The cacophony in the room filled with toddlers and their mothers was replaced by murmurs as he entered. Some ladies giggled for he looked funny holding a tiny cuddly baby girl in one hand, his two-year-old son’s hand in the other and carrying a big backpack. Some greeted him with a respectful smile.
Meet Arjun, a stay-at-home father who had recently started his own consultancy. Tuesday evenings were spent at a nearby library for a story-telling session. Thursday mornings were reserved for early childhood education classes. Weekends were marked by either a visit to the play area or a toy train store accompanied by six months old Lisha.
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The phone bell rang.
“Hello Ma! Let me call you back. Lisha is having a bad diaper.”
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“Sorry Ma, it took forever feeding the kids and changing them into night-suits.”
Arjun’s mother stormed “Arjun, is this how you want to live the rest of your life? We had warned you not to marry that over-ambitious girl.”
While his dad whimpered in the background, “There is no point talking to your good-for-nothing son. I always knew that girl would make him a henpecked husband.”
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He made his kids sleep after his parents hung up on him.
The phone flashed with his best friend’s message. “Is it true that you quit your job to become a stay-at-home father?”
Even before he could reply, the door-bell rang. Doctor Priya, who had recently joined duty after maternity leave, was back after a hectic day at work. She was living the dream of her life only due to the gem of a husband that Arjun was.
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The positive silence that descended over the house and the smile of satisfaction on Priya’s face was worthier than the seven-figure salary Arjun compromised.
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