It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Sugandha Agarwal to my humble abode. We connected this year through our love of writing and of course the now very famous “Ultimate Blogging Challenge” series. She too like me completed another one last month, this time joining the challenge with her thirty part story!
She is now fast becoming popular among us for the entertaining games that she initiates on her blog. The very recent one being Tweeting away. And my personal favourite where she asked all of us to write a sentence without using the letter ‘A’ anywhere! Yes that is what our Sugandha is all about. Her blog “Shades of life” is just like the name, having all shades of writing in it.
And here it goes, for the theme of “I travel” my darling friend puts in her words! And trust me you will thoroughly enjoy it and most definitely relate to it!
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Have you ever gotten into a situation where it was impossible to convince your parents for a trip with friends?
I have, plenty number of times. And in a Situation where your parents are probably as scared as mine were what are your options?
I’ll tell you my options-
1. Beg, beg, beg and emotionally blackmail (it mostly back fires though)
2. Don’t go (but what the heck, I won’t turn 18 every now and then)
3. Convince your friends to go somewhere for only a day (but haven’t I already seen all places nearby)
4. Tell them it’s an educational trip. (But an educational trip to goa??)
5. Don’t tell them. (Who will finance?)
6. Lie, find a good excuse (sounds good, except that there are chances of being caught)
I am sure you know what I chose.
It was my first year of living independently, we four friends enthusiastically planned a trip to Goa for new years.
We found the hotel and check the train an flight options, narrowed down to fight to Mumbai and then train and budgeted the total expenditure around ten thousand per head (of course we forgot the financier bit when we did this)
Only when I picked up the phone and called up my parents, I realised the gravity of the situation. While the phone ringed I could feel the sweat beads on my forehead and back.
Mom answered the phone and very lovingly asked my whereabouts. I have her those and spoke about various other things for next 10 minutes.
After a while mom said, “okay then, take care. You are coming home for your new year breaks right?”
“Umm. Mom actually there is a trip” I muttered.
The tone on the other end changed. “Trip during holidays? You think in first year of college you can go on a trip with friends?”
I was now panting, “no mom, it’s not like that. Actually it’s a college trip. (First lie)” my voice was barely audible.
My mother, as if to compensate for my low pitch, growled, “where are they taking?”
“Mumbai and goa” came a murmuring reply.
“Goa?” She growled back.
“No no! Puna I said, Pune!” My destination had changed.
“Oh Puna. Okay? How much are they asking?” Tone had changed too.
“10,000” but I was quick to correct, but I can try for part scholarship.
“Okay. But that’s expensive. Why so? Doesn’t your college get a discount?” She was somewhat reasonable.
“Mom you know how it is, my college has all those rich brats. They never say anything. I need only five thousand from you, I can manage other five from scholarship.” I was back to being the convincing self.
“Alright. I’ll speak to dad.” And 5000 were approved.
But 5000 for Goa on New Years? If you have ever planned a trip, you would know.
The meeting was called again, we budgeted and brainstormed. My friend parents had refused outrightly. So we were 15,000 short.
Result- revised destination to Jaipur. Stayed at a friend’s house and gave an entry of 2000 each for an army party. Where we realised that we were the only four who were below 35. You can imagine how my New Year’s Eve was…
I’d rather post it anonymously, but since it is a guest post I can plead Richa to not tag me on FB so that there are least chances of my parents finding out.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Disclaimer – lying to your parents about your whereabouts can be extremely dangerous (I’ll get back with more on that) and the above post should be treated as fiction (especially if you know the author personally)
I would rather not go instead of lying about the destinations.. ok a little bit of lying like 100 or so kms feels ok, but not more… That is because should something untoward happen, my family will not know and when they are informed by the authorities all worries of hell will break lose upon them.
When you’re not financially independent is a different matter, but even after you’re an earning person our family way has us ask and take approvals from parents to go on trips -_-
hee hee Hrishikesh you would make a great father!! 😀 😀
Richa
Parents and their worries are natural. loved your post. When I was a child I had decided that I would never ever impose any restriction on my child but now I think I am doing the same but with lesser degree than my mom.
haha so is the case in such things. We plan something and yet another thing occurs 😀
This brought a smile and some memories too!! LOL @ the disclaimer!! Parents earlier were very strict and guess they are liberal now-a-days. I see so many college kids traveling as couples or in groups. Lying or hiding details from parents is just not right. They must know about our whereabouts given the times we live in!!
That is true. But at times parents tend to play spoilsport not intentionally but mostly due to their own concerns. And there in an issue is created
This is too funny. I used to lie about where I was when I was a teenager 🙂
we all have been there Katherine 😀
ha ha…. Too good. It brought back a lot of memories for me too. Parents those days were impossible to convince.The kids nowadays don’t know how easy they have it. At least giving permission will guarantee that we know where the kids actually are! Phew!
I keep telling my dad that allowing people to speak up is better than making them lie 😀 Well he understood after a few goofups!
but ur tagged Sugandha.
GOT U 😀
I was smiling thru out. Every oen would be in such situations. Y cant we jst say the truth 🙁
that jaipur party made me LOL!
hope u had fun though
and am loving the I travel series
Thank you so much Afshan 🙂 I am hoping to bring in more fun through this! 😀 😀 And yes Sugandha has come up with a great post!
Given that I am a responsible adult with a two yr old daughter I have no choice but to say that you need to keep your parents informed about your whereabouts especially if it involves travelling long distances and overnight journeys.
But the rebellious teenager in me, who still keeps popping his head out once in a while was smiling throughout this post and laughing at your troubles in making up the finances for the trip. Would love to read another post from you about the New Years’ Party itself more so given the older crowd there 🙂
Hehe Well well perhaps I can make Sugandha furnish another one on that! 😀 😀
NICE POST AND VERY INTRESTING …….
