‘Sorry Madhura, I can’t make it for your birthday today. My in-laws are coming over.’
Your in-laws can come anytime they want; my birthday comes once a year! No, that’s not what I told her. But yes, I said that loud and clear in my head.
That time has come in our lives, when we have husbands, children, mother-in-laws, grandmother-in-laws, new priorities and much more. The horrific part is, we also have to accept a new set of parents.
Suddenly there’s no greater joy than changing one’s status to ‘married’ on Facebook. There’s no bigger life event than
Karva Chauth. In fact, the new best friend is the sister-in-law herself!
Okay, I don’t have any sort of personal vengeance against the latest trend but why is everyone following it? It’s like a set of skittles, knocking each one down. It’s like small pox. A disease! And there’s no way for immunity.
‘Ah, just herd mentality,’ says Priyanka.
‘I know, it’s scary,’ says Aparupa.
‘I still have so many things to do,’ I conclude.
And the three of us are inwardly thinking, ‘when is my turn?’
I’d be lying if I said all this isn’t playing up in my head. It is. But I have so much to do before I’m cajoled to meet a batch of eligible suitors.
Firstly, there are a million places to visit. Paris, Geneva, Spain, Greece, Vegas, Vietnam, Pondicherry, Rishikesh. I’m yet to experience the best thing that ever happened. I’m yet to do something that’s going to inject a rush, I’ve never felt before. I’m yet to be completely reckless and take a risk. I’m yet to learn cooking, driving, a new language, in fact, I’m still far, far away from earning 30,000 rupees. I still have a list of books to read all day without budging. I want to learn painting and stop drawing clowns, because that’s the only thing I draw well. I want to be a part of a great play. I want to try an outrageous hair-do. I want to be inspired by a complete stranger. Most importantly, I’m yet to fall in love. And I need a story that’s beautiful, adventurous, wholesome. May be a little bit dangerous too.
Recently, a colleague confessed, she’s scared of getting married to her 6-year-old boyfriend, because she doesn’t want to give up her ‘me’ time. Perhaps that’s my fear too. I’m scared of losing everything I want to do alone. Companionship is important, I agree. No one’s happy being alone. I’m sure, I’m going to love skiing across snow-capped Switzerland with my husband, but before that I want to able to drive away someplace else, because that’s where I can write a book.
There’s a lot to do before I change Neelanjana’s nappies.
That’s going to be my daughter’s name, by the way.
