Things I wish I knew before drinking alcohol in front of my Indian in-laws

I am a daughter-in-law hailing from a very open minded family where smoking and drinking is not an issue as long as you have it under control. Equality was very normal for me until I got married. They all looked super chilled out until I picked up that glass of alcohol which my brother-in-law had happily made for me. Here are 4 things I wish I knew before drinking alcohol in front of my Indian in-laws.

This is ofcourse an obvious one! The moment I took that glass in my hand I had all the eyes on me. It was very hard for them to digest that I, a daughter-in-law, and a woman was having neat whiskey on the rocks. The women went “oh god” and the men had a mixed reaction. Some had that judging look “oho peeti hai” while some were impressed with my drink of choice. So should I have broken the ice or not? It is up to you.

After having one drink, all were assessing my behaviour after just one drink. If I dared to pass a comment on an argument happening in that room, or pulled someone’s leg, I remember my father-in-law saying “beta one was enough maybe”. You really have to muster patience and courage to stand against a room full of a judgement panel.

Even if it has been months and all know that I do drink, some relatives still pull my leg that I can hold my drink,and that I should try “desi-tharra” and what not. None of it is in a good light, all “leg pulling” is their way of taunting and it continues. You have to build a thick layer of tolerance and my only reaction is a fake smile. But if you are courageous, joke about yourself and laugh at yourself. It may stop. Mine have not though.

If this is not enough, you will be asked whether you have some in stock at home and if I can share it with them when they come home. So I happily kept the best of booz to entertain until I realised there are some relatives you can call cheapskates! Eventually I realized that I don’t drink anymore but I do regret spending oodles of money on pleasing my father-in-law. I later also realised that this was their way of shaming me.

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