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
9 comments:
There's this poignant lil southie flick called "Bommarillu" (i hope i spelled it out right).. dunno if u've seen it.. but jiffies of the scene, where the docile-at-home-ruffian-outside Siddhartha (i hope i've spelt it ryt too..) breaks loose and gives his two cents to his control-freak father, kept flashing in my mind all thru..
He says "if u play my game for me.. then even on winning.. i always lose.."
Contradictory situations, yours n his.. although the output's essentially similar..
PS: Yours (and probably every elses) parents should read your inditement (i hope dis ones spelled right too..)
The central idea might be a little old or frequently heard, but the way you have written it with the examples and instances you quoted is really really amazing.
(Although I don't intend to give advice or show path) You should (can't omit it) take writing as your career (might be part time if not primary).
Kudos and thanks for such a nice reading.
nicely written!!!
There are times when you know what to do in life...and you should be left alone doing that..
Then there are other times when you (at least I) do not know what to do....and then you should let life plan things for you..
I am not sure if it works for all....but for me it always had.
Nicely written.Your parents would be very happy to read it...belive you me.
wonderful grl......i guess we all identify with this!!! n specially the part dat we want thngss to be said to our parents but still knw we cant....loved it!!!
really nice....
please write a blog after a few years on "if i wud hv been one of those Is..."
wud love to read dat too...
:)
i ws overcome wid emotion upon reading thy blog entry... "ohh, y dont u try the Civil services or... at least give a try to CAT! u have d ability... and y not?? itna padha-likha, wat a waste if u just remain an engineer... thodi si aur mehnat kar lo... sirf Engineering kar ke kya hota hai...! CAT wagerah ka aim rakho... dekho kaha-se-kahaa pahuch jaaogi!"/// thanks for d advice, but its ok to stand still at times and not keep running always :)
The final step of the transition, you're officially the stereotype 'Freebird'. But my personal opinion is that there should be a handful of things that should restrict us, so when we get the chance to be free, that is what we enjoy. It's the change that is important.
Good going !!
:)..dats it..
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