What's with the kids ??!!

My mother often reprimands me for not helping her enough in the kitchen..

“Tumhari umar mein hum ye, ye, ye, ye……. Ye bhi kar lete they..” is an often heard statement and I seek solace in the fact that I have all of you for company. I am not the only one subject to such words of praise in my heavenly abode.

Interestingly, a child was considered an adult in every sense of the term,  by the time he/she hit the 20’s. I am referring to our parents’ generation here. The young adults were responsible enough to take care of their lives and their wives. The family used to be complete with ‘hum do, hamare do’ coming alive by the time they hit the 30’s.

Welcome to today’s cosmopolitan scenario. A grown up, young man , all of 22 will be referred to as a ‘bacha’ by the entire ‘khandaan’. No wonder, he behaves like a ‘bacha’. One can’t blame the ‘bacha’ either if he becomes offensive and defensive when confronted with the family’s expectations of behaving like an adult once in a blue moon.

Then, one fine day, the ‘bacha’ will  dive into ‘an almost’ drained swimming pool and fracture his skull or hit the road divider at 3 am because the poor lad was drunk and he had nobody to drive him home. The family has always been there. Isn’t it their duty to support ? In fact, this is the KRA of the parents. Give birth to the ‘bacha’ and then sit by the ‘bacha’s’  side in the hospital.

My mother has done a good thing. She has scolded me and reprimanded me enough to take responsibility of my life, to treasure my life and the lives of others around me. We will always remain a ‘bacha’ for our parents. But, if your dad gave you a mouthful today for not keeping your bike in a good serviced condition or if your mom refused to talk to you until you had cleaned that messed up study  table, it is a good thing. This is what will keep us grounded !

But, I am still a little bewildered ? What is the expiry date of being referred to as a ‘bacha’ ?? J