‘I don't know how to be apart from family after shutdown'

My niece was born during the shutdown. So things have been a little crazy with a new baby in the house. But everything in my personal life has been good during the shutdown, especially with my family around me. With the baby in the house, we have a chore routine so that the baby is always taken care of by someone. I have learnt so much about my family during this time. Though we have always been close, our relationships with each other got deeper. My brother-in-law is unfortunately not with us as he is stuck abroad. So, I have been trying to be there for my sister and listen to her if she wants to talk about how distance is affecting her. With my younger brother, we’ve been talking about his college and his goals and I’ve been trying to give him advice based on my experiences so far. That’s not to say everything is perfect. Of course, we fight. But the difference now is that when we do, we have to see the other person again. Typically I’d leave the house and go see a friend or something, but now we’re home together, and I have a better understanding of how my parents are when they’re angry, how I am, and how to behave with them. And this applies even to long-term discussions. With all this time, I’ve managed to talk to my parents about important things that needed this kind of time and physical presence, and so I’m grateful. Honestly, I don’t know how I’d be able to be apart from them. One of my friends is away from her family and she’s so worried. I am just so grateful that they’re around.

Neeraja Gayathri (24),