We are in the last few days of this total lockdown in India. Shortly, we will know if the same will be extended by a few more days. Already, the weariness is beginning to manifest. Fuses at home are in the verge of blowing up. Patience is in short supply. And more importantly, menus are getting repetitive.
“In this situation, be happy that you are getting at least something to eat. Aren’t you ashamed of demanding this and that to make?” This was the wife to the daughter who was asking her to make Pizza for dinner. I quietly thanked my stars as I was just about to ask her to make ‘Verumarisi adai’ for dinner, when my daughter pipped me. “Verumarisi adaiya? Verum Adi thaan kidaikum”, probably would have been the retort! I am not at all surprised, when I read that domestic violence during the lockdown has increased by leaps and bounds. Like how they say that we will have to wear masks while going out, may be, men should be advised to put a plaster across their mouths, while staying at home during lockdowns, I think.
Among the BJP (Bartan, Jhadu and Pocha) activities, many asked me why I haven’t written about the bartan activity in my 1st two parts. (If you haven’t read those, please read them now, here and here). Yesterday, while doing the vessels, the wife said, “I think, we should buy a Dishwasher now” to which I replied, “Why? We already have a Dishwasher at home. I am there no? “This joke is worse than the regular bad jokes you crack” she replied and then added, “By the way, we then have two Dishwashers at home. One good and the other which just wastes Vim liquid! In the last 15 days, 2 litres have literally gone down the drain!” Go back to the last line of the last para!
“Can you just come here and check what has happened to the printer? It’s not printing!” shouted the daughter to the wife. “I am busy now. Call your dad. He is supposed to be the “printer expert”, the wife replied, wriggling out of the situation. “WFH means Work From Home and not Work For Home”, I yelled, while being engrossed in a spread sheet submission. For long, we never had a printer at home. Whenever that topic came, I used to give “insider” gyan that a printer is like a white elephant and that whenever we want, we will just get printouts done from a jobber. But finally, I relented when the needs of the school increased exponentially and we ended up purchasing a printer at home few years ago. Little did I realise then, that my background in printing industry will become like my Electrical Engineering background!
Whenever the printer shows some error and those of you who have used inkjet printers at home will agree that it happens very often, I am usually summoned to check the printer. It is ink related issue at times, Wi-Fi related issues sometimes, and print quality issues some other times but, paper jam issue most of the times! And invariably after trying my hand a bit in vain, my counsel will be to call the technician, so that I don’t end screwing up the printer for good. This will be followed by “You can’t fix a simple problem in the printer? You are supposed to be a printer industry veteran!” jibe which I am now quite used to. And then you know what happens? The wife will saunter in, switch Off and On the printer and remove the paper if stuck slowly and then pronto, the printer starts working! This almost happens every single instance! Now you understand the connection between my Electrical Engineering and printing industry backgrounds!
With the shops and general market being shut, I am eagerly waiting for the Amazons of the world to start operations soon. The mop stick which broke in Week#1, needs urgent replacement. For few days, we were managing with the same but now it is completely broken. So, the leg has become the mop stick and you know how tedious it is to wipe the floor with your leg!
All of you must have realised by now that lockdown teaches you many life lessons. In my case, the technique of mopping the floor is one. The first day, when I started wiping the floor with my leg, I finished the job and as I was about to sit, the daughter quipped, “Mom, is it Krishna Jayanti today?” The wife replied, “No! How will Krishna Jayanthi come now? To which, the daughter replied with a wry smile, “Look at the floor”! Sarcasm runs in our family blood, I thought. She was referring to few marks on the floor of my feet that remained after I did the mopping. “Krishna’s feet were small. This looks like that Kamsan’s”, the wife joined the fun fest. Not just blood. Sarcasm is part of our family body fat as well, I learnt. Also, the important lesson and fundamental principle of mopping. While mopping, you will have to go on the reverse, if you have to avoid the Krishna Jayanthi jibe every day! By the way, for the uninitiated, on the Krishna Jayanthi day, South Indians celebrate the arrival of the birth of Krishna, among other things by drawing rangoli of pairs of mini feet on the floor from the door to inside.
As I mentioned in the beginning, the weariness of reading my lockdown notes must have also started to show up amongst you, I guess. So, here I am, signing off on this weekly despatch of my lockdown notes. Of course, will continue with my regular posts!
Disclaimer: All characters and situations in these posts are fictitious. Resemblance to any real person and real events are purely coincidental.
We breathe sarcasm in the family!
Pic credit: Webdunia
Dear RSA
Again a good one, really enjoyed this
Fundoo Mamu
Thanks mamu👍🏻👍🏻
Very nice one Anand. Enjoyed thoroughly
Very casually written blog RSA, it has brought out the natural family quotient, that resounds a given situation now, in most of the households, across our country, particularly the city dwellers.
Good one da.
Enjoy writing, so that, we enjoy reading it.
Thanks a lot, APS for reading every post and meticulously giving the feedback. Really appreciate it👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
All episodes during the ‘three’ spells of of WFH have been truly hilarious expect for the fact that your friends have been more than generous in their kind words of appreciation. All is well with mutual admiration clubs. Looking at my past 50 years’ record (if not little more) of staying lazy at home all the time, this type of lock down is no different except that the spell is encouragingly flatter (rhyming with.the COVIND graph metaphor).
No one can dare to ask me for extending a helping hand in kitchen (unlike in your case) since it will be at their own peril. Yes little housekeeping can be entrusted. Since I happen to be the only mortal in the ‘non-cooking category:” nobody else will be free to take up this assignment..
What is happening with me now is quite strange but similar to the army of people waiting unnoticed behind you as you are sitting on a bench and taking food in a crowded marriage hall..The moment I finish cleaning few items and look back, many more are ready with those back standers for handing over.. There I feel like telling “Aa Byle, Mujhe Maar”!
Thanks for reading and giving your detailed self deprecating comments😊😊
Pingback: Notes from my Lockdown diary – Part 4 – anandkumarrs
Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you will be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will come back very soon. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great posts, have a nice holiday weekend!
Good one!
Thanks Syamala!
Just sharing .
I had wrote this as a 4 part series.
These are the links to the other parts
Part 1 – https://wp.me/p1dZc2-BT
Part 2 – https://wp.me/p1dZc2-C4
Part 4 – https://wp.me/p1dZc2-Cw
Pls check them out when you have time!
Thank you!
👍 thanks for sharing!