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"Good day! My name's Aditya, a 24-year-old lad hailing from the year 2046. I might have been just another ordinary bloke, but my dear dad, a proud product of the 90s, had bestowed upon me the gift of freedom to explore the wonders of life myself. As much as I relished this, it wasn't without its fair share of troubles. But the tides turned and the situation took a twist when dear old Dad decided to take charge. Now, I urge you all to lend me your ears, not only for the sheer entertainment value of my tale but also for the chance to get a glimpse of what 90's kids are like as parents. Oops, did I spill the beans? No matter, let's forge ahead and embark on my saga. Welcome, welcome, one and all!"
Listen to this Chapter here:
Tenneti Beach Park, Vishakhapatnam, 14th Feb 2046
The morning
sun had just begun to peek through the horizon, and a pink hibiscus had
bloomed, adding to the beauty of the serene seascape. The gentle sound of waves
crashing against the shore could be heard, accompanied by the chirping of birds
that had awakened from their slumber. As the clock struck 6:00 AM, the AI
robots began to serve milk packets to each house, efficiently carrying out
their daily routine.
Life in
this machine-like world was heavily regimented, with automated cars and
disciplined morning walks being the norm. The government had implemented strict
rules, including mandatory face masks, to ensure the safety of its citizens.
Yet, amidst all these regulations, there was one place in every city that
remained untouched – parks.
In recent
years, the government had mandated that every locality should have a park with
at least 300 plants and trees, ensuring that people had access to green spaces
in their daily lives. These parks served as a sanctuary for the city's residents,
a place where they could remove their masks publicly and breathe in the fresh
air.
Here,
amidst the lush greenery, people would gather to jog, exercise, or simply relax
and soak in the beauty of nature. Children would run around, playing
hide-and-seek among the trees, while adults would sit on benches, chatting and
enjoying each other's company.
As the city
bustled around him, a young man sat on the bench by the water's edge, lost in
thought. With his handsome features and charming smile, he could easily catch
the eye of any passerby, but his mind was elsewhere.
Dressed in
a crisp white polo shirt and blue pants that accentuated his lean frame, he
looked like a model fresh off a fashion shoot. His white shoes added a touch of
elegance to his outfit, making him stand out even more. Yet, despite his
impeccable appearance, his heart was heavy with worry.
As he gazed
out at the tranquil waters, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. The gentle
lapping of the waves against the shore and the chirping of the nearby birds
was soothing to his soul. But, as much as he tried to lose himself in the
beauty of nature, his worries persisted.
With a deep
sigh, he looked down at the ground, his thoughts consumed by the weight of his
problems. The passing girls caught his attention, but he barely registered
their admiring glances.
This guy
was none other than me. More than being melancholic, I felt disoriented.
To explain
why I’m dejected, I must explain my story from scratch to make you
comprehend my state of affairs.
***
My story
starts with my dad, Sahasrajit Shetty. He not only gave birth to me but also to
a new situation that I’m in now. As soon as I stepped into this world, he took
me into his arms. An Indian father may say,
“My son
will be...”
Instead, my
father said, “Let him explore and grow!”
My mother
and all my family members were happy at the perception he has got. But it took
them not long to discern what these words actually meant.
***
The
memories of that day, the 10th of March
2023, are etched deep in my mother's heart. It was a day when my tiny feet
took their first independent steps, and my journey toward exploring the world
began.
As I played
with my smart tab, I sensed an inexplicable urge to stand up, to test the
limits of my tiny body. I grasped the edge of the table, my little fingers
holding onto the smooth surface, as I slowly pushed myself up. My mother engrossed in creating some reels in the kitchen, was caught off guard as I let
go of the table and took my first wobbly step toward the unknown.
For a
moment, time stood still, as my father paused his hundredth viewing of
"The Lion King" and turned towards me, his eyes gleaming with pride
and wonder. It was a sight that he would cherish for the rest of his life, the
image of his baby taking its first tentative steps, venturing out into the
world.
“See,
Aditya is walking!” mom exclaimed
looking at me from the kitchen.
Dad looked
at me and smiled at my augmentation.
