Lessons from Covid-19: I was the mom of the house, says Rustomjee Group CMD

"In the weeks ahead, I will perhaps go to office twice a week instead of every day for half a day, as I used to before the lockdown," he said

The new work life

We've been having digital meetings since last year. So we are actively promoting the work-from-home (WFH) culture. Personally, a lot of my meetings, from design to finance, are all organised online. In the weeks ahead, I will perhaps go to office twice a week instead of every day for half a day, as I used to before the lockdown.

Homebound, and how

During the lockdown, I was as good as the mom of the house because my wife was running her business. So, for the kids, it was interesting to see the (change in) dynamics. For me the breakfast routines are great with a lot of family bonding. I want to stay home more and hang out with the kids. Any unnecessary travel has been cut down. I may have gone once or twice to the Mantralaya and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation but otherwise the car hardly gets used. I think WFH will be here to stay for me and my team.

The lesson

My mind always works on business, and we are testing what our customers desire from the projects. We researched a lot of data from consumers on that, enough for an IIM to give its right arm for. We utilised this time brilliantly. I just realised that I am such a family person that going ahead, neither do I want nor will I have the kind of social life I did earlier. Life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent what you make of it.