Mom's arsenal

A Peek Into The War Chest Of Mass Discipline

Suditi Pal, XI B & Tanush Dhatariya, Alumnus, AIS Saket 

Mothers have a tolerance threshold as delicate as a biscuit dipped in chai. If you cross it, be prepared to face her wrath, often accompanied by flying belans. But these aren't the only weapons of their choice. A mother's armoury is as big as the USA's war chest. It's a good thing there is a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in place, because otherwise mothers would have armed themselves with atomic weapons too. Let's take a glance at what they do possess...

The chappal of justice: Despite being caught red-handed for breaking mom's beloved (and high-end) MAC eyeshadow palette, you try to slyly shift the blame onto Tuffy, the pet dog. You and your mother both know that the poor canine could never have unlocked the make-up drawer, he has neither nimble fingers nor the criminal acumen. You are fighting a losing battle, making one odd argument after another. Your mother - the judge - delivers the verdict. Ten lashings of the chappal! Tuffy barks in protest, and the guilt hits harder than the punishment. Throwing your only ally under the bus was a low blow.

The emotional attack: "...I carried you for nine months. Is this how you repay me?" This phrase is so overused that you wish your mother would hire a dialogue writer. She uses it every third day, regardless of whether the situation demands it or not. By now, you have learnt that this is one weapon you should never defend yourself against. Just listen and nod. At the end of the day, it is true that she went through the ordeal of carrying you when you were more interested in kicking to prepare for your non-existent football career.

The sudden ambush: She would be quietly sweeping the floor when, out of nowhere, she hits you with the broom as if you're a pesky rat foraging for cheese. For a minute, you wonder why the broom came swinging at you. Then you notice the door of your room behind her. The tornado-hit scene clothes and books strewn across the floor, a lopsided lamp, and your chair trying its best to balance the mountain of unwashed laundry on it. You meekly take the broom and head in for mission clean-up.

The killer look: No words. No movement. Just a look. It's delivered with laser-sharp precision from across the room, powerful enough to stop you mid-sentence, mid-step, sometimes mid-breath. This weapon does not bruise the body, but it paralyses the soul. You instantly replay your last five actions, trying to figure out what you did wrong. Was it the tone? The eye-roll? Existing too loudly? By the time you realise your mistake, it's already too late. The look has spoken.

The covert comparison: "See Sharma ji's child? Always polite and studying. Never talks back." Your achievements fade into the background as someone else's report card, manners, or obedience is held up as the gold standard. Resistance is futile. You nod, but silently vow to never become Sharma ji's child in your next life.

All these weapons aren't really about punishment. They're about discipline, love, and a slightly dramatic way of keeping us in check. After all, behind every notorious child is a mom doing her absolute best... armed and ready.

(Tanush is currently pursuing B.Tech in Computer Science from VIT, Vellore.)

MOVIE REVIEW

The web-slinger starts over

Movie: Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton

Released on: July 30, 2026

Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Michael Mando, Mark Ruffalo

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Synopsis: After No Way Home wiped Peter Parker from everyone's memory, Spider-Man: Brand New Day begins with Peter fully on his own. No one remembers him. He throws himself into being Spider-Man full-time, but the loneliness and pressure eventually gets to him, leading to a metamorphosis. As New York comes under pressure from a mysterious new threat, Peter is pulled into a conflict involving supervillain Scorpion, and some surprise MCU connections, forcing him to confront a more difficult question than ever before: what kind of hero should he become now that he has nothing left to lose?

Why is it worth watching: This feels like a genuine fresh start for the franchise, with a more emotional tone than the earlier Spider-Man films. Director Destin Daniel Cretton brings a more dramatic approach, while Tom Holland gets room to play a worn-down Peter Parker rather than a purely quippy one. Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and the newer cast additions give the film extra weight, and the street-level conflict makes the action feel tighter and more personal. In India, the film released a day early in multiple languages and premium formats, which further added to the already existing high enthusiasm for the film.

Iconic dialogue: "Sometimes Spider Man has to do the hard thing, even if it breaks Peter Parker's heart."

Rating: ★★★★★

Review by: Zoya Nafis, AIS Jagdishpur, X A