Moved by the empathy shown by my manager.

My manager is a woman and one who is diametrically opposite of me by nature. She genuinely believes she can fix people and the world and that one cursed presentation. I'm more of a realist - I know a lost cause and let it be. Perhaps that's why she is very fond of me - a dreamer always needs a realist and vice versa.

My grandmother passed away a few weeks ago. My family wept uncontrollably and that was a coping mechanism for them. Me? I withdrew. I felt heartbroken but not one tear left my eye.

My coping mechanism was to work 12-14 hours a day and try to get over the grief. I couldn't eat, sleep, talk, and felt anxiety take over my body.

This went on for two weeks until my manager called me on Teams and said "I'm putting you on mandatory paid bereavement leave. You are not okay. Take the next two weeks off and heal. I don't want to hear from you at all, okay?"

So, I picked up books. Reddit. My old blue acoustic guitar. I resumed my evening walks and sat under a banyan tree I've loved since I was a kid. And maybe it was time or looking after myself, but I started healing little by little.

She didn't have to do that. She got ZERO benefit from letting me go. My friend didn't even get a leave approved for her own brother's wedding.

In a world where we say "aurat hi aurat ki dushman hai", I have some wonderful women around me. I feel so lucky. I'll forever remember and cherish this act of kindness. And if an opportunity comes where I can extend this grace and compassion to someone else, I'll do exactly that.