Without your permission, mom

When you grow up, the first few things you want to try are the ones you promised you will never do or were told not to by your parents, writes Chetna Joshi Bambroo.

Remember when you were a kid and made a thousand and one statements to your parents everyday: ‘When I will grow big, I will be your best boy/girl, mama’, or, ‘Papa, I will follow your footsteps’. But when you grow up, the first few things you want to try are the ones you promised you will never do or were told not to.

We caught up with a few such ‘promise breakers’ who grew up to defy all family rules without even letting the secret out. Sudhanshu Tewari, 19, is still on his way to explore innovative ideas to sneak out to do what he always promised his mom he wouldn’t do. So what all ‘no, no’ things he does?

“The atmosphere at my place is a little disciplined as far as my partying out is concerned, whereas my group of friends is one crazy lot. At times we go to Murthal for a drive and have paranthas there. I lie to my parents that I am going to my friend’s place for a night stay and when everyone sleeps, we sneak out.” Does he feel guilty about lying to his parents? “Hmmm…not really. We have fun responsibly,” he says.

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It’s not only Sudhanshu. There are a number of youngsters who believe in the Hindi saying ‘Agar ek chotte se jhooth se kissi ka bhala hota hai toh woh jhooth sach se bhi bada hota hai’. Anika Singh, a student of mass communication, says, “We have these ‘beer parties’ and whenever I go out with my friends, I lie to my parents that I am going to my friend’s place as her mom has invited me for dinner.”

There are others who not only dare to sneak out for night parties but even go out of town. Kunal Kalia, 21, says, “My friends and I went to Rishikesh once.” What did he tell his parents? Being a pro in making such outings a success, Kunal says, “I told my parents that my friend and his parents are going to Rishikesh and they are insisting that I accompany them.” Didn’t his parents inquire about it? “I gave my friend’s mobile number to my mom. And for a brief moment of time my friend became my ‘uncle’,” he says smiling.

If you fall short of ideas on how to tiptoe out of the house for a party, weekend getaway or anything that calls for fun, young ’uns certainly have no dearth of lies...er...‘innovative ideas’. “Also, we are not mean”, says Sudhanshu, adding, “We can always lend our ideas, at a nominal price.” Do you accept the proposal, or you are innovative, too?