My Version of Luxury

My idea of luxury might be very different from yours.

Y'all know I quit my job 2 months back.

The first few weeks my family was super supportive of my decision.

I stayed in Chennai for a month to focus on my health and put my routines back in place. I enjoyed bonding with my sister as she just graduated school.

I hit my health goals and came back to Bangalore.

By this time the relatives on both sides of the family got to know that I was unemployed.

Every time someone from my family called, they'd go, "Did you get a job, khanna? Why is God doing this to you?! How are you managing?"

I didn't feel like explaining anything.

But when my dad spoke on the similar lines, I had to talk about it.

I asked my dad, "Why all the worry?" and he goes

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"No one has seen you take a break from work. You've always kept chasing something or the other since you were little. Even when we wanted you to hit pause you wouldn't. And we believed it was the hustle that kept you sane.

Over the years your lifestyle has changed, so we were worried if you'll be able to handle the new financial commitments. Also you married for love and not money"

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Ha... okay...That made sense. They clearly had the picture of me, that I had painted for them.

It's true that I've been hustling without hitting pause for 7 years straight. Yeah that's right 7.

It all started when my college professor told me that I wouldn't make it in life.

The reason I quit my job was not, just because I wanted to recover from my burn out, but also because I was ready for a break.

I'm the eldest daughter in the family, and although my family never burdened me with debt, I believe it is my responsibility to take care of them.

I'm incredibly grateful for my career in #sales, as it provided me with the financial stability I needed.

My idea of luxury was sending money back home, even when they didn't need it. Marrying the love of my life and covering more than half of our wedding expenses.

Saving for my sister's education.

Giving my husband the financial support to leave a toxic job when he needed to.

But most importantly, it was saving up so I could quit my job when I was ready, take a career break, explore, have fun, and work on things I was passionate about.

To everyone else who thinks I'm struggling without a job,

No I'm not. I was preparing for this, all these years.

This decision was completely by choice.

And I'm really happy with my current life.

I finally get the time to work on something I've wanted to for so long.

To focus on my physical and mental health.

The time to bond with my sister, and my friends who were so patient with me all these years.

And last but not least, I was right to marry for love.

Because only my husband Pragadeesh got this right.