Fighting a war to watch television at home

Ihave to struggle hard to watch my favourite TV programmes, especially feature films, at home. My sixyear-old daughter hardly gives me any time and opportunity to enjoy some entertainment on television.

Whenever I pick up the remote control, she spares no effort to snatch it from me. When her efforts go in vain, she lovingly snuggles up and asks, “Papa, are you not going for a walk today? When will you buy me a sketch book from the market? Has the film just started or is it about to end?”

I know what she wants to convey. When all her tricks fail to move me, she goes to the kitchen, does some murmuring with her mom and returns to sit silently next to me. After a few minutes, her mother comes out of the kitchen, clucking her tongue and says, “It’s already 8pm and you’re still here. Why don’t you go to the vegetable market and bring the essentials?” She thrusts a bag into my hand. Unwillingly, I hand over the remote control to my smiling daughter and head out. This story is repeated every time with minor changes.

For me, Saturday and Sunday are boring days. It is because my daughter and I are home together with our eyes trained on the TV.

Early in the morning, I set the TV schedule for both of us. At first, she promises to stick to the schedule but by the end of it, I have to plead with her to give me some time to watch the Sunday movie. Then I win her over by promising to take her to the market for her favourite momos and then to the park for swings. Innocently, she falls into my trap and hands over the remote control. It’s only then that I am able to watch my favourite program, albeit with repeated interruptions, for the moment an advertisement flashes on the screen, she changes the channel to watch her Motu Patlu show.

My mother too faces the same ordeal when she visits us. She is given no time to watch her Gurbani channel in the evening and complains to me about my daughter.

A few weeks ago, when I visited my village and decided to take her with me for some days, her only condition was that she should be given time to watch her programmes in the evening.

I have started advising my mother to use my tactics on the little girl. Now when my daughter refuses to hand over the remote control to my mother, she promises to take her to the market for her treat.

It is only when my daughter goes to spend her one-month summer vacations with her maternal grandma that I get some quality time with my TV.

While she is away holidaying with her mother and grandparents, I spend a full month enjoying my favourite TV fare. It is another matter that now I plan to buy one more TV, exclusively for myself.

FOR ME, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ARE BORING DAYS. THAT’S BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE HOME TOGETHER WITH OUR EYES TRAINED ON THE TV. WE AGREE ON A TV SCHEDULE BUT SHE SELDOM ADHERES TO IT