A group Video Chat between drinking buddies during the lockdown.

“Bro, I am the worst sufferer of this lockdown. Firstly my boss is after me to do more work since I save on the commuting time and then the remaining time I spend either in Kitchen cleaning utensils or washing clothes. I should have chosen the cleaning duties,” said Hardeep.

“No dude, that is even worse. I can lift 20 KG dumbells but these cleaning duties are killing my back. I am counting the days till we get our maid back. I think Rahul did the wise thing by taking cooking duties,” said Aman.

“It was fun the first few days but frankly now all I want to make is Maggi. I never realized how much work cutting, chopping, and then cleaning everything is. You post one nice dish and people post more. Now there is the pressure of churning out the next masterpiece. And the worst part is that you can’t have proper cooler, fan or AC while cooking. I believe the only one amongst us four having a comfortable lockdown is Ajay. He is such a badass, our Singham,” grumbled Rahul as all three friends looked towards Ajay on screen.

He was a real Freebird and his wife Kaira was the sweetest and meekest wife they knew. Always going out of the way to please him with Ajay never even appreciating her good work.

Ajay looked at them sheepishly.

“You know it started like that only with me just reading the newspaper, watching TV, drinking beer, and enjoying the home-cooked meals. Kaira was taking care of everything, the house works, the meals, the kids, and even her office works but then I started noticing something.”

“What?” asked Rahul.

“You know that she is the group leader of her small coding team and the IT sector is working in full flow. She drastically changes the moment she is on her official Video conference call. It is like she changes from the angel we all know to a ferocious tigress. She gives the meanest jibes to any of her team member who doesn’t listen. The morning 1 hour, she is like scolding, threatening, or mocking her team to make them work harder and harder. Then once the conference is over she is again the sweet Kaira.”

“You are exaggerating surely,” said Hardeep.

“No, I am not. That day one of her team members got a call on his other personal number and he picked it up. Kaira got ballistic and made him take out the SIM Card and break it.”

“But that is his personal belonging,” interrupted Rahul.

“Exactly, but she is so scary that he did it anyway. Then one day she went ballistic and threw a glass on the floor just to prove a point. She shouts and scolds so much that her team seems to be working Saturdays and Sundays just to please her. And the scariest part is that she does this all in the study and comes out 1 minute later smiling and asking me can I get you anything.”

“What a transformation,” said Rahul. “Unbelievable. So what are you doing?’

“What do you think I can do. I am acting as a good husband like you and contributing my share to the housework. Who knows what she is capable of? Why take a chance. So like you all, I am sometimes cleaning, sometimes washing, sometimes taking care of the kids.”

“Yeah, you better do. This Coronavirus has changed so many lives in so many different ways,” says Rahul.

“So true,” agree Hardeep and Aman sympathizing with Ajay. How times change.

Kaira chatting with her friend Payal

Kaira: Payal your trick did wonder

Payal: Oh good, yeah

Kaira: The acting that you told me to do of being a crazy manager has worked so well. I don’t even have to say anything, he has become the perfect husband. No bossing me around or making me do all the chores. I don’t even have to ask and he by himself offers to share the workload. Thanks to you and all the guys for the play-acting. You are the best.

Payal: We are all happy to do it for you. I always told you that if you keep acting so sweet he will keep taking advantage of you. Better to put your foot down and this way you have without actually involving him.

Kaira: True, but that throwing of glass was too much!

Payal: I wish I could see Ajay’s face when you did that. ROFL

Singham!