My friends started filling in the room. Having my problem of shortages of pizzas solved, I was back to being cheerful. I welcomed everyone to my apartment. The living room lit up with the fairy lights I had borrowed from my neighbor cum excellent friend Zara. There we bottles of coca-cola in almost every corner of the room. The best part was, there were cool teenagers all over, who were my friends.

'Guys, guys, listen up here.' Ahana, my best friend, called out. We attended school together. Ryan and I were sitting on the fluffy carpet on the floor next to her. All of us turned our attention to Ahana. 'I might sound old school now, but let's play monopoly! It'll be so cool! Like divide ourselves into groups, and we'll represent big businesses or entrepreneurs, and then we'll play!'

Half of the people sitting in the room started to protest. That's when Abhiraaj came up with an excellent idea. He was sitting beside me. 'Let's include never have I ever in this game. So whoever gets a chance to roll the dice spills out some pesky secret of theirs too. The coke is our beer!' Of course, the scheme worked. A guy so charming like Ayum pitching would definitely work. He didn't belong to our school, but I always invited him to any organized events by us. Even after I've decided to try and move on.

'Guys, the board game is in my grandma's room, I'll bring it.' I dashed.

As I went inside and started searching for the monopoly, I accidentally tripped over one of grandma's small Vishnu idol. 'That's holy, you evil child! It shouldn't touch your feet! Oh god, this girl! Think about religion someday!' she instantly screamed with her hands on her head.

'Why was it lying down there? I didn't see it, and I need my board game. I have some people over, so don't shout so loud so that they hear our friggin family drama!' I snapped as I gave grandma the idol. Everyone in my house was indicating on trying to spoil my mood.

Pathetic.

'You foolish girl, I'm old, and I can't bend to get that from the floor. I need to have a talk with your mom. Look how spoilt you've become. Friends and dinner and all and your behavior! Oh god! Aparajita should not let you do all this at all!' She dragged her sentence slowly to ultra-high pitch.

'Fine, I'm leaving now! Don't get on my nerves every single time I face you! And do whatever the hell you want, I don't care.' I stormed out of the room. I was having a reasonably lovely time, saved by Ayum's parents and Ryan's sarcastic explanations on my much-lost freedom, but my grandmom had to spoil my mood and make me feel terrible and angry. She did.

Enough is enough. I don't have a personal life here at all. India sucks.

Prateek had a much better high school experience than me. I'm jealous. It is also then I called my dad and him, showed them around. Their reaction to my whole situation was so different and much better.

Dad said hello to every single friend of mine. Ayum and Prateek started their own code talk, and both of them wished me a joyful experience.

Everyone in this world except an Indian family loves to see their kids socialize and woman up.