And this is what happened after i told them the entire story...
In the car this was what ensued..
Dad..”beta, I don’t think the uncles were wrong Shrill,you better start thinking about your future career..These days everyone’s an engineer..Its like those cell phones which people earlier craved so much for,but now have become as common as a toilet soap..”
To which my mom added..”let it go..children these days are too audacious..they want everything according to their own will..be it work or spouse”
“No respect for elders.....”
I was mumbling...”Oh no not again please...”
Look at your cousins Harish,In the States..aren’t they making their parents proud..see you need to do something worthwhile in life...
Hmmm...worthwhile...you need to have at least one I in India to be RESPECTED in India...IAS,IIM or IIT
You could be a charlatan in USA,but if your son or daughter is in USA that’s the way you’re recognised..thats your star appeal...
And then this is what i had to say to Dad...
(I very frankly hate giving explanation as to why I am doing what...
But this was one time when i had to explain my folks...because i thought i owed them an explanation...after all they were the ones who brought me here)
“Mom and Dad...I’ve always done what I’ve wanted to do...
You guys never forced me...
Ate as much I wanted..ate what I wanted..slept when I wanted..read when I wanted..played when I wanted...made friends with whom i wanted..
So much so...I even learnt to cycle on my own..without anybody’s help..it took me few months..but I am proud you left me to do things on my own...
I remember when I must have been 5,once I was craving for that pastry inside that big confectionary shop...you just gave me the money and asked me to fetch it for myself...while you went far away from the store.... I felt so helpless,looked around the entire store...but finally took the pastry in the basket went up the cash counter and paid the bill...
You left me so that I could learn things on my own...
That one time when you always used to drop me for “sit and draw” competitions but again stood far away near the parking and never looked,even once, at what I was painting..because you didn’t want me to be conscious..and didn’t want to influence my painting...
Never gave those pat on my backs,never cheered,never clicked photos Whenever I went up on stage...
Just because you wanted me to do things on my own..
Learn on my own....
Didnt you say how you lost interest in studies each time Dadaji(Grandpa) asked you to sit down and study and never let you play Cricket...
Wasn’t that the reason you bought Bro that high priced tennis racket that when he said he wanted to play TT..
And this is what I’ve learned and plan to do..
Papa and Mummy..I want to see things and learn things on my own...Yes,I’ll work in what gives me pleasure...fine...if at all I wanna change it..I will..but then It’ll be according to what I’d want.. I want to explore avenues by myself ...who knows I might take up writing as a career or teaching...
I get pleasure in doing simple plain things..Waking up early morning..going out for a walk or run,reading good stuffs,Being with friends...and doing my work with honesty and integrity even if its menial and meaningless to others....its great to me...
The bottom line is Every one wants to stay happy and we as homo sapiens are designed to keep ourselves happy...I’d never want to chose a career option..or for that matter even my man because others want me to do so...or because the amount of money it has...or because its ”upmarket”..
I know people will call me a loser but trust me I’ll be a HAPPY LOSER..
So shouldn’t you just be bothered about whether I am Happy or not?
P.S This was written long before i watched 3 idiots,as its prequel was long back in AUG..
and its a good things my parents dont quite read my blog...
Written while listening to ANIMAL SONG by SAVAGE GARDEN
