In recent years, most of my friends or colleagues have got or are getting married, and even some are stepping into parenthood. Some have created Instagram pages or written blogs sharing their new journey – be it a journey of a newly married couple or of being a father/mother. And it’s good as it inspires people, and even gives them a chance to learn from their experiences. My journey is a bit different but worth sharing. Where everyone is sharing their new life- embracing future generations and moving forward, I on the other hand have held on and am embracing my present with a new experience. 

I share my life with the same people that I have been sharing with since my childhood. The people are the same but the relationship changed. The people, who were once happy when I touched their shoulder, are now pacing up to walk with my shoulder to shoulder. The people here that I am referring to are no other than my parents. My childhood was as usual as others with a strict father and an adorable mother. With a short-tempered father, it was normal to get scolded now and then, and always be afraid to utter any demand. And we all know, when a mother gets angry the feeling is no less than experiencing an earthquake because it happens once in a while and when it does, the whole house shakes. I know most of you will agree with this! 

I consider my journey special because now the equation has changed and I am enjoying every bit of it. They have always been my friend, no doubt, but the bond has become stronger. The father, whose presence in a bad mood was once a terror, is now jovial. The mother who always made sure that we learn new things, and pace up among peers, is now trying to upgrade herself and is always ready to learn new things every day. Sometimes, I have to switch roles – be their parent, take care of them, and even scold them; they too happily switch roles to be an obedient child and an innocent learner. It’s easy to nurture a newborn as they are learning for the first time. But for the generations before, it is difficult for them to unlearn old and learn new things or upgrade themselves with the change. Some people at age are reluctant to do so and become adamant that their way is the only way. It takes courage at a certain age to bring the change within them. 

With my parents around, I never feel that I am missing something. Need a company to binge-watch a series, my mother is there. Want to decide which gadget to buy or make investments – father is there. Want to discuss current affairs, hang out, gossip, shop, or just simply lie and do nothing – both are there. We do have different opinions over some topic and might end up in different pages but we do give every page a name. We respect each other’s views though we may not agree upon it. We refer to each other by any names; they don’t mind and never did. I do everything with them that I would have done with any of the friends of my age. Initially, my mother didn’t like touch-screen phones, and she even started using them when we had already changed 2-3 but I can bet she knows more than any of us in our home. She is pro at handling social media, made the highest record in a game which we are trying to break for months now, and updates herself with all the new applications, and if she doesn’t know something then she knows where to find it. My father on the other hand, a bit conservative at times also knows where to adapt and keeps space for broad thoughts. Though being a responsible and protective father, he is also a child who till now gets fascinated by a remote-controlled toy car. He was so thrilled when we gifted him one and always gets possessive with things that we buy for him. 

When the lockdown got lifted, everybody started traveling – meeting their friends whom they eagerly waited for, and looking for the life that they couldn’t enjoy during the pandemic. I, on the other hand, never actually felt that I needed to step out and meet people when I already have two amazing people with me. I am thankful to witness this phase and I cherish every moment that I share with them. People get excited seeing the growth of their child but I get thrilled seeing the growth of my parents and their way of adapting to the change. It was only possible because of their broad thinking and their perspective on life. It’s important to just stand still for a moment and observe – whatever you seek it’s already around you.