Dreamy career...

We were sitting as a group (boys and girls) and the topic of discussion was, of course, me! Or rather my career. That’s one topic that surrounds the life of any 12th standard student. What after 12 glorious years of school? Should I follow the popular path of taking Engineering and be safe in my life or I risk doing what I like, journalism? My head was loaded with questions and was spinning with options. I wanted others' opinion on the same. I might have asked my parents. But damn them! My dad is, I believe, a reincarnation of General Jean Martinet. I am not allowed even to raise my opinions with him. My mom is non-existent when it comes to opinions. She just nods to whatever dad says. So I asked my class mates for opinion and here we are discussing the same…

Not many came up with brilliant ideas. Not many told me what they felt. When one said Doctor, the next one said Nurse to mock at it. The list then included Teacher, Cricketer, Artist etc. One suggested we remain at school as a student which is not obviously favorable. One said Watchman and put everyone into splits of laughter. Some just gave me a raised-eyebrow look as if they were relishing something they wouldn’t reveal. The discussion left me more confused. Tired, mentally, I hit the bed that day at sharp 10pm, dad’s order.

Sun was shining. I left the bed and found that, quite peculiarly, no one was at home. I called for mom, she wasn’t there. Maybe they left for some function? Weird it was. I got ready for school and reached the car and to my surprise saw one of my friends in the driver seat in the driver’s attire.
“Hey what you doing here?” I asked him.
“Lets go sahib, its late for office” he said collecting my bag and immediately starting the car.
Office? I was thinking it was some kind of joke when I suddenly saw the watchman saluting me. He was the same guy who suggested I become a watchman! My friend!
My confused mind was becoming mad. On the road, I saw a school student walking and rather to my no surprise it was that friend of mine who wanted to stay at school! What is happening? Which insane world was I in? As the car proceeded, I saw a teacher going towards my school. Also when I crossed the school, I saw an ice cream vendor just outside it. Then there was this traffic policeman controlling the signal, a beggar asking for alms, a VIP car passing by with bodyguards, an auto wala who dashed into my car.. Friends, friends, friends!

All were my friends. So that’s what people wanted me to become. But who was I anyway? Where is my office? What do I do? Suddenly, I saw my dad. I was facing his back. He was in a casual dress. I couldn’t see what profession he was into. I was getting curious and desperate to know it. I asked the driver to stop the car immediately. Mindless of what was happening around me, I ran towards him when suddenly there was a lorry which hit me from behind. Bham! It was all too quick. As I lay there bleeding profusely, I screamed for help when Dad turned and saw me through his coolers. He ran towards me but stopped within a meter from me. A cameraman ran with him, another friend of mine of course! Dad took the mike from him and started “Here we go another accident in this famed metro. The roads are bad, people are not obeying rules, bribes all around, look what they did to a poor teenager lying here. This is Martinet for you reporting live from the streets!” Journalist, I whispered. My dad looked at me and said “Do what you want!”

I was taken to the hospital at last. I saw my friends carrying me to the operation theatre not because they cared for me but because it was their job. A lady nurse came in to give basic first aid (Remember she mocked?). Then a group of doctors came and started operating on me. I was able to figure out who they were except one lady doctor who had her surgical mask on. I was wondering why I was awake when I was supposed to be under anesthesia when suddenly the heart rate monitor started giving weird sounds. Everyone looked concerned. “He is going off” one doctor said and immediately the lady doctor removed her mask and started beating my chest shouting “Get up! Get up!” It was my mother…

“Get up! Get up!” she shouted beating my chest. I awoke with a start. “You are already late for breakfast! Dad is fuming downstairs” my mom screamed. Unable to fathom what was happening, I rushed to the washroom, got ready and went down to join my parents for breakfast. As I sat there, with my mind still on my dream, I asked my dad “Dad, what should I do after 12th?”
“Do what you want to do son! I know people who took up what others pressurized them into. They were never happy. I know people who lived their entire life trying to be someone they saw around them without any aim themselves. They just evaluated others and till their death they didn’t know what they did. You should have a goal in a field you like and should try to achieve it. There lies the fun. Life is all about living your dreams.” he said.
I looked at him and realized how true his words were. Except for the last sentence that is. I would never want to live that dream where I die as someone who didn’t know what he was up to. I looked at my parents again and claimed “I wanted to be a journalist. But I feel it may be artificial for me. I gave a good thought and I decided I would try to become a doctor, a good humane one”
As my dad nodded his head, I saw a faint hint of a smile in my mother’s lips…