Man is a social animal. He cannot exist in isolation. In order to fulfil his needs, whatever they may be, he creates an environment around him so that he is not only accepted, but also appreciated by the society.
No matter how carefree one poses himself as, he always makes a double - check on everything before proceeding with it. Hair, dress, shoes, and most importantly, behaviour.
How many times has this stopped us from doing what we want..?
"Oh I really want to just sit back in my room, close the door and read a book." How many times has this thought run through our minds when we serve the guests with our clenched teeth that we manage to pull into a smile. One doesn't want to sit out there with their aunts chatting away about every glittering thing in this world. And whoever said "all that glitters is not gold" needs to sit through one such session.
The big weddings that you just have to attend. Don't get me started on them. How could one possibly get so exhilarated about them getting married that they want the whole family (acceptable), community, neighbourhood, friends, freinds of friends, and on and on and on to be a witness to green paste applied to the bride's hand. And then one has to be present for it. "Log kya kahenge? Woh kya sochenge? Dadi kya kahegi? Tere masi ke saas ke beti ke chacha kya bolenge?" In one such situation my friend did the grave mistake of not attending the ceremony just because she had her Boards. "Scandalous!" (The whiplash by our teachers when we fail to give in assignments.) But how could she? She really deserves the punishment she got. To be there for the next ceremony days away from her college exams. "Is baar to jaana hi padega. Log kya kahenge? Woh kya sochenge?...."
Dowry. Who says it's dowry? Come on. Of course not. It's just the accepted thing to do when you give a bed, an A/C, a car, a fridge, jewellery, etc. "Yeh sab to chalta rehta hai. Bhaiya ki beti ki shaadi par to yeh sab gaya hi tha. Humari beti ko to hum aur bhi denge. Dowry kahan hai? Hum to bas use khush dekhna chahte hai. "
And so, very willingly one gives in to the pressures of the society. Who cares about the person you are? People will come and talk to you in the first place only if you look impressive. One has to make an impact that "glitters" in their minds forever!!
The famous Bollywood song "Kuch to log kahenge, logo ka kaam hai kehna", might be befitting a love scene on the silver screen. Unfortunately the "NA" check-box is usually tick-marked against this song in our own lives. Its shameful if you're seen roaming around with your boyfriend if your engagement date hasn't already been fixed with that rock on your fingers.
Who cares? I don't. My parents don't, do they? But..... "Log kya kahenge? Woh kya sochenge...?"
