The couple’s guide to spending quality time indoors

For the younger generation, it is perhaps easier to spend time indoors with their phones or laptops. But what about the elderly and middle-aged couples who had to change their usual routines and remain inside the house?

Some of them chose this quarantine period to become more productive and spend more quality time with their partners.

Director of Centre for Development Research Bangladesh, Mahmudur Rahman, 66, and his wife Saju Rahman, 54, recently celebrated their 37 years of togetherness.

"We were married young and I was busy trying to earn money and finding time to spend with the family. Back then we did not have mobile phones, or so many restaurants to go on dates. Yet we always made it a point to watch a movie together, or enjoy a game of carrom on weekends," said Rahman.

It is true that the whole world is going through a crisis, but constantly worrying about the future would not do any good. "I do not know what the future is holding, but I know that I want to enjoy every moment with my wife now," he added.

Farhana Faruk, 40, is working as the vice president of a reputed bank in Dhaka and her husband Iqbal Hamidul Islam, 42, is a director of Tax and Regulatory Service. The usually busy couple is now spending time doing household chores together.

"For the first time in our 18 years of marriage, I feel like we are truly enjoying it. These days we buy groceries together and he helps me with cooking. The only downside of being stuck indoors is watching weird Bengali movies together that he likes," Farhana chuckled.

Jamal Chowdhury is a 68-year old tea consultant while his wife Nasreen Chowdhury, 62, is a home-maker. Once college sweethearts, the couple enjoys travelling.

Jamal said, "I am a fitness freak but my wife does not share the same enthusiasm. When I asked her to participate in a 30-minute Zumba workout, she told me "this is not the age to dance around!"

"I am hardly on Facebook, but my wife uses my account to keep updated on the pandemic. Sometimes we bicker like children, but at the end of the day, we cannot live without each other," he added.

A mutual love for humour keeps SB Naseem, 66, managing director of Win All Hi-tech Seeds, and his wife Sultana Tuhin Afroz, 54, going strong during shutdown. "Sometimes I read out funny posts about couples on Facebook to her and we both share a good laugh," said Naseem.

Eye specialists Dr Afroza Khanam, 57, and Dr Md Ali Akbar, 64, are both consultants at Bangladesh Eye Hospital. The shutdown allowed them to spend time with each other.

"We try to keep calm by listening to recitations of the Holy Quran and praying together so that the situation becomes normal," said Afroza.

"My husband often recites poetry for me and together we spend our afternoons looking at the beauty of nature from our veranda," she added.

The above mentioned couples shared some suggestions on spending quality time with each other during shutdown and staying relaxed.
Cutting your significant other's hair

Barber shops and parlours are closed for now, so you could let your partner do the job.  YouTube tutorials are a great way to experiment with hairstyles, and you could start small by simply getting rid of split ends.

Preparing meals together

Cooking is a great way to bond with each other and also have a bit of fun. One of you can peel and chop the onions whereas the other can boil the potatoes and so on. This way the cooking will get done quicker and you will also get to try out different recipes.

Enjoying the nature

With the pollution levels going down, it is the perfect time for couples to enjoy the beautiful weather. Together you can take strolls on rooftops during sunset or sit at the veranda and enjoy the evening tea.

Listening to music or watching movies         

Couples can listen to music of their choice or have movie hours all by themselves.

Praying together

Praying together might work like a spiritual awakening for both partners and help them feel united and closer to each other.