Gen N’s new mantra: ‘Bend rules, don’t break them’

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While common teen parenting advice is all about building boundaries and drawing lines — teens seem to get a rush from living on the edge of those lines and scaling up and over those boundaries into the party zone. Bending the rules is their sport of choice — whether it is besting age restrictions at pubs or movie theatres or stretching a curfew to accommodate some fun. 

“It is hard enough to go partying with friends to the clubs and though most pubs don’t ask questions, it is the parents who ask pointed questions. If I have to head out for a party, I sneak in and out of the house. I manage to get away with tiny white lies like it’s a friend’s birthday. If questions are raised about our late night jaunts then it is almost always because I’m dropping friends home. If I get a call from home, I say that I am just around the corner. It is exciting,” says Mohammed Asif, 19.
Basanth Jain, a final-year student of Mass Communications, St Mary’s Degree College couldn’t agree more. He quips, “I have also had to make excuses to go partying. It seems to be a taboo of sorts and going for late night drives invariably means coming up with excuses.”
They’re wise beyond their years, and in some cases, they have fake IDs to prove it. Mehi Shah, 17, a student of Jai Hind College speaks from experience, “Some friends have fake IDs, but I’ve never needed one. Even though the clubs and hang out places that I visit with friends know that I’m a minor, the owners have never asked me for proof of age. I’ve gone for adult movies, entered bars, which I am quite sure that most teenagers have done as well. I don’t hide it from my parents and they are cool with it.”
 Prashansa Shahahi, a 19-year-old, also enjoys her parents’ trust, “My parents don't really ask too many questions. I am independent and allowed to do most things on my own, including going for movies with friends. They don't ask me which movie I am going for.”
But parents are not always that cool. With films like Love, Sex aur Dhokha going viral in most metropolitan cities, curious teenagers are thronging cinemas, trying to beat the A-rating. Mohammed admits, “When it comes to movies like LSD, proxy attendance keeps my attendance record impeccable, but I’d rather keep quiet about watching the film with friends while bunking college.”
“It’s quite hard to get permission for nights out and partying,” says Shradha K., 19, “So the fail-safe excuse is combined studying — this can be used to go on first dates, movies, parties… Sure, most things are out of reach, but we’re young adults and already responsible. It can be thrilling to head out without the so-called permissions.” She grins mischievously, “I mean, I like rules, what I like more is how I get away with them.”

N. Kartik Rao