Tanya fiddled with the hourglass filled with sand kept on her table. She absently watched the sand slipping to the bottom and then it suddenly hit her. She remembered reading somewhere about life being like a hourglass and the sands of time slipping through. Life had to be lived before dying.
She quickly opened her laptop, scrolled through the websites and made the necessary bookings. She then mailed her boss that she would not be available for the next 10 days and left, the clickety-clack of her stilettos resounding on the granite surface. At dinner, Tanya said “I have an announcement to make” making the father son duo of Vineet and Chirag to look at her questioningly.
” I am going on a solo trip to Bhutan, the day after. I will be gone for a week”
What!!!! Vineet almost choked on his soup.
Chirag looked too dazed to react
“I said I am going on a solo trip to Bhutan”
” But why, we will be going on our annual vacation in May. Why this trip now and that too solo?” Vineet questioned rolling his eyes in an exasperated manner.
” Why not?? It has always been my dream to undertake a solo trip. During college days my parents said I was too young. And then work happened. I worked very hard to climb up the corporate ladder taking no time out for myself. When we got married, we always did things together. After Chirag arrived, I couldn’t dream of leaving him and going till he grew up. I always kept postponing and consoled myself saying someday it will happen. I want that someday to be now. I will be turning 40 next month. Time is running out and I need to make it happen”
” How can you be so selfish? Have you thought about us? Who will handle things at home?” countered Vineet angrily.
” Selfish and me!!! Oh come on Vineet you know that’s not true. I refused a promotion to take care of Chirag. And when Ma had her knees replaced, I requested work from home for 4 months. I have never grudged you your boys trip. I have been running this house like a well oiled machinery for the last 12 years. I am constantly balancing my work and home without giving anyone a cause to complain and you call me selfish ” said Tanya indignantly.
” Woman’s day is round the corner. Everyone will talk about women empowerment, put women’s day quotes on their Insta feed, give gifts or cards which don’t really mean anything. Nobody pauses to ask the women in their life about what they want. I am tired of postponing my happiness. I am not running away from my responsibilities. I am just taking time off to do something which I always dreamed doing” continued Tanya.
Vineet mother had come out of her room and had stood in the doorway listening to the heated exchange.
” Tanya please feel free to carry on with your plans. It is high time Vineet and Chirag learnt to manage things on their own. Do what makes you happy so that you have no regrets later in life. Woman always tend to put themselves and their happiness at the last. Things need to be changed. “
” Vineet you should also realise a happy woman means a happy family ” she advised him.
Vineet had the grace to look abashed and apologised to Tanya. The day of departure arrived and Vineet and Chirag dropped an excited Tanya to the airport waving goodbyes happily. As the flight took off, Tanya felt a sense of exhilaration. Finally she was breaking free. This trip would be a gift to herself.
