My family and I - Chapter 2

Precisely after 2 minutes my dad was waiting outside the door tapping his foot impatiently. He was a stickler for time which is rather sad, considering he had to chauffeur three women around all the time.

“Dad, you know the way right?” Despite my dad’s repeated denials, he had a terrible sense of direction and apparently, it was something I had inherited from him. Left to ourselves, dad and I were perfectly capable of driving around in circles for hours without realizing we were lost.

With a flourish, my dad pulled out, I kid you not, a handmade map all the way from home till college. He had even gotten it laminated and marked important turns with a bright red marker.

And in blue one spot was circled which simply said Bartakke.

I groaned inwardly. Bartakke was the name of my dad’s old friend and I knew his daughter was of my age. What I didn’t know was that through some horrendous stroke of luck, she was going to be in my college AND in my class.

We were finally ready to make our way out of the house but not before my mum lectured me on how I was entering a whole new world and how I should be careful about my studies and how she wanted me to have fun but not too much fun..

My dad was pretty much, ready to blow a gasket by now. I couldn’t blame him really. 

As my mum let me go, she turned to my sister, “Say something nice!” she instructed, “It’s her first day.”

My sister had by now transformed from the girl next door into some kind of rocker chick with a thick layer of kajal around her eyes and dark lipstick, dark jeans and some weird dark boots. The only thing missing was a couple of piercings and tattoos, but even though Sonam threatened my parents that she was going to do it eventually, I knew she wouldn’t dare. She was far too scared of needles.

“Don’t you dare tell anyone you’re my sister! I have a reputation to protect.” she warned me as she walked by.

 I saw the look of shock and horror pass over my mum’s face fleetingly. I guess she was kind of hoping, rather praying, that this was a phase that Sonam was going through.

My dad on the other hand couldn’t understand why his beautiful daughter transformed into a vampire like creature every time she wanted to step out but he too knew better than try to stop her. We were both headstrong and the more someone forbade us to do something, the more attractive it became.

“I’m leaving now, with or without you!” My dad announced, after waiting at the door for fifteen minutes.

That was my cue and I practically ran out of the door before my mum could start on some other topic.

And we were off, guided by the laminated map, off to the Bartakke’s.

My family and I - Chapter 1

I wasn’t the smartest kid growing up. I used to think my dad was the coolest person in the world. I used to worship the ground my elder sibling, Sonam, walked on and I was fairly certain that my mum had a pair of eyes and ears wherever I went. She just seemed to know everything!

By the time I became a teenager I realized that my father and his antics were anything but cool, my sisters’ only aim in life seemed to torment me and my mum’s “know it all” radar worked overtime when there were any boys involved.

Today was my first day in college and I was being cajoled into wearing a salwaar kameez. Somehow my mom was convinced that if I wore a salwaar kameez, through some twisted logic, I wouldn’t be targeted by seniors looking to rag freshers.

“If you won’t listen to me, at least listen to your sister!” My mum said throwing her hands up in exasperation.

“I think you should Pinku! Besides you look very pretty in it.” My sister chimed in from the sides, an evil smirk on her face.

 Oh, by the way, my name isn’t really Pinku. I actually, have a very respectable one. Supriya. Don’t ask me how that name got distorted into pinku of all things!

Apparently, I used to have a pink blanket I was very attached to when I was a kid, but seriously, if anybody should be called Pinku, it should be my dad. It was he who picked out the blanket in the first place!

 Anyway, moving on, I was still desperately trying to convince my mom that I couldn’t possibly be seen in one on my first day of college. After all, first appearances are everything!

Alas! I may have been smart enough to sweet talk one of them, but both of them together! It was indeed, Mission Impossible.

I turned to my last probable ally, “Dad please!”  

My dad just shrugged and went back to reading the newspaper. He was, I guess, used to the constant commotion in the house and today was no different.

He looked at his watch and calmly informed that if I wasn’t ready in exactly five minutes, he would drag me to college regardless of my state of readiness.

The thought of spending first day of college in my red and blue checkered pajamas was far more horrifying than the salwaar kameez so, much to my sister’s amusement, I was ready to go in less than three minutes.

“Don’t you look nice.” My mum exclaimed, clipping the strand of hair I’d deliberately let loose on my forehead.

I rolled my eyes. Tomorrow! My day to be cool would definitely be tomorrow. 

My family and I - Introduction

Before I write anything, let me add a disclaimer. This one is pure fiction, even though its heavily inspired by my family and my friends families. 

My family is like every other family. From a distance we seem normal, even refined maybe, but get a little closer and you'll wonder how a bunch of seemingly dysfunctional personalities have managed to survive together for so long. Personally, I feel we belong in the madhouse! 

But when push comes to shove, I know where I'll automatically turn to for protection, acceptance and love.. 

Isn't that what families are for?