How many times have you wanted to do something in life that is normally not accepted? How many times have you been asked some lame questions by your neighbours or some random friend querying about your future?
Passionate about dance, plans to drop out of college and pursue a career as a photographer or a model? Plans to get into Bollywood or become a writer?
But something stops us every single time.
Let’s start with career.
The fear of failure, and of course the taunts. “Kya karoge singer bankar?”, ” Beta engineer bano, dance toh hota rahega”. And the numerous comparisons with ‘Sharma ji ka beta’. “Dekho Sharma ji ka beta IIT mein hai”. So? “IIT mein hai toh kya karu?” And this happens almost every day without fail with so many of us.
Cut the crap out and screw ‘Sharma ji Ka Beta.’ I really don’t care and give a damn about it. I guess people have better things to do than to have so much interest in what the other person is doing. How many times you had wished to put down these judgemental hypocrites and follow your heart?
Everyone will have an opinion about almost everything. No matter what you do or don’t do, everybody will still have an opinion about your life. But when you are in trouble, you can literally count on your fingers how many people will actually come forward to help you. I wish opinions could have paid bills- then I wouldn’t have to count the money in my wallet before ordering at my favourite restaurant.
“Beta arts liya? Kya karoge?” People don’t realise that creativity and creating art is a science in itself. Being a doctor or an engineer is a super hyped concept. If someone is really good at arts or has immense interest for the same, we are no one to discourage the person or curb opportunities. Who knows, you can be the next Sachin, AR Rehman, MF Hussain or Tagore.
If you talk about sexual orientation, then it’s even worse.
Oh! You are gay.*shocked* Being a part of the LGBT community is not a curse. Most people look down on such people with disgrace. Come on, LGBT people are not criminals, they have equal rights to everything. It’s not a choice, it is who they are and it’s absolutely fine. People fear the consequences of coming out of the closet and live with the burden. Why? For heaven’s sake, we are in the 21st century now.
The same thing happens when people talk about physical appearance and ways of living.
A tattoo can decide the personality of a person. Huh? What about peeing on the roads, littering, spitting around the corners, and making graffiti on historical monuments proclaiming their love life for the generations to see?
Dress code is perpetuating rape culture and oppressive objectification towards women. Wearing short clothes is a sin. Men are never told that their legs arms or stomach are a problem for other people. They are seen as human and rarely as sexual exploits. But the character of a girl will be at stake if she flaunts a short dress, which she is comfortable in. Shameless men will ogle a woman even if she is wrapped up in layers of clothing, a saree or even a burqa. A dress never perpetuates rape, a filthy mind does. If a person is sexualizing a 15 year old girl, it is HIS problem.
And how can we forget about judging the character of each and every girl and the obsession to get her married.
Oh! That girl hangs out with guys you know. Well yes, what is wrong? A girl marries a guy, I guess or at least she is supposed to, but wait, she cannot hang out with guys. Her character becomes questionable. Really? But it’s totally fine to get married to a stranger who can actually be a stalker. Well, arranged marriages are better and safer, right?
“Oh pinky toh 30 ki ho gayi, shaadi ni karegi kya?” I don’t understand why people have this weird fetish of getting other people married. A girl, like anybody, has dreams, a career to make, wants to enjoy life, make her own choices, be independent. A guy needs to prove himself, be successful, and invest time in a hobby. Well, marrying is not the ultimate goal of life. One might not want to marry at all. It is completely fine and fair and no one should have an objection to one’s decision.
It’s your life. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for living it your way. Run, scream, laugh, and cry with joy. Do whatever you want. How does it matter if a girl wears tight or baggy clothes, or apply too much makeup, a guy wants to get inked, or wants to make a career in dance, painting, writing, photography or anything else that makes one’s heart sing from the rooftops. Or all you want to do is travel the world alone when the people around you are gasping at the thought of who you really are and what you are doing. Your life, your rules. Be Happy!!
“Log kya kahenge? Logo ka kaam hai kehna.”, “Duniya ka sabse bada rog. kya kahenge log.”
