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My parents insisted I take up a city nearest to home. But I wanted to stay in a metro city all my life, though it'd be a bit far from home
Just because I am a single child, does it mean that my dreams have to be caged by the overprotectiveness of my parents?
I was just another regular child growing up in a nuclear middle-class household, where only dads work and moms are housewives.
My parents would always encourage me to work harder for my career (and forget what I was passionate about).
I wasn’t rebellious as a teenager. Well sheltered at home, I never knew what life was until I had to move away from home for college. It was 12 hours by train, but my parents were fine with it. All for my ‘career’ they used to say.
When I got into my master’s after competing in an All India exam, I had to move to my current city, which is about 8 hours from home. All for my ‘career’ they said again.
As luck would have it. I cleared a job entrance exam and I got an option to choose which city I wanted to stay in. All hell broke loose then.
My parents insisted I take up a city nearest to home. But I wanted to stay in a metro city all my life, though it’d be a bit far from home(not much 22 hours by train, 6 hours for single-stop flights).
I just couldn’t see myself living in a small town without amenities, just because it is closer to home. I’ve grown up in small towns all my life and I wanted a job in a decent city.
I wanted to finally follow my dreams of being a published writer and a big city would give me the accessibility I need. My parents freaked out.
What followed were a series of emotional blackmails, everything ranging from, ‘We’re growing old’ to ‘You’re too young to move out yet’.
Mind you, I’m 22 and I’ve completed graduation and have been out of home for 5 years now.
I know I have responsibilities towards my parents because I am a single child, but if I can maintain my home life and professional life, and be there for my parents, shouldn’t I be given a chance to let me stay in a better city — a city where I could finally pursue my dreams, instead of running after my ‘career’ only?
Sometimes I feel so selfish as if I’m a bad daughter for wanting to pursue my dreams. I’ve always ‘listened’ to my parents talk about my career.
My dad is still working and so we can’t all shift to my new city, but once he’s retired I want to keep my parents near me, in a city with better medical facilities at least.
Am I being ungrateful? Or should I follow my dreams once and for all and let my success speak for myself? Should I break free or stay caged?
Image source: Still from short film Desi Parents & Generation Gap, YouTube
Writer by night and nurse by day I'm quiet by nature, shy they say I wear my scrubs as if they were a cape But once I start speaking, there's no escape. #nurse # read more...
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