After taking a few steps
forward, I stumbled and fell onto one of my toys, causing me to cry out in
pain. My mother quickly rushed over to pick me up and check if I was okay. It
turned out that I had fallen onto a toy crane, and the lever of the toy had
struck me hard.
As I cried out in pain from the toy crane hitting me hard, my mother's concern was palpable. She rushed over to me, her gentle touch soothing my wounds as she examined the damage.
"He
hurt his leg!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with worry and a tinge of
admonishment. Her gaze then shifted towards my father, as if seeking an
explanation for what had happened.
"You
could have moved the toy," she chided gently, her maternal instincts in
full force. Yet, there was no malice in her words, only a desire to protect her
child from harm.
Father in
no time replied, “He will learn, let him explore.”
Little did
we know that this incident, as significant as it may have seemed, was only a
small blip in the grand scheme of things. In the months and years that
followed, we would encounter challenges and obstacles that would test our
resolve and strength.
***
The
memories of that summer day, the 18th of
June 2030, are still vivid in my mind. I was just eight years old, eager to
see what the world beyond our home had to offer. And my father, sensing my
restlessness, decided to surprise me with an electric cycle. Probably he felt,
“Enough of exploring home, Aditya should now explore the locality.”
On that
day, I found myself the proud owner of one of the most cutting-edge,
Android-powered electric cycles available. And yet, despite its advanced
features, I still had much to learn about balancing it.
With some
trepidation, I made my way to the nearby road, nestled close to a quiet park,
hoping to practice my cycling skills free from the chaos of traffic. I
straddled the cycle, my left leg resting on the ground, attempting to find my
balance before my first try.
But as
doubts crept in and my resolve wavered, I turned to see my father standing a
few feet away, his hands clasped together and a warm smile on his face. At that
moment, his presence was all the reassurance I needed to push forward and take
that first step, propelling myself forward into a world of discovery and
adventure.
As I
gathered my nerves and prepared to make my first attempt, the comforting
presence of my father by my side gave me the confidence I needed to push
forward. I pushed my leg back and began to move forward, feeling the wind rush
past me as I picked up speed.
But before
I could even reach for the accelerator, disaster struck. The next thing I knew,
I was sprawled out on the pavement, my electric cycle a few feet away from me.
I felt a sharp pain in my hand and looked down to see that my elbow was
bleeding. Looking up at my father, I expected a sense of worry for me, but he
still wore the same warm smile.
He said,
“NO ISSUES ADITYA, GET UP AND TRY. EXPLORE THE RIDE!”
“What kind
of family did I fall into?” my conscience nudged me up as I stared at a father
helping his son learn to cycle far away.
***
Right from
choosing a dish in a restaurant to choosing a stream for my graduation, dad gave
me the freedom to “explore”.
As I approached the end of
my graduation, I made the decision to pursue an MBA, with the ultimate goal of
becoming an entrepreneur. In 2043, the job market was virtually unrecognizable,
with AI replacing human employees in nearly every sector. The only way to truly
succeed was through innovation and passive assets, a reality that many people
struggled to accept. But my typical middle-class dad has a different
set of thoughts.
I knew dad
is open to exploring alternatives in post-graduation. But when I
intimated to him about my decision about pursuing MBA, all he said is, “Aditya,
are you free tomorrow morning? I need to share something with you.”
I agreed to
that but was curious about what this man had to talk to me in years now.
***
Upstairs of our home, Vishakhapatnam, 20th
March 2043
I gazed out
at the majestic mountains that loomed before us. The towering buildings that
dotted their peaks only added to their grandeur, making me feel small and
insignificant in their shadow. Beside sat dad, we perched on the parapet, our
feet dangling lazily over the edge as we awaited the sunrise. My mother,
meanwhile, was bustling about behind us, her hands busy with the never-ending
task of laundry.
I’m sure
mom would witness “The Lion King” like scene watching our silhouette as the sun
rises. These thoughts got stronger when I noticed dad setting his posture as he
adorned the rising sun.
As I looked
out at the sprawling mountainscape before me, I couldn't help but imagine the
soaring orchestral score of "The Lion King" swelling in the
background. In my mind's eye, I could see Mufasa, the wise and powerful king of
the Pride Lands, delivering his iconic line: "Everything that the light
touches is our kingdom."But as I turned to my father, I couldn't help but
wonder if he would echo those same words. Intimidating, will he say that all of
this is our kingdom?
