Yet when the kid matures all the same attributes that are causes of happiness bring about a sense of monotonicity. Somehow he must be creative,have original ideas and be special by himself.He goes to school, gets trained in the same disciplines as lacs of others who do the same.For Earths population close to six billion,it is close to impossible that everyone must be unique per se. Yet the scores of lectures for originality must go on.Somehow the neighbors son raises the bar for the homeboi. It is spiteful to even think that Raju is better than "Padous ka SharmaJi ka Beta" .This fictitious character is the bane of all kids of GenX.No one beats the neighbors son.In fact he is so good,that he will probably get the Nobel Prize someday.The neighbors kid is the symbol of envy,the topmost bar of success scales.He is the modern day super-boys kryptonite. He will have all the goods life has on offer while apna Raju struggles with getting the filth away from his own shirt.All the auntyji's sing his name-the Ramavatar in terms of being a scion.
Why cant you be more like him?
"Ahh..."
Raju reluctantly gives up arguing,knowing it wont make sense.He is put up to match an illusion,a supposed character without flaws.An amalgam of the all the good features someone should have.Problem for him is humans are imperfect.Because that is what makes us human.Yet we are bred in the same pool of knowledge , the same ambiance of society and the same metrics of performance.So how can two persons be judged when they have so much in variance?Yet society keeps Raju in the metaphorical treadmill of "career paths".
Here i quote my oft used lines:
"Here in a country like ours ...
- The competitiveness has risen geometrically to cut-throat levels.
- The competitiveness has risen as such , so much so that one could implement Charles Darwin's Theories of Evolution.
To satire or not to satire...
- Imitation is a feature one should not have.(Even if the kid is actually good at it.)
- We are only cheap rip offs of our fathers.(I forgot the name of the Hero who said that. ;-) )
Life is meant to be fulfilling,it is no wonder homeboi loses his path,frustrated and confused about his place in the world.The scales are ruthless,there is no room for compromise.As he hits puberty ,he finds competition and also distractions in terms of of the birds and bees.The opposite gender gives him more competition,and also distracts him from his primary mission of being successful.College gives him freedom but also piggybacks the additional overheads of responsibilities.He picks up an instrument,like many others and in trying to forge his non-academic talents goes through a media of challenges.His taste in music varies.Pop gives way to Rock et al. He tastes the different kinds "beverages" and implements different types of recreations.He keeps up with his other unique buds in terms of style and brand know how.He must tattoo the fore of his crack-because that's what the cool kids do.He gets a job,and like scores of others has his thing planned.A post graduate degree to boot. Everybody does it,but hey, he must be different,right?
Le unique dude gets his first car.Also more responsibilities.A partner to share his life with(Well honestly,mostly wealth!!!).He keeps running the rat race,uniqueness notwithstanding.That is until he has his progeny do the same.
From cradle to the grave-
He is spoon fed the idea of fighting the competition.Like the popular soap ad that says:
"Dont Stop!"
He follows it - that is until he kicks the bucket.
