Only unconditional love that exists on this planet is between a parent and their child.  
  
 Wife, Gf, Bf, husband, siblings sab come with expectations.

Founder

Product Manager

As a 34 year old (married) who has lost both his parents, nothing ever comes close to the unconditional love your parents give you. They’re the ones who genuinely want you to win in life. If you are lucky enough to have them around, be good to them. You never know when life will throw a curveball.

Analytics Manager

Treat em with Biryani now that navratri is over 😎

Mom made biryani today 🙌 
 I was craving last night, and woke up to Biryani today :')

Consultant

Software Developer

Buy them a biryani now to make thrm happy. Also, only parents and children are unconditional love, rest is all expectations led.

Software Engineer

In the morning, my brother shouted at mom and me.  It was a classic case of expectations mismatch, but this really pissed me. Though mom continued to be her sweet self. Later in the day, he hurt hi...

In the morning, my brother shouted at mom and me. 
It was a classic case of expectations mismatch, but this really pissed me. Though mom continued to be her sweet self.
Later in the day, he hurt himself (nothing serious), and my first thought was Karma works fast 😏
But parents were frantically looking up remedies, calling doctor and getting medicine prescription on Whatsapp (today being weekend + festival, it was even difficult)

That also reminded me of the countless times I have been an asshole to them. 
Had they thought like me, I would have been out of the house way back 🫠

Cannot say these to them, lest they get any ideas 😭 but Grateful!

Parents and their unconditional love

Parents and their unconditional love- Grapevine

"Beta, your room is always waiting for you."

Mom's words echoed in my head as I lugged my suitcases up the familiar stairs of my childhood home. At 29, with a master's degree and five years of corporate experience under my belt, I never thought I'd be back here. Not like this, anyway.

The decision to move back wasn't easy. My startup had failed spectacularly, taking my savings and self-esteem with it. Mumbai's sky-high rents suddenly seemed impossible. When Dad suggested I come home "just until you figure things out," it felt like both a lifeline and a step backwards.

The first week was a strange mix of comfort and chaos. Mom's cooking was a welcome change from my diet of Swiggy/Zomato. But the luxury of home-cooked meals came with a side of "Why aren't you eating?", "You've become so thin!", and unsolicited advice on everything from my career to my love life.

My old room, now Dad's "home office," was a time capsule of my teenage years. Faded cricket posters shared wall space with his collection of business books. At night, lying in my childhood bed, I'd stare at the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling and wonder where I'd gone wrong.

The hardest part was the loss of independence. Suddenly, I had to inform my parents if I was going out late. Dad would casually inquire about my job search over breakfast. Mom would remind me to make my bed, as if I hadn't been doing it myself for years.

But amid the frustration, there were moments of unexpected joy. Like when Dad and I stayed up late discussing startup ideas, his eyes lighting up with an enthusiasm I'd forgotten he possessed. Or the afternoon I spent teaching Mom how to use Instagram, both of us laughing at the filters.

Slowly, I started to see my parents not just as "Mom and Dad," but as individuals with their own dreams and quirks. I noticed the silver in Dad's hair, the new lines around Mom's eyes. When had they gotten older? Had I been too busy "adulting" to notice?

There were adjustments on both sides. I learned to bite my tongue when Mom rearranged my carefully organized closet. They learned to knock before entering my room. We all learned the delicate dance of sharing space as adults.

The turning point came three months in. I landed a new job, and my first instinct was to start apartment hunting. But as I sat at the dining table, sharing the news over Mom's special biryani, I realized something had shifted. This house, with all its quirks and challenges, had become home again. Not in the same way it was when I was a kid, but in a new, complex, adult way.

I ended up staying for eight more months. In that time, I not only rebuilt my career but also rediscovered my relationship with my parents. We argued, we laughed, we shared silences. I learned that Dad makes a mean omelet at 2 AM, and that Mom's got a wicked sense of humor I'd somehow missed growing up.

When I finally moved out, it wasn't with the desperate rush I'd initially imagined. It was a practical decision - I'd saved enough, found a place I liked, and felt ready. The send-off was a simple family dinner, where we laughed about some of the awkward moments from the past year.

As I settled into my new apartment, I realized those months at home had taught me a lot. Sure, there were tough times - privacy issues, disagreements over household rules, the occasional feeling of regression. But there were also valuable lessons:

1. My parents are people too, with their own lives and challenges.
2. Independence is more about mindset than living situation.
3. Family relationships can actually improve with some close quarters and open communication.
4. I'm more resilient than I thought, capable of adapting to unexpected life turns.

Would I do it again? Maybe, if circumstances required it. It wasn't always easy, but it was far from the disaster I'd feared. If anything, those months gave me a new appreciation for my family and a better understanding of myself.

