The conversations double up as online food tutorials

The Mahajans get on a video call every morning 

Graphic designer Preeti Mahajan's mornings start with watching her parents do yoga. Over a video call. While her mother, Indu, is in Mumbai, her father, Adarsh, is in Odisha's capital, Bhubaneshwar. "My sister delivered a baby and my mother flew down to stay with us. They couldn't leave together because we have a pet and a huge aquarium at home. He was supposed to join us soon, but the lockdown threw our plans out of gear," says Mahajan, co-founder of graphic design studio, Project 1.6. With the househelp absent and no previous experience in cooking, Sr Mahajan survived the initial days on instant noodles. Over time, he has learnt the ropes from his wife. "From how to slice a muskmelon to gauging if the dal is cooked, their conversations double up as online food tutorials," she laughs. Although her mother tried booking flights twice in March, when select airlines opened operations, she couldn't get hold of tickets. "Dad asked her to stay put and take care of my sister and the newborn, and that he would manage." Mahajan admits she is pleasantly surprised by how well he has adapted to the sudden changes. "He could have easily whined about the situation. Instead, he decided to take it on the chin and get on with life."