Testing times

Some nights ago we had the cable-cutting ceremony in my son8217;s room. In effect it meant ousting his two room partners with whom he seemed to share all his waking hours...

Some nights ago we had the cable-cutting ceremony in my son8217;s room. In effect it meant ousting his two room partners with whom he seemed to share all his waking hours 8212; ESPN and Ten Sports.

This was followed by the handing-over-of-the-SIM-card ceremony, as his mobile phone was taken into safe custody, along with the controllers of his PS2. Finally he surrendered the computer 8212; more importantly, the internet connection that went with it. And his guitar.

Understandably he hasn8217;t spoken to us since. But friends and family assure us we have done the right thing. Finally. After behaving irresponsibly, we finally showed the sense to behave like the people we really were 8212; parents of a 15-year-old whose 10th Standard board examination is just about a hundred days away.

The hints had started to come in for the past month. 8220;My, this doesn8217;t look like the house of people who have a child in the tenth,8217;8217; one friend had remarked, as she cast an eye on my son8217;s raucous group of friends. Another pointedly asked, 8220;Can I come over to watch some TV at your house? We8217;ve disconnected the cable, like so many others who have children in the tenth, but I was told you are not so, er, particular.8221; Well, at least she didn8217;t call me what the others had 8212; 8220;a working mother8221;.

I therefore decided to take things in hand. It started with a ban on the aforementioned objects of distraction. Having listed out the 8216;Don8217;ts8217; for the son, I listed the 8216;Dos8217; for me, to demonstrate that I too was suitably panic-stricken. This included: making regular calls to mothers of his classmates to discuss the examination portions after finding out what they are; making a study time-table for the son, howsoever alien the practice may seem; storing up on almonds; getting the alarm clock repaired; wearing a perpetually worried expression and refusing all dinner invitations with the 8216;would have loved to but my son8217;s in the tenth, you know8217; line.

Will this make him do better? I don8217;t know. Will this make me look better in the eyes of the world? Most certainly! So here I am. As well-prepared for the tenth standard examinations as I8217;m ever likely to be. I have even enrolled in a discussion group that holds forth on issues of child development. The first one is entitled, 8216;Who is pressurising our children so much?8217; Who indeed? I demand to know.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More