You know you have desi parents when your parents don't understand what the word 'privacy' means! It does not exist in their dictionary and when you try to explain it to them, they just don't get it. Every time you are using the computer, they peep into the screen to see what you are doing! Whenever you are on phone, they will keep roaming around the place just to figure out who you are talking to and about what! Now is the age of cellphones but years back when we used landlines, some of the desi parents actually used to listen to conversations from another extention. Clearly, they should know we need privacy and we aren't dumb enough to share secrets on a phone, which can be overheard. They might just know this too, but they can't stop being nosy and inquisitive about everything!

And the funniest thing is, they somehow magically come to know if you are talking to a girl or a boy on the phone. The mother of a friend of mine actually checks her cellphone messages every now and then. I am pretty sure she knows 'delete' is also an option but she still checks her cellphone regularly. Nosy, very nosy! I think I should give a huge thanks to my mum for understanding how my cellphone is mine! I love you for that mum!

Another huge issue with desi parents is that they won't let you go out unless they know where you are going, with whom and even who is driving! They will call you every hour to know where you are and what you are doing and who you are with! And if you don't pick up, they'll leave a million messages or maybe voice mails as well.

Furthermore, desi parents believe that your friends have to be approved by them. I find this really funny and don't get the point of it. It's our friends then why does it have to be our parents' choice? And what's more funny is the fact that we are better friends with those our parents don't like for some reason!

Shopping with desi parents is another issue! They take you to the stores but won't buy stuff unless it's on sale and if it's on sale, they will buy anything and everything that comes their way even if you don't need it! And when they select something for you, it's two to three sizes bigger so that you can use it all your life! Seriously, I am not kidding! I am sure most of you have memories of folding the ends of your jeans just so that you could wear them for a longer period of time. Now when I think about all this, I just can't stop laughing! Desi parents are indeed very adorable, I must say.

Early to bed, early to rise is one of the strictest rules put into force by them and they don't compromise on it no matter what! They just can't understand the fact that Sundays are meant for sleeping all day. I really don't get why we can't get up late just once a week! Your mum will start telling you it's 12 or 1 o' clock when it will actually be only 10 in the morning just so that you get out of bed.

Another interesting thing they do is that they brag about you in front of the entire world but when you arrive on the scene they can't think of anything good to say and just start telling you all those things that are wrong in you! In school, if you secure anything less than an A, you are a major disappointment. They want more from you, more out of everything and if you get 100 out of 100, then they want a 105! Also, desi parents firmly believe the only two careers that can earn you a good living are medical and engineering and if you don't end up in one of them you have wasted your life! I can see many heads nodding in agreement to this observation.

If you skip food for once in your life, they won't stop asking why you did that and will force-feed you and won't stop until you are ready to throw up! You often make tea for your parents and if you can't do that, you are of no good! If you are a girl and don't know how to cook, you know nothing. You should also know how to iron clothes, clean shoes and keep everything organised as if an unorganised closet will kill you. And no matter what music you listen to, they will always think it's just noise!

Throughout our childhood, we have heard them tell us how other children were so much better than us and it all gets to a point when one wonders why they don't disown us and adopt them! Desi parents, for some reason or the other, like other's children better but their own. I don't blame them, it's human nature not to be content with what you have.

My mum has this peculiar habit of telling me to study all the time but when I actually sit to study, she comes in my room and starts to talk about anything and everything that comes to her mind. Isn't it rather adorable?

Everything you do is just not right and you can't even do anything about it. So, what to do? Nothing, absolutely nothing! No matter what you say will not matter because they will say that they know better than us!

There's probably a lot more which can be written when it comes to desi parents, but please if parents are reading this don't get offended! You've got to admit that parents do have this kind of approach and years from now when we become parents, we too will behave in the same manner when dealing with our children! And I have to make a confession on behalf of all children — we love our parents very much, even their 'desi-ness'!