You might read this and think: That sounds exhausting.

If you grew up in an Indian household—or have simply peeked over the neighbor’s fence—you know that life here is never a solo film. It is a multi-starrer blockbuster. Between the pressure cooker whistle and the doorbell ringing, we live a lifestyle that is loud, loving, and often, gloriously illogical.

The frantic energy before a wedding or Diwali where everyone is an expert on your life choices.