Morning Rituals and Family Dynamics

It was 6:00 a.m., and my morning alarm jolted me from half-sleep. I shuffled to the balcony, craving the crisp morning air. Today marked the start of school after a long summer break, and I was now a senior. Excitement bubbled inside me at the thought of reuniting with my friends, though the prospect of early mornings weighed on me after weeks of sleeping in.

Five minutes later, my mom's voice echoed from the kitchen, "Natasha! Are you up? Get ready quickly and come down for breakfast." "Yes, mom. Coming," I responded. After a swift 30 minutes, I descended to the living room. The aroma of noodles, my favorite, filled the air. (Heavenly, indeed, is the right word for it.) Meanwhile, my mom busily packed sandwiches for my lunchbox.

"So, all set for the first day?" My mom inquired, a smile tugging at her lips. "Yup!" I replied, mirroring her smile. "Should I drop you off at school?" my father interjected, descending the stairs. "No, I'll leave in 10... anyways," I said, grinning.

My parents, Raman and Namrata Sharma, have been our anchors in Sydney for the past decade, having relocated from India when I was about four. Both engineers, they work for a multinational company. While friendly and supportive, they are staunch advocates for careers in the sciences, believing it to be the most financially rewarding path.

According to them, engineers, doctors, and any science-related field yield the greatest financial rewards. My elder brother, Aryan, is pursuing Software Engineering at a prestigious university in New York. At 19, he's deeply immersed in his studies. I sometimes muse over whether I'm truly their biological child, as my interests diverge vastly from theirs; Science and Math hold little allure for me. Despite being an average student academically, I excel in extracurriculars. Notably, my writing skills have garnered recognition, with several wins in competitions and a stint as a regular contributor to the school magazine.

After finishing breakfast and stowing my lunchbox in my bag, I bid my parents farewell and set off. My school was just an 8-10 minute walk away. Two minutes into my walk, a familiar voice called out from behind, "Why didn't you call me before you left, you idiot?"