It was near quarter to five in the morning, when Nisha opened her eyes and checked the wall clock. She smiled to herself as she was quite relieved to see that she has fifteen more minutes to continue her sleep. She closed her eyes forcefully. A dim light was filtering through the window curtain, she realized it is still dark outside. She heard a small whimper from nearby, without opening her eyes, she patted the little bundle beside her and the baby went back to sleep. She recalled that today from 6AM, there would be a power failure for 2 hours. She reminded herself that she has to turn on the water heater first thing when she wakes up. She has to start the washing machine also after that so that all those piled up dirty clothes are washed before the power failure.
She has to send the presentation which she had finished last night to her manager and hopes that internet is working and network is available now in the morning. Last night at the last minute, network was lost. And she hopes she would not be late for the morning meeting today. She is really embarassed giving excuses for her late coming every other day. At that very moment, her mobile phone started making sounds that jolted her out of the bed. She has to turn off that alarm before it disturbs her sleeping family.
She turned off the alarm and checked if anyone woke up because of the noise. She was relieved that nobody even turned. She started with her morning chores. After loading the washing machine, she came to check the calendar and was excited to see that it was a Friday. She can sleep more on the weekend. She suddenly recalled that her daughter needs to wear her white uniform today. She ran to check if the uniform is in presentable condition and was horrified to see a stain. Thankfully the stain remover bottle was not empty, she dabbed a little liquid into the stained area, waited for the stain to disappear and then ironed the dress. By the time she was ready with the breakfast and lunch boxes for herself, her husband and her daughter, her maid arrived. It was an ordeal to keep an eye on her maid as that lady tends to forget and skip places to clean. Nisha went on with her rest of the work alongwith.
Her baby boy would go to the day care so she packed extra clothes, diapers, his toys, blanket, his food items and kept a note about the items packed and timetable for his feeds. At seven, she woke her daughter up who didn't want to wake up. Nisha, too, hated waking up her little sleeping beauty but the school bus would not understand that. She made her daughter ready and eat her breakfast by 8AM, when she heard the bus driver honking at the gate. Nisha carried the school bag and caught her daughter's hand and ran to the gate. Thankfully, they didn't miss the bus.
Fortunately that day the Ayah came on time and gave bath to the baby so Nisha could get ready quickly. By the same time, her husband also woke up and got ready. They left home by nine and after leaving the baby at the day care on the way, Nisha reached office by 10:15 AM, that was fifteen minutes before her morning meeting. Her teammate asked her how did she manage to come early today. Nisha gave her colleague a smile and started her work day. Around 11:30 AM, while the meeting was still going on, she was emabarassed to hear her mobile phone ringing with reminders to pay electricity bill, phone bills and internet bills. But still she was gratefull to the modern technology for she could pay the bills online. She got a text message that the gas cylinder booking that she had made on Monday has been cancelled, so she made a note and set a reminder for Saturday to do a follow up on that.
At 3 PM, her neighbor aunty called her that her daughter, Shruti had not yet arrived from school. Shruti generally arrives by 2:45PM and goes to the neighbor's place where that aunty took care of her till Nisha and her husband are back home. Hearing that a cold sweat ran through her spine, she made a call to the school and got to know that the school buses have left at their usual time and her daughter has also left school. She tried to call her husband but he didn't pick up and sent her a text message that he was busy in some meeting. She dialed the bus driver's number but he also didn't pick up. Nisha was close to tears when her savior neighbor called again to inform Nisha that her daughter has arrived and the bus was late due to some road blocks. Nisha heaved a sigh of relief and at the same time the bus driver also called her to tell her the same. All that sorted out, Nisha went for a coffee break.
At 4 PM, her manager called her to know if she could go attend some conference next week for 2 days at Hyderabad. Nisha told him it would be difficult for her for which he remarked that Nisha should be open to take up more responsibilities at work. Nisha was asked to prepare some documents and come for a review meeting at 6 PM the same day. While she was preparing the documents with due concentration, her nearby teammate remarked that ladies are very good in documenting and all the technical staff should be left to all male employees. Nisha kept quite but it was on tip of her tongue to answer back that the last task (the so called technical staff) that was assigned to him which he had left it pending for almost a month was assigned to her at the last minute and she had to finish it within a week.
Around 5 PM she gets a call from her husband and when she picks up her husband barks at her for her mobile being not reachable from long time. He informs her that he got a call from the day care that their baby has a temperature and he has not slept for a single minute the whole day. So, her husband asks her to go pick up the baby by 6 and go home by bus or a cab. When she informs him that she would not be able to leave by 6 and moreover, she has no cash with her today to catch a bus or a cab, her husband remarks, "Of course, you have money only to spend in a salon" and drops the call. She was aghast by his remark as she had last visited a salon three or four months back.
By 6:30 that evening, Nisha finishes her day at work and rushes to the day care to pick up her son. He was overjoyed to see his mother and seeing his excitement and smile, Nisha forgot what a busy day she had at work. She checked for his packed things and enquired about his feedings, diaper and dress changes, etc. She was advised by the day care facility to come early to pick up her son. Around seven her husband came from his office to pick them up from the day care and they left for their home. In the meantime, she got several calls from her neighbor asking about when they would reach home as their daughter was becoming restless.
Today her son was also cranky on the way home and her husband complained that he had a busy and tiring day and she should at least try to keep the baby quiet while he is driving. After sometime her husband received a call from his mother, since he was driving he directed it to Nisha. When she told her mother-in-law that they have not yet reached home, her mother-in-law complained,"You have not yet reached home, Shruti is all alone at home. I also brought up two kids. I used to wake up by 5 in the morning and whole day used to take care of the household but I never left my kids at day care or with a neighbor. Do take care from next time." Nisha was speechless. Her mother-in-law then added, "By the way I had called to remind you that next week when your salary comes, send two thousand to your sister-in-law this time so that she can buy a nice Saree for her birthday. She doesn't get time for shopping also nowadays because of the little baby and whole day she needs to take care of the house. And also do not forget to send the pocket money for your brother-in-law. You should send him some extra this time as his exams are coming near and he would not be eating well." Before Nisha could reply anything, the call was dropped.