So if you find yourself packing up to head back to your childhood bedroom, don't panic. It's not a step backward - it's just a different kind of move forward.

Moved back home after 11 years of living my life "independantly"

This is some bougie bullshit. Try moving back home when your family's crammed into a tiny flat and there's no space for your "childhood bedroom". Check your privilege.

Clinical research

You know, it hit me the other day. I've crossed over to the other side of my twenties, and something's changed. Those wild trips with friends? They're still fun, but these days, I'm itching to pack my bags with Mom and Dad instead - I absolutely love it!

Growing up, holidays weren't exactly a luxury, but they were... basic. A trip to the nearest hill station, staying at modest lodges. Or visiting relatives, where the biggest adventure was exploring a new neighborhood. Dad, the ever-dedicated government employee, and Mom, who gave up her career to raise me - they did their best with what we had.

Every spare rupee went into FDs, their dreams tucked away in those fixed deposits with my name on them. Fancy hotels or exotic locations? Those were things we saw on TV, not experienced firsthand.

Their hard work paid off. I landed in a good college, then scored a job that had me earning over a lakh straight out of the gate. When I wanted to switch careers or take risks, they never held me back. They let me fly, even when I'm sure their hearts were in their throats.

Now? Now it's my turn.

There's something deeply satisfying about booking that fancy hotel room for them, watching Dad's eyes widen at the view, or Mom cautiously testing the softness of the bed. Taking them to restaurants they'd never splurge on themselves - Mom still gasps at the prices, telling me off for wasting money, but I see the pride in her eyes. 

I love watching them experience things for the first time. Dad figuring out the in-room coffee machine like it's a puzzle. Mom hesitantly trying new cuisines, then asking for seconds. The way they hold hands and gaze at a sunset, finally free from the worries that shadowed their younger years.

It's not always smooth sailing. Dad still insists on carrying all the luggage. Mom packs enough snacks to feed a small army. They tire faster than I remember, and sometimes the generation gap yawns wide. But those moments - watching them rediscover each other, seeing them relaxed and happy - they're priceless.

This is what money should be for. Not just accumulating stuff, but creating moments. Giving back to the people who gave up so much for us. It's about time they got to enjoy the fruits of their labor, to indulge in the little luxuries they always put off for my sake.

So yeah, traveling with parents? It's underrated. It's a chance to see the world through their eyes, to understand them as people, not just as "Mom and Dad". It's watching them blossom when the weight of responsibility lifts.

To anyone out there lucky enough to still have their parents around - take that trip. Book that nice hotel. Splurge on that fancy dinner. The memories you'll make? They're worth more than any investment you could ever make.

Because the truth is, our time with them is limited. Every year that passes, I'm more aware of the clock ticking. And nothing - no project, no promotion, no amount of money - is more important than carving out every possible moment to be with them, to show them the world beyond what they've shown me.

I want to fill their remaining years with as much joy and wonder as they filled my childhood. Because one day, these memories will be all I have left. And I want them to be spectacular - full of new experiences, shared laughter, and the spark in their eyes as they see the world anew through the life they worked so hard to give me.

Here's a picture from our trip to Mukteshwar, lit up a nice bonfire post dinner on a chilly November night - this Airbnb was possibly one of the best I've been to!

Parents are my favourite travel buddies

Why am I posting a this now? 
  
 It’s the long weekend, go take them out - fuck savings, spoil them :)

Why do relatives feel that they should always talk about doing things the right way and how do they know what they say is the right way?

Some examples -
- to lose weight, focus on walking and fully come to normal BMI and then only do weight training. But, research suggests weight training to be more beneficial for both weight loss and increasing metabolism
- we should drink hot water to lose weight. What?😂
- get married early and marriage is the only way to go!
- our screen time shouldn't be more with mobile, but rather with tv
- don't use earphones, they damage ears
- Some fruits are beneficial for diabetes

Don't get me wrong, I love relatives. I just don't enjoy someone giving advice when I didn't ask them. Especially when I can't trust their source of information for anything - life advices, religion, shastra,  traditions, women's rights etc.

And, I am really tired fighting battle and tackling so much misinformation about everything. All I do is just listen to them and move on!

Wanted to know what do you guys do?

How do you deal with unsolicited advice of relatives?

So, yesterday was supposed to be all about sibling bonds, but it turned into a reminder of how complicated family can be. You know how some holidays just don't live up to expectations? Yeah, this was one of those.

I've got this tradition of reaching out to my guy cousins for Rakshabandhan since I don't have brothers. Usually, it's a nice little exchange - nothing fancy, just a quick "Hey, thinking of you" kind of thing. But this year? Radio silence from one of them. Let's call him Dev.

