The Other Side Of Lockdown

Nothing comes Free. Not even Freedom. So here we are in this Lockdown stuck at home, quarantined, struggling, facing new challenges everyday....But is it really a stuck situation, struggle or new challenges??

Our freedom this time comes with a very heavy price tag....REALIZATION....The most expensive price to pay for anything is realization. It's expensive because it pushed me out of my comfort zone, it hit me hard how I took so much for granted, it made me revisit my prayers and a lot more.

Let's take a walk down my quarantine memories of almost a month now.....

Let's start a little before that. Oh God...how I used to crib about the traffic on the roads, the potholes & metro construction, the watery tea in the office that was served in our cabin (I share a cabin with 1 other Manager), the horrible tasting café food that I would get instantly when I went to the café, the problems of the staff members at work that needed to be addressed and the list is unending...So I would pray for a work from home to avoid most of these issues.....I am sure there were a lot of us with similar prayers.

I am not sure if God heard our prayers or not but China surely heard them. And here we are quarantined at home...Minus the anxiety of COVID 19, initial days were bliss. I was working from home, avoiding traffic, noise pollution, saving travel expense. I would sit out on my terrace sipping on fresh tea with a dash of lemongrass, I would gorge fresh piping hot food with my entre family at the dining table & wonder what more I could ask for...Well well well....too early to be happy I guess

A couple of days later, my week started with, "Darling can I have another cup of Tea?" Of course that demand is from dear husband. Its been 7 cups since morning & we are a couple of hours away from dinner time. Hes been working on a presentation all morning so preparing 1 more cup of tea wouldn't kill me.

"Mumma I am hungry", was I losing it or did I hear this statement for the 5th time since morning? I thought we just finished lunch. so here I am standing in my kitchen, searching for healthy & tasty snack recipes on You Tube. Few days down the line I am in the same place in my house searching for something new.....I am a CHEF by now

"Beta you cant be playing whole day", I said. "But Mumma I need help with my studies". Exams were cancelled & kids were promoted to the next classes. Without the syllabus what do I teach? So being the mother that I am, I contacted a parent whose kid was in Std 2nd, got the basics from her & started preparing my kid for class 2. Just to mention, the parent I contacted was doing the same...So now I shared this best practice with other Mommies on a wats app group.....WOW...so now I am also a TUTOR

I stepped out on my terrace to get a breath of fresh air & felt the plants all staring at me for some trimming. How could I leave mother nature messy & staring at me. So I picked up my garden hoe & hedge and went to work. An hour later, the garden was back was in shape all ready to bloom.....The GARDNER in me was satisfied

By now you are wondering if I am a Homemaker. Well, a Working Woman CAREER ORIENTED HOMEMAKER who works in night shifts....so after all of the above & of course not to forget a sumptuous dinner, my family went to sleep & I started my shift. The endless calls, client presentations & team co ordinations went on through the night.

At the 1st ray of sunshine I shut down my laptop & headed towards the kitchen to prepare tea & breakfast before I grab some sleep. Oh Man, I felt like a Super Woman.

This schedule went on for a few days & honestly I was enjoying it. Learning new recipes, the blooms in my garden, my kids focus in studies until I realized the day has only 24 hours, we do not have a maid or a cook. Because I wouldn't let anyone help me, things that I enjoyed initially were now becoming a burden & feeling heavy on my schedule, health & well being. Needless to say my family stepped in to help.

We still binge a snack every 2-3 hours & we still have 8-9 cups of tea. I am still the Chef but now I have my Kitchen Brigade (Husband & Kid) assisting me. I am still the Tutor but now I have a Co-Tutor in the form of my husband. I choose to be Gardner without seeking help.....and of course not to forget, I am a dedicated Employee.

The Quarantine is extended & so has my story....will catch up soon....stay tuned