma, pa be safe. I will be back in hours. I can't trust any maids to take care of you two. Am scared. So, I have told mridul next door, to keep an eye on, you two!!. Be careful pa!'.

'Sure Sumi!!'.

'I will take care of her and me Sumi. Don't worry, enjoy your day Sumi!!'.

'Pa, can you manage to leave the kids at school from now on. I will stay back, with ma and leave with Mithra to her class, once you come home!!'.

'Will it be late for office Mithran??'.

'No Mithra. My office is nearby your class!' .

'Sure Mithra. Let's do that. Let us leave to school, kids. Hurry up, wear your shoes!!'.

'Enjoy your first day Ma!!'.

'Have fun ma!!'.

'Bubyeeee everyone'.

They playfully jumped down the stairs with pa, by bidding us bye.

'Wake upp!!. Wake up now, Sugannnyaa. It's hell late!!'.

'Sorry Aunty'.

'I need my coffee!'.

'Suganyaaa... Get me my coffee!!'.

'Sugannya... My coffee!!' .

'Sugannyaaa.... Where's my blue sareee??'.

'Its in the laundry Aunty!!'.

'Like hell it is!!. Can't you do the laundry on time. Do the laundry soon. Now. I need my saree nice and dry!'.

'Surya!!!'.

'Yea Suganya!!'.

'I need to talk to you. Can I??. Do you have time??'.

'Sure Suganya... Go ahead!'.

'I...I...'.

'Tell me Suganya... What is it??'

'I need my coffee. I need to get to work. Can you give me my coffee??'. My maid yelled as always.

'I .... I need your help Surya!!'.

'What sort of help Suganya!?. I will give you my support!'.

'I need you to take care of the laundry and make your own coffee Surya!'.

'Sure Suganya!. I will handle it!'.

'Really??'.

'Yes!!'.

'Thank you so much Surya!'.

'Hey, Suganya. That's fine. You are needed in the kitchen!!'. I headed to the kitchen.

'I will make your coffee everyday. But, apart from usual works, can you help the kids get ready

for school, dry the clothes from laundry and make coffee for the elders and pack our lunch boxes??. I will pay you extra, if you want!'.

'I will help you out, don't worry. You pay me well, I don't need extra pay!'.

'Thank you so much!'.

Seems like, asking for help isn't that bad. Life feels much more sorted, I thought as I head on with my day.

Author's note:

It's a little take on the lockdown household. How it changed our way of living. How it changed the way we look at life. I observed many homemakers post COVID times, had preferred going out and the working mom's who had felt themselves, to be super moms, understood, that one can't be a super mom always and asking for help isn't bad!. They left the need to prove their worth always to everyone around them.

By Meera