“DID YOU EAT YOUR FOOD?!”, she screams from the other room. “I DID!”, I scream back. “DID YOU FINISH THE DAAL?”, she screams back. “NO!” “WHY DIDN’T YOU FINISH THE DAAL?!” “CAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO EAT IT!” “FINISH THE DAAL!”, mom screams back. Again. “FINE!”, the screaming ends. Cutting your nails on a Thursday/Saturday: The reply – “How does it even matter? It’s just nails!” Mother’s retort – “JUST DO AS I SAY!” The reply – “FINE!”

Not getting up at 6.01 am

The reply – “Lemmesleep. It is 6.01! AM! My classes start at 10.30!”

Mother’s retort – “YOU ARE USELESS IN LIFE! THIS IS WHY YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH YOUR LIFE!”

The reply – “FINE!”

Leaving the slipper/sandal/shoe upturned

The reply – “It’s a shoe!”

Mother’s retort – “DO YOU WANT 20 YEARS OF BAD LUCK TO RAIN ON YOU?!”

The reply – “FINE!”