T for Treadmill of Life

It's the story of a girl/boy who chooses whatever you like whom I know very closely. He was born into a typical Indian middle-class family. He was raised following all the standards that society considered Ideal. At the outset, he was told about his religion, whom to worship, and how to worship. As he grew up a little he was sent to a school, where he was given a set of books and told what he could and should learn. He was told to go outside, and play games with other boys outdoors, and not play indoors like a girl. Whenever he came back injured, he was told to man up and not cry like a girl. Whenever he scored fewer marks in exams, he was questioned about who would marry you if you don't study well and get a high-paying job.

The free-willed child in him started feeling the shackles tightening on him. He slowly started giving up on his dreams. Drawing time, and Evening cricket slowly had to make way for tuition classes. His sacrifices showed their effects, his scores on the report card were there for everybody to see, were the other effects were even taken the smallest note of. He started losing his big bright smile, and his passion where he was quick in learning everything he saw around himself.

As he grew, he was pushed into a dream that was in no way his. He was made to take the path called Engineering which probably was the last path he wanted to turn to. He couldn't refuse, or protest because those were the things that uncultured, and ill-mannered boys do. 

When he went through a life-threatening brain condition in childhood, doctors clearly warned of what havoc increased stress might have in his life. But was that taken into account when everybody in the family called it his duty and pulled him into all petty family quarrels, mainly orchestrated to boost their ego, rather than solving a problem? 

He did somehow cope with all the stress, sometimes by breaking down completely and crying to his pillow, and sometimes desperately looking for hands to clutch in the unknown world, because talking about his problems and emotions was not what he was supposed to do, he was just meant to listen. Listen and solve others' problems. 

He finally turned out to be the perfect adult they wanted to create. Taking up a regular job, listening, and solving all their problems. Holding his cards, emotions, feelings, and choices close to himself, because his duty was to make everybody else happy, and he didn't fall into that else condition. He earned well, and could easily spend to get the best for others, but when it came to spending on himself his hands would tremble with uncertainty. Whenever he would go out he would offer the best rooms, best view, and best photo shots to others, without a second thought, subconsciously considering that he didn't deserve any of that. 

Why worship, what does faith mean, got completely missed out from his lesson. What he wanted to learn and study is something that didn't even get to the discussion table. Who decides what game can a boy or a girl play? Who gave the exclusive right of crying to women? When was it decided that he wants to do a job, and get married in the future, why was a high-paying job the only means for him to get married? He didn't say a word against the career choice made for him, but said he would have, would it have made any difference, he seriously doubted. But slowly he is accepting it all, and peacefully revolting this all, in his little secret way.

Dr Jahangir Khan Says "Genius is know
when to stop, and change the lane"

Earlier he did everything because he was taught to do only those. But now he chooses to do it out of love. He loves to listen to people, and make them feel happy, and heard. He goes around offering compliments to strangers just to see one face smiling. He surprises his friend and aims to help them tick off at least one item from their checklist. He has opened his heart to love and doesn't put any restrictions on either giving it out or receiving it.

You know what he just brought a bunch of envelopes and plans to send letters to countless individuals opening his hearts to love. He just brought a cricket bat and played cricket after 8 years freaking year, (mind you he dreamt of being a cricketer). He just got himself a doodling book, doodling pens, a set of paintbrushes, a painting book, and lots of colors. He wants to color the whole of his part of the world beautiful again. Even before this month completes, he has unregretfully spent a total of his total of three months' salary, buying some experiences and happiness for himself, and some as a surprise for the strangers he didn't and doesn't want to know.

After reading all these paragraphs, if you are still wondering where can you find him. I can't say for sure, probably he/she is sitting at some metro station before writing this post, where he sits unmoved watching a bunch of college friends sitting in circle playing cards. He probably has already missed the last 4 trains in the previous 20 minutes. He/She might be sitting at home reading this post finding himself/herself in just a small part of the above description.