I think the sad part about life is the unconscious effort on the part of your family to make it difficult for you. They tell you to keep your cool, never succumb to pressure (all in good faith, and I really appreciate), while applying enormous pressure on you at the same time, this burden of expectation looming on you. At times, it's unbearable.
To give an example, here is a hypothetical conversation with my dad over sometime in these days:
my cellphone rings. I'm happy to see my younger brother Harsh's number on the screen. I pick it up instantaneously.
Me: oye harshi bhi, kaisa hai?
Papa: chunmun... (thats my nickname :D )
To give an example, here is a hypothetical conversation with my dad over sometime in these days:
my cellphone rings. I'm happy to see my younger brother Harsh's number on the screen. I pick it up instantaneously.
Me: oye harshi bhi, kaisa hai?
Papa: chunmun... (thats my nickname :D )
I get startled and realize.
Me: oh... papa, pranam! sab kaise hain?
Papa: yahan sab theek hain. tum kya kar rahe ho?
Me: (fiddling with my computer) main toh padh raha tha. (and that would be my email)
Papa: yahan sab theek hain. tum kya kar rahe ho?
Me: (fiddling with my computer) main toh padh raha tha. (and that would be my email)
Papa: padhai theek chal rahi hai na?
Me: haan papa, theek hai.
Papa: exams kab se hain?
Me: abhi next Monday se hain 2nd mid term
Papa: accha, toh 1st midterm ke number kaise aaye?
Me: woh papa, (trying to evade; without success!) usmein number theek nahi aaye, yeh semester bahut tough ho hai. Exam paper bhee tough tha. Aur main CAT par jyaada dhyan de raha hun (evasion tactics part 2)
Papa: kuch na kuch bahana hota hai tumhare paas hamesha. Padhai par dhyan do, idhar udhar ki baatein bhool jao beta. Padhai sabse pehle hai.
Me: haan papa.
Papa: aur koi companies aayi campus mein?
Me: haan, abhi toh core hi aayi hain, mera interest nahi hai usmein (duh!! :P) mechanical se 16 students place ho gaye.
Papa: 16 mein tumhara number nahi aaya? Sharm aani chahiye tumhein.. kisi company ne offer hi nahi diya?
Pressure builds up on me. I have no clue what to say.
Me: papa, aur companies ayengi January ke baad. Aur waise bhee main CAT ki preparation….(interruption)
Papa: CAT ki tayari ho gayi poori?
Huh? I am stumped.
Me: nahi papa, academic pressure kaafi hai na is baar, isiliye dheere ho rahi hai preparation.
Papa: hmm…beta, koi job offer toh le lo, haath mein ek job rehna chahiye, fir chahe tum join karo ya na karo. Samjhe?
I wish I could understand, rather ‘take’ a job in my hands.
Me: haan papa. (I sound tensed now.)
Papa: aur haan, tension kabhi mat lena. Bina tension ke kaam karna chahiye. Ekdum coolheaded approach.
Me: haan papa. (what else to say?)
Phew! I feel lightheaded now…
Papa: accha, lo tumhari mummy se baat karo…..
Conversation continues in other directions.
-Sumeet Seth (sumeets29@gmail.com)
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