During covid times, almost everyone became a philosopher. Covid was perceived as nature’s wrath and people vowed to have ‘simple living high thinking’ type of existence. Alas, this intention turned out to be as hollow as the resolution made by a drunkard in a daaru party. Outlandish parties, lavish weddings, shop till you drop and ‘zindagi na millegi dobara’ type trips are back. However, covid has led to a revolution without the firing of a single bullet. The way we work and interact has been permanently altered, courtesy the ‘office killer’ apps.
Many employees haven’t gone back to offices at all because some of the companies, especially the ones dealing with software, have learnt that ‘money saved is money earned’- they could cut down on office rent, housekeeping staff and overheads.
But work from home or a homestay may lead to paucity of soft skills because office politics is a great teacher. Coffee tastes so much better in offices than homes because it is often accompanied with a saucy revelation about a colleague. We learn to deal with those who have grossly deviant behaviour, though one may also be in this category. Also, one can have unique experiences- go to the chamber of the boss, convey a phony reason for leave and then watch the dance of the eyeballs, pursing of lips and the steely gaze. The art of sycophancy is honed by practical exposure in the offices. Office romance happens all the time despite being looked down upon by the management (though the managers are no saints).
Many youngsters, including the spoilt brats, were doing everything on their own while living in flats in their city of work. However, in their homes, they selectively forget skills like laundry, cooking and dishwashing. Also, they tell their parents every now and then, ‘I am under lot of pressure. The company is exploiting me by giving me more work to do just because I am working from home.’ After hearing this, mom’s motherly feelings surge and she decides to do all the chores for her child. The parents are unaware that after they fall asleep, there is binge watching of OTT shows and YouTube, gaming, chats and phone calls. But the security of the home improves since someone or the other is always awake. There are other advantages. One needs to buy formal clothes only for the upper half of the body. Rents and other expenses are saved too. We Indians can’t even dream of asking our adult offspring for rent. My erstwhile schoolmate, who stays in the US, told me a few months ago that when his younger son turned eighteen, he was asked, ‘Dad. If you don’t mind, can I continue to live in this house?’ My friend replied, ‘Yes, you can do so without paying any rent, provided you promise me that you will not act wayward!’ Kids in India don’t realize how privileged they are.
In future we might be able to work from another planet!
Jas Kohli is a noted humour writer. He is the author of three bestselling humour novels, ‘Lights! Wedding! Ludhiana!’, ‘Lights! Scalpel! Romance!’, and ‘Anything to Look Hot’.