The middle overs...

Unlike the boring middle overs of an ODI cricket match, the middle years of a man’s life are buzzling with activity. It is a significant milestone in a man’s life especially if you are an Indian. The day you turn 30, it is the start of a different way of looking at things in your life. When you are into your thirties, you are not exactly old but you are certainly not young.

You would have tied the knot by this time in your life or about to, either out of your wish or giving up to the unrelenting pressure from your home. Secretly, you know this is your last chance with both your hairline receding fast and waistline expanding fast.

There is a sea of change in all aspects of your life. At home, your parents are retired and you are the financial center of the family now. You are being consulted for every minor decision at home. You think twice before you make any expense. You get to know the real price of milk, vegetables and get yourself acquainted with reality. You don’t waste food any more. You plan a week ahead to go to movies after making damn sure the money spent is worth it. You don’t take the bike or car unless it is absolutely necessary. You prefer to walk than taking an auto. You finally start learning about investments and taxes (though you have been planning since you got a job) now that they are eating up a not-so-small pie of your salary.

If you are a father, you are on a whole different plane. If you have a newborn, you are probably busy buying them diapers. You get at least 10 questions from your toddler on everything they see or hear. You are the cynosure at malls for making your children cry by not getting them what they want.  You visit the school as a parent now. You plan for your kid’s LKG, UKG, so on and so forth and find that you need to keep getting your promotions at a good rate to keep up with the school fees. Your toddler is only in kindergarten but you start thinking if you can afford his/her medicine or engineering degree.

You do a month long research and analysis online before you buy anything, from a baby’s diaper to a dinnerware, remote car to a real car, toy phone to an iphone. You dig through all websites to get the best deal for your once in a year or once in two years vacation. You don’t want to waste time at office, now that you have to shop for vegetables, teach and feed your kids once you reach home. You plan for every expense at the start of the month and secretly worry at every unplanned biggie that shows up once in a while.  

Meanwhile, your wife complains you are not the romantic self you were. Though you know there is some truth in it, you keep refuting it. She complains that you don’t get her flowers, get her a gift or even a card on her birthdays. She wants you to go to the gym but you keep postponing it due to lack of time (or due to the hit it would have on your budget).

If you are facing one or more of these symptoms, don’t worry, it is perfectly normal and certainly not curable  :)