Something was brewing for sure, wondered Shubhada as she settled on the chair near dinning table. She had returned from market and Pihu, her teenage daughter had offered to make her tea. Shubhada was much delighted at it for she badly needed the hot sip to revitalize her batteries.
Shubhada noted web of expressions on Pihu’s face who had ventured into kitchen. She was seen shaking her head as if denying some charges while in conversation with someone and sometimes was contouring her face with her hand nervously.
“Simmer the gas, Pihu”, suggested Shubhada as she heard noise from the boiling tea concoction. Lost in thoughts, Pihu had failed to register it.
“Oops”, replied Pihu as she turned the gas off, pouring the hot golden drink into the cup hurriedly.
Teen storm in the tea cup, guessed Shubhada.
“Cookies?”, checked Pihu.
“Hmmm…Ok. How about you?”
“Making green tea for me”
Shubhada was surprised as Pihu never was a tea person. ‘Teen times, changing times’, reflected Shubhada to self when visibly edgy Pihu joined her.
“Whats threatening your world?”, questioned Shubhada.
“I hear a thousand kind words about me and it makes no difference yet I hear one insult and all confidence shatters. Why is that so Ma?”, she expressed her concern with the voice that was heavy.
Shubhada paused for a moment and replied, “This happens when one gives undue weightage to other’s opinion about self. What’s the matter, Pihu?”
There was a brief silence. Pihu twiddled her face with unsteady hands.
“I have lost trust in my face wash. It’s so ineffective against the nasty pimples”, grumbled Pihu.
“Hahahaha… Perils of the pimples! And that’s what is ravaging the teen world! Has the face wash started hurling insults these days? Face wash with AI, already? Am I living under the stone?”, probed Shubhada playfully.
“Ma. Please. These days everyone stares at me with disgust. Other day Renu ridiculed me by taunting that truck load of the rubble was dumped on to my face. She is so mean. And that’s the reason why I have now decided to drink green tea. Maitreyi told me that green tea is good for fighting the pimples”
The bottled-up emotions vanished with a pop.
“Peer pressure and self doubt, Pihu. Nothing more than teen-storm in the tea cup. Let it settle there itself. Once you know it, you will manage it better. As for the pimples, yes, you need to take good care of your hygiene and diet. Most important, you are not alone in this fight. Remember two ants do not fail to pull one grasshopper”, assured Shubhada blinking her eyes and raising her hand for a Hi 5, their favourite ritual.
Pihu’s face lit up and the twinkle was back in her eyes, the glimmer of which sent the shadows of the pimples retreating back as she raised her hand to give Hi 5 to Shubhada.
I’m Writing Bravely for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – March 2019 hosted by Write Tribe
Its Day 6 and I have used word prompt “Trust“, quote prompt “I hear a thousand kind words about me and it makes no difference yet I hear one insult and all confidence shatters.’ – Rupi Kaur and picture prompt of the day.
You can read my Day 1’s post, “Charcoal and Limestone” here , Day 2 post “Inverted Reality” here, Day 3 post “Handful of Serenity” here, Day 4 post “A Date…With Self” here, Day 5 post “Ruthless Awakening” here
14 Comments
Anita · March 9, 2019 at 9:43 am
Creative use of the prompt 🙂
Teen-storm indeed!
Pimples are a major concern at that age 🙂
Bhagyashree · March 9, 2019 at 9:52 am
How i wish i had someone like Shubhada…we all can do with someone who is not preachy and yet guides us
Shilpa Garg · March 9, 2019 at 10:47 am
Interesting story. I was imagining some other serious stuff, but yes, in teenage, pimples are a big issue. Liked how the mom handled the self worth and pimples issues.
Payal Agarwal · March 9, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Teenage turmoil. Oh yes! Being a mother of a teenage daughter I can so well relate to this episode. Peer pressure is way too much and the responsibility comes on our shoulders to guide them with positivity.
Meena · March 9, 2019 at 12:09 pm
Lovely take on the prompts, Anagha. I have had my ample share of teen-storms. 😀 Sometimes they are easier to handle and sometimes not. Cannot escape them!
Jyothi · March 9, 2019 at 12:29 pm
“This happens when one gives undue weightage to other’s opinion about self”, the number of times I have said this to my daughter! This is the major teenage worry! These bullies , they exist in every generation I guess.
Suzy · March 9, 2019 at 2:19 pm
Oh the turmoils of teenagers. The smallest of things become big issues. A nice mother daughter story.
Kalpana Solsi · March 9, 2019 at 5:08 pm
Every stage of life brings fresh problems and seem to be magnified .In teens, pimples, weight, dresses and infatuations are the looming problems. Anagha, you have been very creative with the prompts.
Shubhra Rastogi · March 9, 2019 at 7:40 pm
I loved how you used the 3 prompts. Though my daughter is not a teen right now but I can pretty well undersatnd what teens go through. Great story!
http://natkhatz.com/health/the-best-proof-of-love-is-trust-writebravely/
Anshu Bhojnagarwala · March 10, 2019 at 2:36 pm
Took me to my teenage years.. I had many a doubts like these growing up
Sajid Akhter · March 11, 2019 at 7:22 pm
Lovely post. Teenage is the best part of one’s life. It is such a joy to have someone guiding you through in a non preachy manner.
Thanks for sharing, have a good day.
Abhijit Ray · March 13, 2019 at 7:43 am
Nice story. Two ants don’t pull a grasshopper.
Rupali · March 19, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Interesting.
Abhisek Nayak · March 27, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Every teenager needs a guide like Shubhada in his/her life. A very nice one.