Expectations

To a new born kid: You are such a beautiful kid, you will grow up to be a doctor/engineer and make us proud

To a school going kid: You need to score so and so marks and I'll buy you whatever you want; if you don't, you won't get anything

To a college going kid: You are in college now, you need to take life seriously, no girlfriends, no parties, no hanging out with friends, no fun, start studying and put in all the efforts

To a college graduate (boy): You have earned your degree, you need to find a well paying job and work hard

To a college graduate (girl): you have earned your degree, if you wish, find a job, earn work experience of a year or two and then we'll get you married; we'll start looking soon

For getting married (arranged): You need to settle down in life now. It is high time you do so.

For getting married (love): You know nothing about love and what is good for you. You will get married to the person we choose for you

After getting married: Come on, make us grandparents/uncles/aunties soon. What else do you need? You have a life partner and now children will complete your family.

After children: You never come to meet us, we never get to meet our grandchildren. Why are you doing this?

In case of divorce (arranged marriage): The girl needs to be understanding. Don't think about divorce. Also think about how it will reflect on us. What will the child do?

In case of divorce (love marriage): I TOLD YOU SO!

It's not that a new born kid ever knows it's surroundings or what the hell the parents whisper into it's ears. When a kid enters school, is it so hard to teach kids the meaning of ambition, goals, aims, the good, the bad, the consequences and results beforehand before going around bribing them with so and so goodies in case of a good rank or percentage? Is it so hard to give college children a sit down, discussing their goals in life, how to achieve them and encouraging them to have fun? Is it so hard to give a young adult time and space to make sure their career goals are achieved before stepping into marriage? Is it hard not to understand "I am not ready for marriage yet!"? Is it hard to understand "I am in love!"? Is it hard to understand that once two people get married, it is their job to worry about having kids and raising them and that others are not privy to information about their lives? Is one's social status more important than a happy life of your kith and kin? Is it hard not to make a point of about a zillion "I told you so!" instead of providing comfort, understanding and support?

Expectation costs nothing to the person expecting all the shit in life. It is the person expected to fulfill the other person's fantasies that suffers. Without having much time in hand to fulfill his own wishes, he is running about trying to fulfill the dreams of his parents, partner, children, friends, relatives, bosses and God knows countless others! Poor suckers we all are.

Comments are most welcome!!