Within no
time dad spoke in a deep and measured voice, “Aditya, everything the light
touches is for us to learn from.”
“Perfect!”
I pondered” What would you expect from a middle-class father?”
“Nature
and its surroundings can be the most powerful instructors for us to learn from,
my dear Aditya..” he
continued, “Just look at yourself, you
are a living testament to this truth
“I was made
to lead such a life,” I thought as I turned out toward dad.
“Be it
walking or cycling, you have fallen down many times before you mastered things.
This undoubtedly made you strong”
My interest in this meeting
has dwindled, and I'm now feeling both bored and frustrated.
“But as you
move forward, there may be some tough decisions you'll have to make where
failure is not an option for learning. That's precisely why I'm here to provide
guidance.”
“What was
that you feel more careful about Dad?” I asked out of curiosity in no time.
After checking that mother
had left the room, he faced me and advised, “There are two crucial aspects to
consider before making any decisions - your career and your romantic life.”
I was
literally flabbergasted at these words. How come my father has been talking about
my love life who has always left me to explore myself.
In
response, I offered a rather unenthusiastic reply, “At the moment, father, I'm
not involved in any romantic relationships.”
“Neither
have you made any decision about your career as well. I know it dear.” Dad
continued, “However, it's important that you start taking this matter
seriously. If you wait to learn from your mistakes, you may end up falling
behind in society.
I wanted to
know the reason behind these words. And I waited for not more than a second to ask,
“Why are you particular about this dad? Why do you feel so?”
Dad responded, "I've
always believed that personal learning is the most effective way to acquire
knowledge, and that's exactly how I learned as well."
I wanted to
know his tale. Before I asked for the same, he answered the query in my mind.
“When I was
around 24 years old, I made a personal decision to become a freelancer, Aditya.
I never really considered what society thought about my choice at the time; I
simply knew what I wanted and pursued it. However, my confidence was shaken
when I turned 27 and my parents began pushing me to get married. It was then
that I realized the weight of societal expectations and how they could impact
my personal choices.”
I continued
to absorb every word now.
He
continued, “As my parents began the search for a suitable match for me, the
first inquiry potential partners made was about my occupation. Despite my
parents clarifying that I worked as a freelancer, some individuals were
unfamiliar with the concept and would mistakenly label me inutile.
Unfortunately, this led to several rejections, which I initially brushed off
with resilience. However, as time went by, I noticed others around me getting
married to their beloveds without societal criticism, while those of us
considering arranged marriages were harshly judged.”
“He got a
point.” I thought.
“In that
instant, a realization washed over me that perhaps I had erred in not pursuing
a relationship.”
“Do you
want me to get into a relationship anyhow dad?” I asked him.
"Aditya,
I would never want you to feel pressured into a relationship. However, if
there's someone you're interested in, don't hesitate to express your feelings
to them. Even if they don't reciprocate, don't perceive it as a problem. My
only wish is for you to avoid any future regrets," reassured Dad, rising
from his seat.
I nodded my
head in agreement.
"Son,
it's important to understand that in both your career and love life, time is of
the essence. Society's expectations can be suffocating, and before you know it,
you may find yourself struggling to make things right. Keep this in mind as you
navigate your journey," he advised before heading downstairs for his
morning walk.
The
sonorous echoes of my father's words had always resonated within me, carrying
a certain weight of wisdom and authority. I'm sure that my father's
guidance would prove to be meaningful, yet I could not help but harbor a
degree of skepticism. My outlook stayed
constant until I met her.
***
READ THE NEXT CHAPTER HERE, CLICK HERE
Hey! If you liked this episode, please make
sure to share it with your friends, family, and loved ones.
I would
really appreciate it if you could leave your thoughts and predictions for the
next episode in the comments section.
Also, I'm a great
creative writer and I'm open to collaboration. If you're a filmmaker looking
for a creative partner, I would be happy to work with you to provide enticing
storylines. Feel free to DM me on my email or WhatsApp, and let's make
something amazing together!
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Super...good start.... keep going 👍
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