At first, I brushed it off. People get busy, right? But then I saw him commenting on stuff in our family group chat. Ouch. Talk about being left on read.

The weird part is, Dev and I generally get along fine. He even made this sweet post about his sister today. It just hit different, you know? Like, oh right, I'm not actually part of that sibling circle.

Mom dropped some truth bombs later, mentioning how this isn't exactly new. Apparently, back in the day when we'd send actual rakhis, they'd never even say thanks. I'd totally forgotten about all the heartfelt letters I used to write too. Guess they're still collecting dust somewhere.

I'm trying not to let it get to me, but it's hard not to feel a little... I don't know, forgotten? Unimportant? It's just a text, but sometimes it's the little things that speak volumes.

Cousin ghosted me on Rakshabandhan

Muje toh real sister ne call nhi ki. Aap cousins ki baat kr re ho. 
 I messaged her late night asking if she had been busy. She asked why I am reacting like this. 
 Lol

I am 33M, started working at 20. Earned 87LPA when I was dropped off in June 23. I am a very responsible person who had taken care of everything in the family for quite some time. My parents and relatives and everyone else who know me well, know this and kost have appreciated this at some point.
My sister separated from her husband 6 months after my marriage and had been living with me and my wife since then till COVID hit.
My mother has anger issues and my father is very obedient to her. I love my parents and they loved me I think.
Post COVID I moved to my hometown (because family) and things started going downhill. My mother will almost entire day find every faults in my wife and share it with everyone with an angry tone. I just listened to her initially for 2 years but at times I told her that it's enough.
Now she has started fighting me. After the fight I would go and apologize to her knowing that it's not my fault just to make things right.
This time when my mother fought with me she taunted me that you will come back and apologize. This hurted me even more than the fight.
Now I am not going back to apologize and she's escalating it every day. Convinced my father and my eldest sister(happily married) that I am a bad son. Shares messages like "maa bap ko pareshan krne vale bachho ko kya fal milta hai" in WhatsApp groups.
She has even asked me to vacate home. I am unemployed at the moment and I told her I will when I have a job.
I don't know how to deal with it. I can't convince people in the family that she has anger issues.

My parents hate me

Grapeviners, can you, with all honesty convince a non-believer like me into getting married and having children. If you do, my parents will send a million blessings your way. 

About me: 
- Female, 28
- mostly introverted, very selectively extroverted
- single and normally attractive
- Jinxed when it comes to relationships
- Financially independent, Net worth: 1 cr
- not bragging, but I'm decently intellectual and I can have smart conversations

My reason to resist marriage is: I'm scared it won't work out and will cause bigger problems than being single. Have seen too many unhappy marriages in family and friends. Dating scenes in recent times have only made things even more unimpressive.

Convince me to get married

After a few failed relationships, I had an arranged marriage (at that time, it was just to fulfill what my parents wanted). She was a very conventional girl,, never had any relationship before. I was scared going into the marriage too. 
  
 5 years later, she is the best thing that has happened to me. She helped me explore things I never would have. She gave my life a different perspective. 
  
 I'm not saying just because it happened to me, it could happen to you too. I'm saying unless you take the leap you'll never know what you're missing out on.

Does anyone have fights with their father especially boys? How do you deal with it?

Are the conflicts usually due to your own mistakes or carelessness? If so, how can they improve?

PS: I am 26 M living in a tier 2 city

Fights with Father

Drop the one small thing that made you feel good today.

Often we look for “happiness” while we rush through life like there will be time later to pause and enjoy. Little moments should be cherished and enjoyed - makes the day to day more meaningful. 

Mine: 

1. 5 small red roses and 3 white roses in the balcony. Waking up to that felt good and makes me smile today.

2. 5 minutes in the balcony and the morning sun. therapeutic!

What made you smile today?

An important meeting cancelled. Woke up to the cancelled invitation on my email.

Analyst

Growth manager

I remember visiting a married friend who has a 4-year-old. We were casually sitting and chatting when that little monster dived to get her father's phone and started running. The father politely asked her to give it back (new phone things, which I can relate to), he kept pleading, trying different names. 
My friend and I were laughing because it seemed cute.

Out of the blue, he shouts so loud that we froze. 
The little girl stopped, she was so scared that she peed right there and started crying. 
The father took the phone and stomped into his bedroom.

It took me a little time to understand what happened, though the mother was fast enough to react and console the child. But this really scarred me. I don't know what's right and wrong here. The kid shouldn't be running like that, but neither should a kid be subjected to such fear.

Ever encountered a situation where someone peed upon being shouted at?

I've always had a strained relationship with my parents, but lately, it's gotten unbearable. They're constantly criticizing my life choices, trying to control me, and bringing negativity into my life. 

