Aisha, Rahul, Meher, and Sid have one thing in common – they are all not very happy about their siblings! Is sibling rivalry driving you crazy too? Join these friends in this edition of Canteen Talk as they hilariously dish out their best tricks for dealing with annoying siblings.

The school canteen is buzzing with students during lunch break. A group of friends – Aisha, Rahul, Meher, and Sid – are sitting at their usual spot, munching and chatting.

Aisha: (sighs dramatically) Ugh, my little brother is driving me nuts! He stole my phone this morning to play games and then blamed me when he got caught.He ate the last piece of cake I was saving and then had the nerve to blame it on me when mom asked where it went.

Rahul: (laughs) Classic! My sister does that too, except she’s more into hijacking my Insta and posting the most embarrassing photos. I swear, she’s out to ruin my social life.

Meher: (nodding) Same here! My older sister acts like she’s my second mom. She’s always telling me what to do, like “Meher, you need to study more!” or “Meher, don’t wear that!” It’s so annoying!

Sid: (grinning) You all are making sibling life sound like a nightmare. I’m so glad I’m an only child! No one to steal my stuff, no one to boss me around – pure freedom!

Aisha: (playfully) Lucky you, Sid! But trust me, as much as they drive me crazy, I can’t imagine life without my brother. It’s like having a built-in partner-in-crime… when he’s not trying to get me in trouble, that is. 

Aisha: (sighs dramatically) Trust me, Sid, you’re not missing much. My brother ate the last piece of cake I was saving and then had the nerve to blame it on me when mom asked where it went.

Rahul: (smirking) You mean, when you’re not trying to get him in trouble. Speaking of trouble, though, there was this one time when my sister totally saved me. I’d been on my phone instead of doing my homework, and when mom was about to lose it, my sister stepped in and pretended I was helping her with a school project. She made up this whole story about how I was doing research for her science class. Mom totally bought it!

Meher : That’s amazing! I wish my sister did that sometimes. But seriously, sibling rivalry is just part of the deal, right? The key is learning how to deal with it so it doesn’t drive you completely bonkers.

Rahul: (chuckling) Oh don’t be fooled. There was a price to pay after. I haven’t had the last piece of any chocolate since that day! But bribery is the way of our world to keep the peace.

Meher: Yeah, exactly. I’ve found a few tricks that help. Like, when my sister is on my case, I just start agreeing with everything she says in the most exaggerated way possible. It throws her off every time! 

Sid: (laughing) That’s genius! I’m almost jealous that I don’t have a sibling to try that on.

Rahul: (chuckling) One of my go-to strategies is bribery. I’ll offer my sister something small, like the last piece of chocolate, if she’ll just chill out for a bit. Works like a charm.

Aisha: (nodding) That’s smart. I’ve noticed that my brother’s like a tiny negotiator. He’ll strike a deal where we trade chores or TV time. It’s actually pretty impressive for a 10-year-old!

Meher: (grinning) And let’s not forget about distraction. When my sister and I are about to go at it, I’ll just change the subject to something we both like – like gossiping about what happened at school. It usually diffuses the situation.

Rahul: (with mock seriousness) Or, you can always resort to the classic “Mummyyyyyy!” That one never fails.

Sid: (laughing) These are all brilliant. I never realized how much strategy goes into surviving siblinghood. You all should get an award for Sibling Survival 101.

Aisha: (grinning) Hey, it’s a skill! But honestly, it’s all about finding a balance. 

Sid : But do you ever feel jealous? Like when your parents compare you to your siblings?

Meher: (sighing) Yeah, it’s tough. My sister is always the one getting praised for her academics, and I’m more into art. It used to really get to me, especially when my parents would say things like, “Art won’t get you anywhere; focus on your studies like your sister.” 

But then my sister actually stood up for me once. She told them that art is just as important, and that I’m really talented. I was shocked – in a good way!

Rahul: (nodding) Same here. My sister’s the “good one” who always gets perfect grades, and I’m the one who’s more into sports. It used to bother me when they’d say, “Why can’t you study like your sister?” But now, I just remind myself that I have my own strengths. And honestly, I think she gets jealous sometimes because I’m more popular at school. So I guess we’re even.

Ayesha: (nodding) So true. My brother and I might argue a lot, but when it comes down to it, he’s always there for me. Like, last week, I had a really bad day, and he surprised me with my favorite snack. It was such a small thing, but it made a huge difference.

Rahul: (smiling) Yeah, siblings can be annoying, but they’re also your biggest supporters. 

Sid: (thoughtfully) You know, I always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. Listening to you guys, I can see how it’s not just about the fights – it’s about having someone who really gets you. I mean, you’re stuck with each other for life, so you might as well make the best of it, right?

Aisha: (smiling) Exactly, Sid! And it’s not all bad. Sure, there’s rivalry, but there’s also friendship, loyalty, and a lot of inside jokes. So, yeah, they might drive us crazy, but we wouldn’t trade them for the world.

Rahul: (raising his juice box) Here’s to siblings – the best frenemies we’ll ever have!

All: (raising their drinks) Cheers to that!

Meher: (teasingly) And Sid, maybe one day, you’ll get a sibling of your own. Then you can join our club of professional sibling wranglers.

Sid: (laughing) We’ll see about that! But until then, I’m happy to be an honorary member.

As the friends laugh and finish their lunch, the conversation shifts to other topics, but the bond they share over their sibling stories lingers. They may complain about their brothers and sisters, but deep down, they know that these relationships are irreplaceable – and maybe even a little bit fun.