Title: “Screen Time”

Characters:
 Aadya: 12 years old, smart, confident, speaks fluent English.
 Mom (Megha): Early 40s, well-educated, gentle but firm.
Setting:
Aadya and her mother live in a posh high-rise apartment in Gurugram. The living room is
tastefully decorated, with modern furniture and warm lighting. Aadya is lounging on the
couch with her phone, earphones plugged in, giggling at something on the screen.

(Lights up. Late afternoon. Aadya is sprawled on the couch, phone inches from her face.
Her thumbs are dancing across the screen.)
Megha (from the dining area, folding laundry):
Aadya, it's been over an hour. Please put that phone away now.
Aadya (without looking up):
Just five more minutes, Mom. I’m in the middle of something important.
Megha (walking over):
Important? Watching reels for hours isn’t exactly "important".
Aadya (groaning):
Ugh, you just don’t get it! It is important. My friends are all online right now. We’re planning
our outfits for Ayra’s party.
Megha:
You’ve been glued to that screen since morning! First it was YouTube, then gaming, now this.
When was the last time you looked out the window?
Aadya (mocking):
Wow, “looked out the window”? What am I, eighty?
Megha (firmly):
Don’t be rude. I’m asking you to disconnect for a while. Go read a book. Sketch something.
Just—be present for once.
Aadya (angrily pulling out her earphones):
Why do you always want me to do what you like? Reading, sketching, sitting quietly with
some herbal tea?! That’s your thing. Not mine!
Megha (taken aback):
Excuse me? I’m just trying to help you create a balance. You're turning into a zombie.
Aadya (raising her voice):
No, I’m just not living in 1995 like you! Maybe if you weren’t always hovering and judging, I’d
actually want to talk to you!
Megha (hurt):
Aadya…
Aadya (cutting her off, grabs her phone and stands):
I’m DONE with this! You can keep your “screen time rules”. I’m going for a walk.
Megha:
Aadya, you are not going anywhere until we talk about this—
Aadya (yelling as she storms toward the door):
There’s nothing to talk about!
(She SLAMS the door. A long beat of silence.)
Megha (softly, to herself):
She didn’t even wear her shoes…
(She sits slowly on the edge of the couch, staring at the door. Lights dim.)