Gauri’s Thoughts

Just six months after my marriage, when I got a job offer from a company which had “Work at Home” option,  I literally jumped at it.  And I  started living happily ever after….Working in pyjamas, watching telly at one while having your lunch, evening visits to coffee parlors and visits to office just 2 days a week.  “Ever after” lasted  a month and  then the thunder struck and it  struck really  hard. In the form of my Japanese client…

 One dayI woke up to the ringing of my phone….There was “Very Upset-san” on the phone very very upset about the un-delivered Blueprint . After half-an-hour of deliberation, fortunately or unfortunately the only person left sulking was S who was upset about his long lost  sleep..I could hear my clock beeping four when I finally went to sleep again.

That was how the nightmare started….The regular comments from office about why Gauri should be taking all the latenight conf-calls and why Gauri should be reviewing all the crazy docs as somebody has to drive all the way back Home( Read “Firangi Paani”) ……….. After all, she works from home, Right? Also comments from home about why Gauri should be cooking dinner daily and why Gauri shouldnot mind even if she doesnot have a maid - After all she is at home the whole day, Right?

After a year, I had enough of my dawn to midnight schedule and more importantly sick of the sky level expectations from all sides.

  Unexpectedly, I got an offer from another company. In the final round of HR interview, they rather proudly mentioned the ”Work from Home” option and  might have been shocked to see the passion with which I refused.

A week back I joined my new job. I travel 45 minutes to an hour daily and crib about the  traffic in Bangalore.  But yes, I feel like my older self !

PS: It would be a lie if I say that the above was the sole reason behind me shifting the job, there was indeed a profile change, better brand and a pay hike attached…….:)