My mom and dad watch Hindi soaps with gusto. Every evening, back home, I watch with complete fascination as they coordinate their work so that they can tune in to their favourite serials. I was out once, and I asked my dad to pick me up at about 9 pm. Can you make it 8.45 instead? There’s Jassi/Astitva (or something like that) today, he tells me. I am impressed. My mom and dad (who disagree on most things!) come together to watch soaps in the evenings. And not only that, if my mom has to run a quick errand, my dad fills her up on what she’s lost during the ad break. Do watch any of these serials, my mom enquires one day. I look up guiltily, like she is asking me if I’d completed my homework. Uh, no, I reply, I don’t have cable. She’s distressed. You should watch some of these family dramas, she advises me. They’re based on what happens in real life, you know. I make some non-committal noise. Actually, you …