The alarm buzzed and buzzed annoyingly in Kshiti's ear. Finally she reached over and smacked it, causing it to fall of her end table. From the floor it bleeped it's displeasure. The teenager groaned and sat up. She pushed her brown hair out of her face as she leaned over the side of the bed and snagged the clock. With a deft movement she turned off the shrill noise and replaced it on the side table. The red glowing numbers proudly stated the time as 5:32. Kshiti groaned again as she climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom. She emerged twenty minutes later cleaned and more ready to face the day. 

By six she was dressed and presentable. She turned on her ipod, put in the buds and rocked out as she started gathering her stuff for school. She hummed the music under her breath as she packed her backpack. When she was finished with that she made a simple breakfast, roti, a few dips and spiced potatoes left over from last breakfast.

"<Papa!>" Kshiti shouted in Hindi. "<Breakfast!>" She scooped the last few bits of potato onto her plate and took up her usual spot at the counter. 

A few minutes later her father staggered into the kitchen. His brown hair was still a bit ruffled and his pajama pants were rolled up on one side giving him a peculiar lopsided look. "<Smells wonderful>" Papa said as he took up the stool next to Kshiti.

"<I'm going off to school at seven.>" Kshiti said between bites. "<Don't forget to pick up the groceries. The list is on the fridge.>"

Her father rolled his eyes. "<I know that we're out of food little one.>" He smiled and draped an arm around her. "<Aren't I supposed to be the parent here?>"

Kshiti smiled back. "<Maybe one day Papa.>" She kissed him on the cheek before she finished her food, slipped off her stool and went to go wash her dishes. "<After school I'm going to hang out with Brad, Carla and Dee. So I wont be home until six.>"

"<Going to see the new movie right?>" Papa asked.

Kshiti rolled her eyes. "<It's called Maleficent, and yes.>" She put her dishes on the drying rack. "<Want anything in particular on your sandwich?>" She walked over the the other counter ans grabbed the bread. 

"<The usual's fine.>" Papa said as he too finished his meal. "<You always know what's best.>"

Kshiti rolled her eyes again. "<And that's why you can't get any dates.>" She pointed out as she started making her lunch. 

"<Maybe Papa already has all the women he needs in his life.>" He tried to look offended. It was their usual banter. For the past year or so Kshiti had been trying to set her father up with dates. He needed a wife to take care of him. She wouldn't be around forever. She was already applying to colleges and had plans that moved her out of the house by the age of eighteen. 

"Aish." Kshiti said. "<Then maybe you need a man.>" She smirked at her Papa as he gaped at her. "<Your lunch is in the fridge. Love you.>" She grabbed her lunch and scurried out of the kitchen before her father got over his shock. He'd find a way to get her back for that. She quickly gathered her backpack and flew out the door, her black scarf trailing behind her. The two blocks she lived from the school took her only a few minutes to walk. 

[i]Anything in "< >" is translated from Hindi.[/i]