THE BURDEN OF THE SANDWICH GENERATION

Juggling your financial needs with those of your children and aging parents is a challenge that can be overcome with a little bit of prudence

- Narayan Krishnamurthy

Old-time residents of Malleswaram will remind you of many historical events associated with the locality. It has pockets where generations have continued to reside and have long-standing bonds. Like many other homes here, the Shastri household has four generations living in an independent house, which has stood here for over half a century. Over time, the house has witnessed its share of modifications to meet the changing needs of the family as well as to address the issues of modernity. "My father inherited this house from his father and the house has a history that dates back to over a hundred years," beams a proud 56-year-old Seshadri Shastri.

The two-storey house is home to Seshadri and his wife, his octogenarian parents, his mother-in-law who will be soon turning 80, his son and daughter-in-law and the youngest in the household, his two-year-old granddaughter. He has another son, who is completing his master's. Besides the eight family members, the house has a full-time help and a other staff who trickle in and out to help them manage their needs.

"I am up most days by 5 am to get my shot of coffee and fight any residual sleep," says Rama, Seshadri's wife. The claimants for coffee at that hour include her husband and her mother, who moved in with them a year ago after her father's demise.

Up north in Noida, "it's overwhelming trying to manage it all," for 42-yearold Rashi Arora, who is a caregiver for her parents as well as her in-laws, besides having her house to look after with one school- and one college-going daughter and businessman husband.

"I am maintaining two households, as my parents refused to move in with me, even though space wasn't a constraint," she adds. She is lucky that her parents agreed to move into an apartment close to hers, which helps reduce her commute in case of any emergencies that crop up with them.