अजीब दास्ताँ है यह..कहाँ शुरू ..कहाँ ख़तम...

The credits for the topic of this particular blog goes to the new found readers of my blog in the office , Anurag and Neelam. Unlike the previous blogs which were more of a monologue from my end, everyone would have some or other point of view to share in this one.

After some recent dramatic events, i was forced to think about the strong influence a few people build over others. This 'armtwisting' mechanism has lots of euphemisms in our society - Well wishers / Respected Elders / Seniors etc. The influence ranges from receiving genuine advices to the complete subjugation to somebody' wishes. My usage of the words 'somebody' n 'others' are not restricted to parents but are liberally extended to people like elder siblings, teachers/bosses and 'all' of the useless relatives.

Let me start the topic with one end of spectrum, i.e people who have completely surrendered to the demands of others. This usually happens with the youngest member of a family or who is weak in education. They are either showered with unsolicited advices on 'how to improve' or decisions are simply thrusted down their throat without even asking them even once. Even a small sign of reluctance on the above and they are drowned in the ocean of 'free ka gyan' without an iota of mercy . The dictionary term for the condition of such people is 'civil death'. Anurag, my childhood friend was all set to come down to pune and join the IT industry. Just before boarding the bus, his brother in law passed an emergency decree that he should do an MBA in marketing and nullified all his plans. I fail to see exactly how he has acquired the 'power of attorney' to pass judgements on somebody else's life and feel that this is just short of dictatorship, but i leave it open as there multiple angles to see the same thing.

Now i delve into the opposite end of the spectrum i.e people who have no respect/ attachment for the people they are supposed to have. This usually happens with people who break the shackles after years of 'bearing' the torture. This trait is also found in people who have always lived an independent live and are ready to die fighting for what they believe in. It would not make much of a difference if their ears stopped functioning suddenly, as they don't use it much anyways for listening what people have to say. These 'self centered' people see things as if they were centre of the universe and everything else is revolving around them.

The first example i have to cite is of my distant cousin - Sharat. As long as I can remember, he has been waging a war with his father. (I fail to understand why he feels proud to have done his M E from Paris ; after all it is favorite honeymoon destination and renowned for fashion industry rather than technical field.) Anyways,he recently married a widow with two kids in spite of earsplitting opposition from his parents. I have no comments to make on the widow or her life. My focus is on the fact that he publicises this marriage to all relatives just to get even with his parents who 'wronged' him during his childhood.



Then there are people like me !! Blaise Pascal (Ya, the same rogue whose theories gave us tough time during schooling) said " The eternal silence of these infinite spaces fills me with dread." while referring to universe. Stretching my 'poetic license' i have revamped it to 'The eternal dumbness of the infinite people around me fills me with anger, irritation and murderous instincts'. This category of people are very flexible, and often drift from one shore to another just because they are pushed. 'Live and let live' is their simple motto and yet people fail to appreciate that. Some people start bugging you so much that you give them what they want and get the hell out from there. The following phrases are self explanatory for this set of people ' Dimaag ka dahi mat karo' , 'Maatha pacchi nahi karne ke' , 'Bheje ko chamach se khana band karo' or simply 'paka mat...jo chahiye le lo aur jaan chodo'. These people are often urged to stand up for what is morally correct or righteous. "Char din ki to zindagi hai...ab isme right kya wrong kya"...."khao pio aur khush raho...kya zarurat hai mahatami gandhi ya mother Teresa banne ki"

The above classifications are at a macro level and further drilling down is certainly possible. However, that would be looking at the finger when pointed towards the moon. Each individual has to take a call as to what extent it is fair enough to let people interfere in your life.......be it parents, teachers or anyone for that matter. For people like me (who are devoid of morals and ethics) it pays to swim along the tide most of the times...and when limits are breached, just get out of the water and walk your way on the damn shore...After all, who said that it was necessary to stay in the water... Who asks whether the enemy was defeated by strategy or valor or cheating ?