The Midfielders of Life

Appreciating the silent workhorses - on the pitch and in life

I was raised in a family where watching football was commonplace. My father, uncle, and grandfather have always been avid fans of the game. As soon as I began to understand things, I started to enjoy (or at least watch) football. Bhaichung Bhutia, the greatest Indian footballer and striker of that era, became my favorite - a childhood hero in many ways.

One thing used to confuse me a lot back then. The elders in my household would always praise central midfielders! Sasthi Duley (also played in different positions) and Douglas Silva were household favorites. I never understood why they were so famous. What were they doing that made them stand out? My father also followed Mourinho’s Chelsea closely, and his favorite player from that team was Michael Essien - another central midfielder.

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As I grew older and started appreciating the game, I finally understood why central midfielders are so important. The value they bring to the team is immense. First Andrea Pirlo, then Xabi Alonso, Esteban Cambiasso, and Dejan Stankovic quickly became my favorites. You see, without good central midfielders, you simply cannot have a well-functioning football team. It is often said that if your team is performing well and the central midfielders aren’t getting much attention, they are probably doing an excellent job.

It has been nearly three years since I left my hometown and started living alone. It has been a great journey so far, with a steep learning curve at the beginning. But this experience has made me appreciate the role of central midfielders around us even more.

I was raised in a family where I never had to do household chores - ever! Except for making coffee and filling the water bottle, I practically did nothing. Feeling like having an omelette? A simple request to my mom or aunt would get it done. In the worst case, I might have to walk a grand distance of 100 meters to get the eggs. Biryani for dinner or chicken rolls in the evening? Just a call to my dad or uncle, and they would pick it up on their way home from the office.

I never thought about the effort involved in these things. Then I started living alone.

Suddenly, everything flipped. Want chicken curry for dinner? But wait! You don’t have onions! Or chicken! You’re out of luck. Missed waking up before 7:30 today? Too bad! The BBMP waste collector has already come and gone, you'll have to manage for another day.

The little things I never imagined would be a problem began to bother me once I started living alone. A leaking tap isn't just an annoyance anymore; it’s a crisis that requires you to Google quick fixes and hope you don’t make it worse. Misplacing a house key now feels like a mini heart attack (along with the frustration of carrying it every time you leave the house - ugh). When the fridge runs out of milk, suddenly, your entire morning routine collapses. These were all things I never had to consider before. But now, they are part of everyday life.

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Quick-commerce and 15-minute delivery apps saved me a lot of trouble, but I still realized I had been surrounded by many great central midfielders who shielded me from the little niggles of life.

The only downside? Now, I don’t feel comfortable visiting relatives, especially after giving them prior notice. That mutton curry isn’t just a delicious meal anymore, it now represents three hours of intense labor by someone. I see the effort behind every dish, the unseen labor that once felt effortless from the other side of the dining table.

All in all, living alone has been a wonderful experience. It has made me more independent, more appreciative, and in some ways, more thoughtful. I wish everyone gets to experience it at least once in their life.

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What about you? Have you had similar realizations after living alone? Share your thoughts, or if you liked this post, feel free to share it with others!