While growing up, all of us want to become a singer one day and the
next day a doctor. The third day we would be holding a paintbrush
with the intent of becoming an artist. When on a summer day, we saw
an aeroplane flying over our head, we desired to be a pilot. When
siblings or bullies in school gave us a thrashing, we all wanted to
become a cop and arrest them. During a cricket season, our life goal
was to become a cricketer, The weirdest of the kids would want to
grow up to be a lawyer. I too wanted to be all of these at some time
or the other while growing up. I felt I should confess why I could
not become any of this but ended up being what I am today.
I
earnestly tried to be a singer and enrolled in singing at the school
annual day programme. The teacher asked me to be a part of the
chorus. My voice made the chorus coarse, and I was coaxed never to
croak err sing again.
The
thoughts of making me a doctor were given up when I questioned why
human beings required two eyes, nostrils, and ears when they could do
with a single head and heart.
I
still cannot draw a straight line, and the twisted straight line is
too bland to be accepted as modern art. Such being the case, I gave
up hopes of becoming an artist.
There
was no point in making me a pilot when I could not jump from one
stair to another without stumbling. My parents did not want to risk
passenger lives while the plane was landing.
A cop is
expected to be vigilant and intuitive. Obviously, a kid who is sent
to buy two rupees worth of green chilly, and returns with 2 kg of
them does not make the cut. Similarly, a soldier is expected to be
fit and quick not take an eternity to do a left-right step while
marching.
Desires and reality never match each other
unless you have some skills. If you cannot hit the ball out of the
pitch, and when you expect the ball to catch your hand, you can never
be a cricketer no matter how much desperately you want to. I badly
wanted to become a cricketer but played the game very badly.
An
academically challenged kid should not hand-over his progress card to
parents immediately on reaching home. A kid who does so can have no
hopes of becoming a lawyer.
When I was growing up,
knowing typing and shorthand were as important as having Aadhar Card
or Arogya Setu App is these days. I too joined a typewriting training
institute for learning both these life skills. The principal, after a
couple of months, said to my father `Don’t waste your money, his
time, and test my patience.’
For
no reason, I didn’t dream to become a postman or a milkman or a bus
driver.
I
ended up by chance or luck being what I am today.