Thanks a lot 😀
I laughed out loud at the disclaimer 😉
hee hee it was needed given the contents 😀
So much love to the host 🙂 how wonderfully you introduced and added my post on your blog… and lovely comments from your reader – I feel I am on cloud nine 🙂
*Hugs*
Awwwiee 🙂 Thank you so much for the post, it actually pepped up the theme a lot!! Here’s hoping you send many more 😀
So Sugandha,Your Parents didn’t know about the trip till now?
BTW How was your Army Party?
Shh…..don’t want anyone to know where I am now! LOL! Thanks for sharing!!
hehe well we would tell no one 😀 😀
above post should be treated as fiction (especially if you know the author personally)
😀 😀
hehehe such disclaimers should be on all blogposts 😀 😀
First off, that disclaimer was hilarious especially considering all the mischief that was being plotted. Made me smile and a great way to start my day! ♥
hehe I am happy to know I could be a source to start your day well 🙂
I lie too 🙂
😀 good to know that! feels human 🙂
I could see myself there in your position. Even when I was taking the initiative about a trip, there also I had beg, plead, fast, cry, emotionally black mail Dad who was seas apart…. then I got the green signal! 😉
Loved the post Sugandha! 🙂
We all have been there and the emotional blackmail always worked 😀 😀
OMG! so much love 🙂 I think I should start posting all my posts on your blog and you don’t have to ask, I am going to write the second part and irritate you till I get you to post it 😉
Please do that! I will happily feature!! 😀 😀
Interesting post. 🙂
Thanks Windy 🙂
Enjoyed this, very interesting post
Thanks Terri 🙂
First time on your blog..very interesting post and nice blog 🙂
https://priyakitchenette.blogspot.com/
Thanks a lot Priya 🙂
😀 Good one.
Whenever I planned on going trekking, alone or with friends, my approach would be to inform my parents by saying ‘I am going trekking to xxxx place’. Finished, no asking permission just stating my plans.
My mom is a great support, so she will tease me ‘You never ask, you just tell’. She is till date sure, that Ill keep them updated about my whereabouts, am very cautious so wont get into trouble & like she says I am a Boomrang, no matter how far you throw, always comes back 😉
Now I am mother to a 6month old boy, dont know how I will be 😀
It felt so good to hear your story. All of us have faced a similar life cycle, I am yet to be a mother but yes when I will be I will wonder for sure as to what might turn up in form of travel hassles 😀
Yet to do this kind of a thing. Had planned but we also had a budget of around 10K. Was definitely not getting approved.
Haha We all have been there and 10k seems to a number resonating with me as well
This one had me in splits. Too good!
Thanks 🙂
Hee Hee Richa! Absolutely true.
I love your list with all the reasons!!!
Goa Trip reminds me of the Chennai Express dialog- “Goa is ON!” 🙂
How destination changed owing to parents!
But, seeing the positive side, we are lucky to have the most caring folks in the world. In many other countries, parents aren’t even bothered! 🙂
That is true Anita there are two sides to each coin…
I am still laughing away. Amazing post. On a separate note, it’s absolutely true and we’ve all been there with the list of options.
The emotional blackmail has always been a trump card for me:) Loved the post Sugandha. And Richa, great share 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂 we have had our share of emotional blackmails in all spheres 😀
Love the way the post is written .. i remember the same happened with me in my 1st yr of engineering, i went to Goa with 5 more friends .. we chose to go by train so expenses were low .. in about 6k per head we had a damn great time.. it was in mid june-july, so prices in Goa were very cheap compared to new year ..
all and all i can say , going on a trip with friends is a thrilling experience, but of course parents should be knowing about your whereabouts .. i chose to tell them everything before going.
in june july! That must have been hot!!
Yup … It was HOT, we belong to Jaipur, Rajasthan – famous for its 40ºC + temperature in June july .. so the Goan heat didn’t matter to us. Plus the monsoon had arrived which made the trip even more exciting.
Good one !!!thanks for sharing
Thanks for reading and liking it 😀
I love the way you budgeted and changed the destination. Tell me about being the only teenager in army parties, they are a lot of fun but its terrible if you don’t know anybody. Oh, with regards to lying and heading out, the worst that happened to me was I got caught and my mom didn’t to talk to me for the entire week. It was HELL.
Wow! For a week. I know mother’s best weapon is to not talk *urgh*
Ha ha this is one is funny !! I used to do it too and wonder what mine will do ??
Aint that the eternal question now 😀 😀
At back of your mind .. we know the answer .. they will screw you up !!!
Was smiling as I read every line…been there. Sugandha has a very endearing way of writing that be it fiction or fact it is so down to earth, we can all relate to it at some point. She knowingly or unknowingly brings in such simple subtleties that happens in every day life that we fail to notice. ..but are able to connect when we read. Loved the post 🙂 thanks to you too richa.
yes she does and she makes you feel happy about things you read. Her writing is quite good. No doubt on that 🙂
this is a post everybody will relate to….at some point of time, all of us have lied to our parents….very good sugandha and mom you play host so fabulously well
Thanks a lot Ritesh beta 🙂 not lied we still lie 😛 😛
Could relate a lot to your story.. We had been to Goa saying there was a compulsory Industrial visit there.. When asked which industry..my friend went a little bonkers and replied United Breweries..luckily parents did not suspect or maybe they chose not to:-P
hahaha 😀 too good! Imagine saying that 😛 😛
5000 rs and a trip to Goa is pretty doable I say 😛