I'm seriously considering going low or no contact, but I'm terrified of the fallout. Has anyone actually cut off toxic family members? How did you do it?

Considering cutting off toxic family. Anyone been there?

Life is just about how early you realise that you dont have to give shit about what people think of you, early you realise early you grow. 95% of people realise it by the time they are 50 and by then it is done deal. People who realise it by 20 > 25 >30 grow exponentially in that order.

Don't care about what others think

Project manager

My mother called me yesterday and tells me she got scammed for about 10 lakhs and needs money by Monday. She has 4 lakhs and I will have to cover the rest. Turns out she let a friend take a loan in her name and this friend gave fake jewellery as collateral. The friend took loans under her husband’s name and my mom’s name, she divorced the dude and escaped. The bank called my mom and has asked her to pay, now they’re filing a case against my mom for fraud.

I’ve spent my weekend talking to advocates and friends, and looks like the only way to get out of it unscathed is to cut a deal with the bank saying we’ll pay the money back and they don’t press charges in return. Contesting the bank is going to take time, money and the risk of my mom losing her job.

As an older daughter who grew up in a broken family, I’ve spent my childhood and adulthood protecting my mother and sibling. I finally landed a well paying job 2 years ago and now the responsibility extended to providing for my younger sister and my mother financially which I’m more than happy to do. I’ve worked hard the past few months to save what I have right now beyond what I give my family, use to sustain myself and finally felt happy about the position I’m in.

Now I’m heartbroken. I’m going to be emptying almost 70% of what I have so far for this for paying the bank and the lawyer. Especially for something that’s not even my mistake and something that could have been easily avoided. I’m not in a place to direct my anger at her, I know it’s a hard time for her as well. 


6 to 7 lakhs might sound like a small amount to some but I don’t have the privilege to throw money like that. I don’t have fuck you money. I don’t take money from friends. I’m 25 and literally just started my life 2 years ago after working for peanuts. 

What’s even the point of working hard, leading an honest life if this is how it works? It’s just truly unfair and I don’t know how to deal with it.

I wish life was a little easier and I just need to vent

Me too venting in this space.. 
 //Start if rant 
  
 My father too was frauded by a builder whom we had entrusted building flats on our plot of land. Fcker took booking amount from multiple people and left construction, claimants now coming after us saying its our responsibility to refund even though my father didnot recive any amount. 
 I had to take 18 lakhs loan for my father to complete construction and am all the time calling advocates in assesing risk from claimants who come barging at our home and building site with threats of filling FIR. 
 Every month my one third salary goes in Loan amount, had got a ideal wlb good paying job 2 years back after battling unemployment and low pay for many years. 
 Had planned to take wife and kids on vactaions for making up for lost time but now struggling to fulfill basic needs for family, forgot about vacations. 
 Have taken risk and moonlighting but it becomes hell on days when there is clash between jobs and sometimes lash out on my kids and wife and parents and then get hit by double guilt of not being strong enough.  
 Dont have any backing to face cheat builder who has backing of police and politicians, claimants coming after us as they have recognized us as soft target. 
 Preparing for 10 lakhs more expenses in multi year litigation trying to probe my fathers innocence. 
 Fcking jealous relatives enjoying all this from distance. 
 Fck this world. 
  
 //End of rant

Growth Manager

MOM said this line to me, today again. 

There have been countless times, when I have heard this from throughout my childhood. And then, people ask me why you don't love your mom. 

I don't feel bad anymore as I have accepted this sentence for life. But it made me understand that, words like these can kill anyone's self confidence, moral and belief to stay alive. 

I am thankful to my mom, that she made me strong enough in my early days that when someone says anything harsh to me now, I don't give a fuck. 

Guys, always be wise to choose the words you speak to someone, even if you are in immense rage. 

I am using this platform to share this, because I can never tell this to anyone else. Even, I haven't told this to my girlfriend who has been with me for the past 4 years. 

SPREAD LOVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ❤

"Wish, I never had you"

Having lost both my parents, sometimes I feel extremely sad and demotivated for life ahead. I feel at the end we all will die and there is absolute no control on anything that happens with us. Still we are in this rat race of earning more blah blah. What's the point

Friday Mood

Data scientist

It is like watching Baghban and crying my children don't love me.
No one sees how the parents were selfish too

Parents won't go to therapy, but will fuck their minds listening to BK Shivani, Jaya Kishori and sorts

Welcome to Office Gossip's Private Community

It's for the people who stay away from their parents for work.

How do you deal with this guilt of leaving your parents behind when they need you the most? Also, if you have done something regarding this, please mention.

Guilt of staying away from ageing parents

This causes a serious meltdown in an instant. Just sharing here so that if anyone reads this.. reach out to your folks and love them with all. 🙂

Parents and their unconditional love

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