Sunanda and her sister Meenal were pampered and well taken care of by their parents. So much so that both sisters took all that they got for granted. Let me give you an example. When Sunanda topped her class in all subjects, her parents gifted her with a new laptop. Sunanda thought nothing of it, even as her classmates and friends commented on it with envy.

It was not just things, but everyday matters as well. The girls woke up every morning and milk was brought to them in bed. After
bathing and dressing, the girls would go to the table to find breakfast waiting for them and lunch all packed and kept ready.

So what did they have to worry about?

Then suddenly, their mother fell sick. She fell so sick that she had to be hospitalized. Many tests had to be taken and the doctor advised her complete rest. Their stressed father, running between hospital, home and work, decided that his wife would have complete rest only at her own mother’s home and had sent her there.

Now, Sunanda, being the elder at the age of 14, found herself in charge of the house. Their father had hired a cook to tide them over the difficult period. He told Sunanda, “You will be in charge of the home as well as your sister.” At first, Sunanda felt very proud of her new responsibility and importance. But soon,
day-to-day life began to catch up. The girls had to wake up early every morning and mix their chocolate milk for themselves. After bath, they had to lay the table for breakfast for themselves and their father. They also had to pack their own lunches since the cook would not do it for them.

Evenings were worse. Before, they would leave their clothes and things lying around and return home to find everything in its place. Now they could not find their things easily. So it is that the sisters began to fight. They got angry and accused each other of shirking work. Coming home in the evening became terrible for their father. He would find the sisters squabbling all the time.

At last, unable to bear it any more, he called his wife and told her all that was happening. “But it is our fault, you know,” he told her, “pampering them too much. They are totally incapable of looking after themselves.”

She agreed and was sorry that she had not thought of it before. But both parents decided that the situation had to be fixed.