The Suburban Life
I wake up each morning at 7:30 am, curse the alarm clock, curse a few other people and get into the shower, where I say a few more ungodly words as I discover that the water is either too hot or too cold. I don't have much time however, can't afford the luxury of a luxurious bath... for you see, I live a suburban life!
I hurriedly change into my formal clothes, utter a few more oaths as I discover that I still have to shave... then hurriedly shave, and run to the station. There I see the train I want to catch (usually the 8:36.... minutes become events, don't they, but I digress) is already full! But I got to still get on, cant afford to miss it for anyone. For I live... the suburban life!!
I get on the train, get tired by the time I reach office, work frantically to ensure I finish everything before it gets too late. Can't afford to leave too late from work, wife will be home way before I am. I leave office at 8 pm, "Not bad", you say, but I'm sad, it will be two more hours before I reach home. Why? Because I live.... a suburban life!!
Come weekend, I want to party the night. I've worked hard through the week and deserve it as is my right. But going to the good pubs and bars is either too expensive or too far... for, you see, I live a suburban life.
One day, I throw caution to the winds, against my good judgement I land up downtown at Henry Thams or at Wink. I get there, I realize I am woefully behind the current fashion times. People look at me as if I am from another town and have committed a crime. But I probably have... cause I lead a suburban life!
Why is my life so different from the 'city' life? Is the distance of 30 kms from the city too long, or is it just about the mindset? Why do I have to bath in 10 minutes while my friends in city can afford to spend 30? Why should I reach home everyday at 11 when my colleagues who leave at exactly the same time reach home by 9:30?
Maybe this is what aspiration is about, maybe this is what suburban life does - it imbibes aspiration by building hatred for the 'routine' - the daily fight!! Maybe this is why millions of others, like me, trudge every day to office from their homes in the suburbs, maybe they look at their well-off brethren in Peddar Road and go "saale b#@$c@#$@#, bas ruk jaa... mera time aane de...."
Lifes not fair, but it rarely is!
I hurriedly change into my formal clothes, utter a few more oaths as I discover that I still have to shave... then hurriedly shave, and run to the station. There I see the train I want to catch (usually the 8:36.... minutes become events, don't they, but I digress) is already full! But I got to still get on, cant afford to miss it for anyone. For I live... the suburban life!!
I get on the train, get tired by the time I reach office, work frantically to ensure I finish everything before it gets too late. Can't afford to leave too late from work, wife will be home way before I am. I leave office at 8 pm, "Not bad", you say, but I'm sad, it will be two more hours before I reach home. Why? Because I live.... a suburban life!!
Come weekend, I want to party the night. I've worked hard through the week and deserve it as is my right. But going to the good pubs and bars is either too expensive or too far... for, you see, I live a suburban life.
One day, I throw caution to the winds, against my good judgement I land up downtown at Henry Thams or at Wink. I get there, I realize I am woefully behind the current fashion times. People look at me as if I am from another town and have committed a crime. But I probably have... cause I lead a suburban life!
Why is my life so different from the 'city' life? Is the distance of 30 kms from the city too long, or is it just about the mindset? Why do I have to bath in 10 minutes while my friends in city can afford to spend 30? Why should I reach home everyday at 11 when my colleagues who leave at exactly the same time reach home by 9:30?
Maybe this is what aspiration is about, maybe this is what suburban life does - it imbibes aspiration by building hatred for the 'routine' - the daily fight!! Maybe this is why millions of others, like me, trudge every day to office from their homes in the suburbs, maybe they look at their well-off brethren in Peddar Road and go "saale b#@$c@#$@#, bas ruk jaa... mera time aane de...."
Lifes not fair, but it rarely is!
posted by Tushar Thakkar at 9:59 AM
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