When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

The days of youth pass by playing and you don’t even realize it. When I stepped into youth after childhood, it seemed as if the whole world was carefree for me. Having fun with friends in college and then helping my mother with household chores, studying and sleeping, this was my life. When I got married and came to my in-laws’ house for the first time, I suddenly felt that I have grown up now. However, my mother had not explained to me that one has to take responsibilities after going to the in-laws’ house, because she knew that her daughter would handle everything on her own. I used to wake up late on holidays at home and got ready after taking a bath at 5:00 in the morning. There was sleep in my eyes but responsibility in my mind. By night I wrote a letter to my mother. It was something like this.

My dear mother, I have left your home. What should I tell you what all I have left behind in your house.As soon as I stepped on the threshold of my in-laws’ house, I have left my childhood behind.I have brought along all the etiquette, manners,  but I have left my carefree, carefree laughter behind.The blessings you had given me at the time of departure, I have brought them along with me. But I have left my father’s hand behind. The city is new, the customs seem different here. I have left the dupatta flying in the breeze behind. Now I tie these locks tightly due to the heat, I have left many stories of those open locks behind.The name Bahu(daughter in law) has a lot of power but I have left the pain of the word daughter behind. We had a small kingdom where everything from morning tea to dinner was as per our wish.  But i have left our rule behind. Papa had gifted us Ramayan at our wedding, it said Sita is in it, so i brought that along,But i left behind thousands of stories heard from Grandma.i brought countless mannerisms in our tone, But i left behind my blunt tongue which used to seem very much like my own with my brothers and sisters.I often fall into deep sleep at night,i left behind the carefree sleepless nights wrapped in responsibilities.
And this house of ours is very beautiful, But i left behind a whole world for this world. The first day at my in-laws house was when I felt I had grown up.