They reached home by 8 PM and Nisha started preparing for dinner. Her husband informed that he had some calls to attend to so he should not be disturbed and went to the study. Shruti gave account of what all she had done that day to her mother. Nisha fed the baby and made him to sleep and after that she made sure that fussy eater Shruti also finishes her plate and goes to bed after brushing her teeth. Around 10 PM both husband and wife sat for dinner. During dinner her husband informs her that next week he is going for a team outing to Coonoor and enquires if she could manage alone for two days.
After dinner, while her husband was watching the business and news channel, she stacked the soiled dishes and bowls and other utensils in the sink and washed the lunch boxes and feeding bottles. She picked up the scattered clothes and toys of her kids and checked upon her sleeping babies. She then arranged the clothes, bags, kept the mobile phones for charging, arranged Shruti's books and notebooks and finally sat on a sofa in the living room at 11. She asked her husband to turn on some music channel to which she got the remote grudginly, "we men never get to watch TV, when you women are so busy watching the soaps". Nisha could not understand which soap does she watch and where is the time. He also commented that she should join the gym as her waistline is increasing. When she answered that she has no time in the morning, he suggested she go to gym in evening. Nisha replied, "Yeah, sure".
By half past 11, her eyes were drooping so she goes to bed where her whole family is sleeping, finds a place and lies down. It was a complete bliss. Tomorrow is a Saturday and Nisha was happy that she would be able to sleep for one more hour.
At 4 PM, her manager called her to know if she could go attend some conference next week for 2 days at Hyderabad. Nisha told him it would be difficult for her for which he remarked that Nisha should be open to take up more responsibilities at work. Nisha was asked to prepare some documents and come for a review meeting at 6 PM the same day. While she was preparing the documents with due concentration, her nearby teammate remarked that ladies are very good in documenting and all the technical staff should be left to all male employees. Nisha kept quite but it was on tip of her tongue to answer back that the last task (the so called technical staff) that was assigned to him which he had left it pending for almost a month was assigned to her at the last minute and she had to finish it within a week.
Around 5 PM she gets a call from her husband and when she picks up her husband barks at her for her mobile being not reachable from long time. He informs her that he got a call from the day care that their baby has a temperature and he has not slept for a single minute the whole day. So, her husband asks her to go pick up the baby by 6 and go home by bus or a cab. When she informs him that she would not be able to leave by 6 and moreover, she has no cash with her today to catch a bus or a cab, her husband remarks, "Of course, you have money only to spend in a salon" and drops the call. She was aghast by his remark as she had last visited a salon three or four months back.
By 6:30 that evening, Nisha finishes her day at work and rushes to the day care to pick up her son. He was overjoyed to see his mother and seeing his excitement and smile, Nisha forgot what a busy day she had at work. She checked for his packed things and enquired about his feedings, diaper and dress changes, etc. She was advised by the day care facility to come early to pick up her son. Around seven her husband came from his office to pick them up from the day care and they left for their home. In the meantime, she got several calls from her neighbor asking about when they would reach home as their daughter was becoming restless.
Today her son was also cranky on the way home and her husband complained that he had a busy and tiring day and she should at least try to keep the baby quiet while he is driving. After sometime her husband received a call from his mother, since he was driving he directed it to Nisha. When she told her mother-in-law that they have not yet reached home, her mother-in-law complained,"You have not yet reached home, Shruti is all alone at home. I also brought up two kids. I used to wake up by 5 in the morning and whole day used to take care of the household but I never left my kids at day care or with a neighbor. Do take care from next time." Nisha was speechless. Her mother-in-law then added, "By the way I had called to remind you that next week when your salary comes, send two thousand to your sister-in-law this time so that she can buy a nice Saree for her birthday. She doesn't get time for shopping also nowadays because of the little baby and whole day she needs to take care of the house. And also do not forget to send the pocket money for your brother-in-law. You should send him some extra this time as his exams are coming near and he would not be eating well." Before Nisha could reply anything, the call was dropped.
They reached home by 8 PM and Nisha started preparing for dinner. Her husband informed that he had some calls to attend to so he should not be disturbed and went to the study. Shruti gave account of what all she had done that day to her mother. Nisha fed the baby and made him to sleep and after that she made sure that fussy eater Shruti also finishes her plate and goes to bed after brushing her teeth. Around 10 PM both husband and wife sat for dinner. During dinner her husband informs her that next week he is going for a team outing to Coonoor and enquires if she could manage alone for two days.
After dinner, while her husband was watching the business and news channel, she stacked the soiled dishes and bowls and other utensils in the sink and washed the lunch boxes and feeding bottles. She picked up the scattered clothes and toys of her kids and checked upon her sleeping babies. She then arranged the clothes, bags, kept the mobile phones for charging, arranged Shruti's books and notebooks and finally sat on a sofa in the living room at 11. She asked her husband to turn on some music channel to which she got the remote grudginly, "we men never get to watch TV, when you women are so busy watching the soaps". Nisha could not understand which soap does she watch and where is the time. He also commented that she should join the gym as her waistline is increasing. When she answered that she has no time in the morning, he suggested she go to gym in evening. Nisha replied, "Yeah, sure".
By half past 11, her eyes were drooping so she goes to bed where her whole family is sleeping, finds a place and lies down. It was a complete bliss. Tomorrow is a Saturday and Nisha was happy that she would be able to sleep for one more hour.
