The concept of separate vacation, something that was unheard of even in the nineties, is very much in vogue today even among the middle class couples. TWF correspondent Ritusmita Biswas spots the new trend .

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Scene 1: Early 1990s. Howrah station bustling with activity. Mr and Mrs Sen, Rumpa and Dimpu going for their much awaited annual holidays during the Puja vacation.

Scene 2: Year 2005. Howrah Station once again. Mr and Mrs Roy wave goodbye to their two sons going to attend a summer camp at Shimla. The train pushes off and the couple goes to the next platform where Mrs Roy boards Coromondal Express for Chennai. From there she will catch a train to Bangalore where she plans to spend 15 days with her sister. Mr Roy turns back to return home early. After all he has to catch the night train for Mumbai, from where he plans to go to Goa.

If you thought that we were discussing rich and the upper middle class families, you are mistaken. The concept of separate vacation, something that was unheard of even in the nineties, is very much in vogue today even among the middle class people.

Agrees Sreyashi Biswas, tour manager of a leading travel agency in Kolkata. “Nowadays it is very common that husband and wife enjoy a vacation at different places. We get several such cases during every vacation season where the husband goes to Goa and wife to Kulu Manali with a group of friends.”

Mrs Sangeeta Mitra, who travels a lot across the country, often on her own or with a group of friends, feels that enjoying separate vacations in no way signifies that a person is less committed towards his/her own family. “I have a very tight work schedule and so does my husband. Both of us love to travel but often it happens that out holidays do not match. In that case I see no point in sitting back at home and cribbing. I love travelling and going to new places. So I’d rather go out and enjoy my well earned leave,” she says.

Mrs Namrata Mehra who often enjoys vacation all on her own has a different logic. “I love the hills and my husband loves the seas. I love to laze around and do nothing in my holidays while he enjoys all sorts of activities. To sum up our holidaying temperaments do not match at all. Initially we used to visit the hills once a year and sea side the next year. But later we realised that going on a kind of holiday that one really does not want to go to causes enormous mental strain and robs one of the pleasure and relaxation factor of the holidays. Then we took a decision of enjoying separate holidays,” she says.

“It does not, however, mean we do not love spending time with each other. On the contrary we love being with each other and even during hectic work schedule we go out on maybe short lunch dates or plan short trip in weekends to spend time with each other,” she says.

The other major change in the travel routine of the middle-class probably is the gradual popularization of short trips and weekend getaways. Across Kolkata for example there has flourished a number of resorts and popular weekend destinations like Ffort Raddison, Peerless Resort at Mukutmanipur apart from the traditional getaways like Digha or Santiniketan.

Says Shoma Mukherjee, an airlines executive who along with her husband Pranesh Mukherjee go out for short trips very frequently: “We have recently been to Shankarpur. Both of us have very hectic schedule and even though at times we spend the weekend together, we have to constantly attend calls and at times go out for emergency meeting.

“Going out once in a while for a weekend trip first of all is not taxing on the pocket and does not entitle taking long leaves which are difficult to obtain very frequently. Despite that it gives us the much needed change, relaxation and helps us to revitalize our relationship as well as strengthen our family bonds.”

Psychoanalyst Rajyasree Banarjee says: “Today’s man is essentially epicurean. He has very few moments to enjoy and so he wants to live every moment to its fullest. This might be one of the reasons why anyone is not willing to lose out on anything in life for the sake of anyone in life, however close that person might be.”

“This, however, does not signify at all that the family bond is weakening. Rather I would say most women nowadays are independent., compared to their counterparts in yesteryears and hence can afford to go out on separate vacations, even though it might not be sponsored by their spouses,” she adds.