123) The Dutiful daughter

I get up later at 7:30 and routinely chastened by mother,” Sona, is it impossible to get up to watch at least one sunrise in your life? You keep browsing and blogging all night and get up like Kumbakarna”.

I don’t blame mother at all. At 75, she is from the old school where the woman must be an early riser and have a bath before entering the kitchen. But look how tough my own life is.
At 8, I rush to the gym in Indranagar and it is a 15 minute drive in my Logan. This was my second car after a Santro and I feel so proud. My father was just a trader and an awful one at that. Our house barely kept neck out of water; we were always making errands to the pawn broker and getting fed 3 squares a day was almost onerous.

I still remember those days when I was shunned by everyone; my school uniform were the oldest and though full of stitches never held long to prevent another tear. Though I was good in athletics, I shied away from participation for fear that my dress would give way.

My uncle supported me through graduation and he showered his affection; a person I am eternally grateful for.

The best thing that happened in my life was a scholarship from Tata’s for a post graduate programme in Psychology. For the first time I was in a metro and my attire improved from the monthly reimbursement I was getting.

Now after a decade of working in OXFAM, I drive my own car, own a flat, and travel to all parts of the world. My mother cannot even book a railway ticket or go on her own to the mandi for vegetables. She will not venture out on the roads after dark while only last year; I spent a month in America. I explored the country on my own sometimes traveling on trains and reaching destinations in unearthly hours.

Even I was scared when there was a storm warning and I reached New York station at 2 in the morning to an empty station. I panicked and sought assistance from a cop. I boarded a cab only after the cop assured me of my safety. That was a close shave.

At work, I am in charge of 3 programmes: Learning Programme for kids in Salem District, handling a disaster management team in Bihar and another for rehabilitating street children in Annanagar. I supervise over 20 team members who report to me in addition being in touch with over hundreds of field people.

The day is full of reports, interacting with government officials, ensuring supplies to Bihar team, presentation, project appraisal and over thousand chores in a day. I log in no less than 10 to 12 hours at work in addition to at least outstation travel for 10 days a month. It is only by 9 or 10 that I reach home.

The work has been so hectic of late that I don’t even have time for my piano classes.
I sleep late into the night and only get up at 8 in the morning.

Am I justified?

Today, I have to take mother for check up with the dentist and she is already on a tuberculosis treatment. Dad fell from a chair and suffered a bleeding on the neck. At 83, he is still as stubborn as ever and refused a doctor.

My weekends go in caring for their medical supervision.

Who says that being a modern woman is easy? We have responsibilities both at home and office.