Perfect Pair

The Plano mall, had become so crowded that it was challenging to drive around the mall. Plano is one of the suburbs in Dallas. A range of shops, from beauty services to everyday essentials, made this place very lucrative for every dweller in the area to shop here. About a few miles from the mall is the Krishna Temple, built a few years ago. It is a serene place that attracts many devotees from the city. My home stood yards away from this temple, far enough not to hear the crowd and conveniently close enough to be a reasonable walking distance to the mall.

My Dad, an entrepreneur by nature, Plano marked the end of our long journey. He had moved our family from city to city across the USA in search of a secure future. We are now settled in a two-story home with a nice backyard, having sold all the ancestral property we inherited after our grandparents’ death and the savings Dad had accumulated. Mom had extracted a promise from him: no more relocations until I graduated. My schools changed, my friends changed, and my perspective of life changed, but what continued with me was my tennis and my parents. I am Mahira, the daughter of Yash and Ivana, and I am half-Russian and half-Indian.

I can't even watch TV unless it's tennis, and I stealthily binge-watch the ice hockey matches when my mom isn't monitoring me. I love the way the players skate and roll the puck on the ice, and it fascinates me. My mother controls what I watch, and she doesn’t let me watch anything other than tennis open matches; all my friends watch their favorite shows and spend hours discussing it. My life is all about tennis. When I’m not playing tennis, I’m training to build muscle and increase my fitness levels. When I’m not training, I relax in my backyard hammock, watching the sky and reading my favorite book. That’s allowed, but not watching TV, as my mother tells me it’s a distraction. I said, looking at Harsh.

“How did your mom let me play with you today? I watch TV all the time. Didn’t she think I would spoil you?” Harsh asked.

Harsh! Your mother received an emergency call from your father, so she asked my mom to have you over to my place. We are new to Plano, and your mom, Mansi, is my mom's best friend from their college days; we are also neighbors coincidentally. Okay, now tell me, what's on TV? I asked inquisitively

“If you like cartoons, then there’s Toy Story and Elsa and Anna. Then there are also Witch and Good Girl. You get to see many movies, such as Mighty Ducks, The Iron Will, Radio Rebel. There are many pretty actors and actresses, such as Hannah Montana, Jesse, Zac and Cody among others. Then you can watch debates , news, sports " Harsh spoke at length increasing my interest as he blurted out different names.

Wow thats so nice, Harsh. I really want to watch these TV shows everyday. I don't like playing tennis; I like to sit and watch these TV shows eating pop tarts and marshmallows. I miss all of that because maa and paa insist that I play tennis and read books. Even play outside if I am free but no TV and video games. I blurted in agony of missing something nice.

“Your mother and my mother are outside the home talking. Come lets watch TV. ”saying Harsh coaxed me to watch TV

I saw some reality show by Ellen DeGeneres and she was talking to a small girl of my age and there was so much laughter and it looked so bright and colorful. I never got to watch TV and this was the first time in 5 years, that Harsh took the courage to turn on, forgetting Harsh’s presence, I got completely absorbed into the TV set.

Just as Harsh heard my mom's footsteps, he shut off the TV in fear and started talking to me, "I am turning 13 soon. Mom does homeschooling for me. When mom isn't handling my lessons, I watch TV. So I know a lot about TV. You're turning 13, too, aren't you? Then why doesn't your mom let you watch TV?" Harsh asked again

Ivana smiled and caressed Harsh's cheeks and spoke, "I heard the TV sound; you didn't have to get scared and turn off the TV.

Maa, all my friends watch TV, even Harsh too, why can't I watch TV? I asked, mustering all my courage as I never disagreed with any rules at home.

Tennis takes away all your time, sweetie, then you go to school; you're doing something better than being a couch potato. My mom smiled and pecked a kiss on my forehead.