It had become a routine to sit together on Saturday mornings and discuss our plans for the weekend. My mom was having her afternoon tea and I’d just woken up after a heavy Friday night. This is how the conversation went:
ME (bleary eyed and sleepy): Mom! My geyser hasn’t been working.
MOM: Okay, I’ll call the plumber. What’s your plan for today ?
ME: Ugh! I have a lot to do. I need to clean my room and rearrange my closet. Then I have an appointment with my gynaecologist at four, and after that I might hit the gym.
MOM: Why do you have an appointment with the gynaecologist?
ME: Oh, nothing serious. Last time I visited her, she said that I have a fungal infection. She said it was common, but I should get it checked routinely. Nothing to worry about.
MOM (curtly): A fungal infection? Aashka, you have a fungal infection ?
ME: Yeah, that’s what she told me.
MOM: Girls only get fungal infections once they’ve have sex. Aashka! Have you had SEX?
ME (no longer sleepy): Uh…
MOM: Aashka?
ME: Umm…
MOM: But you’re so young…
ME: Mom, I’m 21, I’ve been with him for 3 years – isn’t it better that your daughter isn’t sleeping around with a lot a people and just the one?
MOM (teary): But you’re so young!
For the next ten minutes, I sat next to her helplessly while she tried to calm herself down.
* Name changed to protect privacy.
Images: Shutterstock
