Mum's The Word

I spent a lot of time last week cogitating about the topic for my next blog. The ideas that crossed my mind ranged from the mirthful experiences in my college (in continuation of my first blog) to the heavy ones like ‘Hindutva’. I also thought of writing about my blissful life in school but later decided against it. As I sat down to write about anything which inaugurates my thought process, a much uncomplicated idea came to my mind about the most cherubic and audacious (arguably) person on this heavenly planet. Yes, I am going to write few things about my angelic Mother (though in a slap-stick way!!). Well I am not going to discourse the love that is shared in the mother-child relationship (for that you can always listen to the famous song from Taare Zameen Par). What I am going to talk about here are rules that every mother sets in her house to keep a check on people living under her domain (well in my case, this kingdom consists of me, my brother and dad too!!).


If you are a girl and are reading this, chances are you would not agree. But read on and I am sure you would be convinced.


Most engineering students have clean habits. They brush their teeth once a week, take bath on Sundays, and wear washed clothes for parties. But as they get closer to their graduation day, this type of ‘cleanliness’ goes for a toss. They are taught to act responsibly by their respected mothers (but I still don’t understand how bathing daily, especially in winters, helps in attaining the sense of responsibility!!). You get to hear a lot of oppressive doses on taking life seriously and on every other matter which has the least amount of significance from our side (my mother usually does this).
Here are some of the sentences I get to hear…

“Come on…I told you not to take the newspaper inside the bathroom?”
(For the God in me, I can’t understand why she (and even my brother) hates me taking the newspaper when I go to the loo.)

“Hey, you left the toilet seat up again!”
(So what, put it down again maa! Of course, I don’t say it in as many words.)

“The walls are all soap. Can’t you pour some water, or be careful while taking bath?”
(The walls are all soap? Good…we don’t need to buy soap for another two years. And anyways what am I supposed to do? Lie down on the floor and take bath?)

“Did you notice the soap box? It is full of water!”
(Yeah right, I was just trying to save water for the rainy day. Or was I trying to make some liquid soap?)

And just when I am done with the ‘bathroom bashing’ I am in the dressing room trying on my new Reebok T-shirt (I am lying, I buy only cheap ones) when she barges in and says: “Just look at your Almirah.”

Time and again, I get to hear scolding from my great mom on a regular basis. Usually these are said in a way that makes you laugh but if you fall to that intrinsic desire of yours, you get to hear a quintessential dialogue that goes like this…
“Hass lo...abhi toh hassi aa rahi hai naa..barbaadi ki taraf jaa rahe ho tum”
(oh my good lord!! how could someone say something like that for such a peculiar thing.. I fail to understand)

Tonight how about lighting a candle for me…

P.S: I still love my mom a lot for these little things and I hope she doesn’t get to know about this from my little brother(otherwise God save me!!)