Madhumita is not a working woman, she is strictly a housewife. Her husband Mukund is a software engineer. He’ll return only at seven in the evening. He’ll relax watching television with the remote in one hand and his Blackberry in the other. Madhu will feel frustrated by his indifference. And, she’ll be more annoyed when Mukund shows hurry and anxiety whenever his mobile gives a ring. If she shouts at him, he would switch it off and start talking to her. But it would be only till the time when the phone rings again. And, in between these short telephonic talks, the cricket matches telecast on the television would keep Mukund occupied. It is not that Mukund doesn’t relish spending time with his family, talking over phone and watching television have become addictions. As entertainment facilities advance with the passage of time, they become more and more part of our life, at one stage reaching a point wherein they snatch away our peace of mind as well as peace in the family.

The case of Narmada is different. Narmada and her husband Kannan both are high officials employed in different firms. They’ve enough servants to look after the children and the house. But still, they lead a mechanical life. There’s a healthy competition between the two of them in earning good name and getting promotion at their office. Though this is a good thing, it has its negative side too – family life is pushed to the backseat. At one stage, both felt that they very badly needed some diversion and rest. They went to a far off place with their children. But mobiles and laptop also ‘went’ along with them!

Peace of mind and happiness do not concern money or place; it comes from within. Couples who want to spend time together at weekends dine outside with the idea of enjoying together. But they carry their mobiles and start talking to their friends even at the restaurant instead of talking to each other! How many families watch television together on festival days? Youngsters play video games while elders surf the net. There’s time for face book, but no time for face-to-face with their dear ones! These modern gadgets are ‘satans’ that snatch away the peace in the family. No doubt, they are very useful in getting things done at the proper time but we should never allow ourselves be enslaved by them. Those who spend all their time in watching television, talking over phone or surfing the net might try to justify their behavior but they don’t realize that their behavior might be wrongly construed by their family members that these things are more important to them than their family. The man would argue that he strives for the sake of his family only and the wife would also claim the same. But these arguments only lead to disappointment for the children. The marriage also suffers because of these altercations.