Caught in the Crossfire: How 80s Kids Became the Sandwich Generation

If you’re a kid born in the 80’s, Congratulations ! You are part of the most emotionally squashed generation ever. We are the ones who grew up with “Hum Aapke Hain Koun”, unrealistic expectations and laced with passive aggression. Our boomer parents? Oh, they loved us but just not our decisions. Especially when it came to “Marriage”.

The moment we mentioned love, their inner detective gets activated. Suddenly, they became walking-talking encyclopedias of every failed love marriage in the entire subcontinent.

"Ramesh’s daughter married for love. Divorced in 6 months. Now she lives in an ashram doing social service."
"Neeta from the next building? Eloped. Came back crying. Horrible mess."
"That Kannan boy? Alcoholic now. Love marriage!"

We are still not sure how they know so many failed love marriages. Is there a secret WhatsApp group called “Daily Digest - Love Marriage Horror Stories”

But when we pointed out someone stuck in a disastrous arranged marriage, suddenly it became:

"Oh, that's a one-off case."
"You can't judge all marriages like that."
"Marriage is adjustment and we family members are here to support you."

Support? More like silent judgment wrapped in unsolicited advice.

God forbid if we said, “We are not in a hurry to marry just for the sake of it.” That triggers a full family intervention. “Are you depressed? Do you need help? Have you been watching too many Western shows?”

Fast forward to our 40’s, still single suddenly the very same parents who ran their fingers down the matrimonial checklist like auditors at work now say - "Forget caste, religion, background… Just find someone. Anyone. We are so modern now that we are fine with the Alien from Mars. Even that one friend who keeps liking your Facebook posts is he/she single? Your happiness is important.”

Funny how when their chosen alliance doesn’t work out, it’s a learning experience. But if we fail, it’s a moral story passed down through generations.

So here we are: Too modern for our parents; Too traditional for Gen Z.
And somehow expected to be emotionally available and financially stable and ready to marry whoever clears the family’s ever-changing checklist.

But don’t worry. We are adjusting. Just like we did when they made us pause Mario to answer landline calls.