Yes, this must be Shanthi's bright idea - act like she is depressed or going crazy, and then they will accept her leaving the house. Have the crew stopped reading this forum? Or did they never even start this bad (to them) habit?
I thought it was unusual for a child to ask for coffee, since when we were growing up, we were always given milk, with some added flavorings to tempt those who did not care for plain milk. Coffee erodes the calcium in our bodies, and so it is best to keep children away from coffee, esp in their growing years. I don't suppose the directors think of these things, but it would be a good idea, since there are so many young mothers who are often unaware of these facts, esp in parts of the interior.