Half past six and you already start getting phone calls from home, parents demanding to know what time you’ll be getting home by, and if they should send someone to pick you up is a part of every hangout that goes on till the evening and sometimes even late night.[break]
Some come up with their excuses spontaneously about where they are and who they are with and usually get away with it, while those who choose to stick with the truth get into trouble.
But we have all had moments of drama at home, when regret and guilt overwhelms us for not listening to our parents and having them worried with the worst case scenario looming on their minds.
Sulav Sitaula, 18, a +2 student of Global College of Management; Sejol Amatya, 17, +2 student of Modern Indian School; Rubina Chitrakar and Sachi Mulmi, both 20 and Bachelor level students at St Xavier’s College; and Nistha Amatya, third year Bachelor student at National Model College for Advance Learning (NMCAL) talk about their curfew hours and instances where they have gotten in trouble.
What’s the curfew time set by your parents?
Sulav: My parents haven’t set a certain time for me but I usually get home by 7. If I’m staying out till late, I call them and let them know. In summer, I can stay till late but since it gets dark early in winters, I’m expected to get home earlier or by 7.
Sachi: I’m allowed to stay out till 6:30pm, but if I get late I have to give every small detail about where I was, with whom I was and why. If I’m with a cousin or someone my parents know, my parents tend to worry less.
Sejol: I’m supposed to be home by 8.
Nistha: My parents let me hang out till 7 or 7:30. But after 6, I start getting phone calls. I keep them informed about where I am and what time I’ll be home.
Rubina: I usually don’t stay out late unless I have some important work. My curfew time is between 7 and 7:30.
Do you lie to your parents about where you are and who you are with?
Rubina: I try not to lie and even if I do, it’s bended truth. But I don’t have to lie often since I stay out late only when necessary.
Nistha: I don’t have many excuses, so I tell the truth and end up getting grounded.
Sejol: Sometimes yes, but I end up feeling guilty for doing so.
Sachi: I’m out only in case of a very reasonable reason and since the reason is justified, I don’t feel the need to lie.
Sulav: No, whenever I get late I’m usually practicing with my band, and since my parents know my friends, I don’t have to lie. If a female friend comes over, instead of interrogating me, they tease me.
Do your parents allow you to sleep over at a friend’s place?
Rubina: Say there’s a project work that’s due tomorrow and we’ll be working on it the whole night, then I’m allowed. We have a small family and we divide our chores, and since I have my responsibilities, I don’t prefer sleepovers. But it’s not like they don’t allow me at all.
Nistha and Sejol: I’m not allowed, but my friends can sleep over at my place. No matter how late it gets, I’ll have someone pick me up. Unless, it’s related to school work, sleepovers aren’t allowed.
Sulav: If I get really late, I let my parents know that I’ll be sleeping over at a friend’s place. They don’t have a problem with me sleeping over.
Do you have someone to pick you up no matter how late it gets?
Rubina: I have a scooter and if I’m out without it and I’m really late, I call my dad. But that doesn’t happen often.
Nistha and Sejol: My dad picks me up if I’m out past the time to catch public transportation.
Sachi: I’m never out till late with my friends but if I’m with my relatives or cousins, they make it a point to drop me off.
Have there been instances where you have gotten in trouble for getting home late?
Rubina and Nistha: It was Rubina’s birthday and we had gone for salsa dance. Although we had planned on getting home by 8, we went for dinner and ended up reaching home at 10. Rubina got yelled at and I was grounded for sometime. I could go out with her cousins but not with Rubina, so she had to visit me at my house.
Sejol: My dad likes to take us out for dinners and we drink together. He gets protective when I’m hanging out till late with my friends. This one time, I had gone for a movie with friends and got home late. He was really worried.
Sachi: I’m not usually late. But once, I didn’t get the public vehicle to my place and decided to walk. It was around 7 when I got home, and my father went all serious. He didn’t exactly scold me but since there were news of violence against women (VAW), he panicked.
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