The RAT race

"Life is a race ... if you don't run fast ... you will be like a broken egg" -- The most liked and popular dialogue from the greatest film of all times-- "3 Idiots"
The other one was "Sala paida hone ke liye bhi, 300 million sperms se race lagane padi thi!"
Why am I quoting them???. There are almost 100+ crores fans for that movie and everyone knows about the dialogues of that movie. But the question is "Is life a race???" Are we made to run all our life behind the temporary happiness such as money, wealth, gold leaving behind our passion! The dust bin is serving heartfully with a loaded satisfaction! Are we satisfied?? Or will the money we make satisfy us! Are we made to just follow someone, workhard , make money and die?

Almost, three and a half years back, as usual I was thinking about something very unusual. The unusual concept was about the definition of life and the purpose of my existence! I was just 18, little in age, but was an old monk in thoughts(Self praising). Why am I created? was my question! I have a bad habit of creating virtual characters. I was discussing with those virtual characters about my life and the purpose of my existance. A long discussions come debate happened inside my mind! That day I heard a story and it goes like this.

Preface : This is the story of a man named Chethan Sharma who is a successful Embedded Software Developer settled in Singapore. He is my virtual friend with whom I converse daily.  We are not connected by social media. He is an imaginary character with whom I can talk with and he exists inside me.

----- I was in home, bored of the semester holidays. I was all alone. That's when someone by name Chethan Sharma raised his voice inside my mind to narrate his story.

Chethan: Hello boss, This is Chethan an Indian, aged 28, basically from pune. I'm an Embedded developer working for HoneyWell in Singapore.
I was surprised to hear that voice. It was firm and clear. A highly confident tone. As he said about Singapore, I asked him about the salary. It was 2.5lakh INR per month (46000 Singapore dollars).
He continued... I have a small house in Pune in which my mother lives in, taking care of my paralyzed father! They aren't self dependent and they always needed someone to help them on a daily basis.
I stopped him.. For me, His story was too boring to listen.
Me - I'm not in a mood to listen to your boring life story. Could you please stop and get out of my bloody mind!
Chethan - The real stories are always boring Mr Rohith. I'm not real you are creating me and this boaring story. Your mind is out of your control!!
Yeah, he was right. I was the one who created him!
He continued...
Chethan- I have a problem. Solve it for me, If you can!
- the problem solver in me activated. I started listening to his story ...

I was born in a small village near Pune, Maharashtra, from a below middle class family. Father was a mitaiwala(The sweet seller!) He couldn't help me for my education. So, I used to work part time with a tailer for hooking up the button.
I studied in a government school Hindi medium. I was a painter, and a basketball player. At that time I wanted to become a professional painter. I had won many awards in districts and state level drawing competition. After 10th, the tailor for whom I was working offered me a full time job. My financial status forced me to join him for hooking up the buttons.

The area counceller was a kind man and he had met me once, when I got a scholarship of Rs 2000 from the town muncipal. One day he saw me at the tailor shop and called me to his home. He offered support and forcefully joined me to Science college. But I was passionate about painting, I wanted to join arts, but that was not in my hands! After plus two. He again made me to join Engineering( ECE) and again spondered me for my studies. After Engineering, I had no job for two months. I started painting again. One of my lecturers referred me to a training institute, through which I got a job as an Embedded trainee in a pune based startup firms with 2.5 lakh package per year. Meantime, I had applied for an internship with an artist called Mohammed. He approved my request and agreed to pay me 10,000 INR per month for the painting internship. 2.5lpa fetches around 20k per month which was twice than that of the painting internship. I had no option but to choose the good package, again killing my passions and desires!
The company trusted me and gave me an opportunity to handle Singapore clients through which I got the job which I'm doing now.

Me: What the hell man, your life sounds smoother than mine. What's your problem dude. 2.5lakh per month and still you have problems!!!

Chethan - 2.5 lakhs is my problem!!
I had no plan to become an Engineer. I never wanted to learn Embedded Systems and I never wanted to see Singapore. I wanted to paint. I wanted to play basketball. All I wanted in life was to become a professional painter. That, 2.5 INR isn't satisfying me. My purpose was not to become a high paid Engineer.
This day, I decided to quit my job. I had started painting again. My love towards my greatest passion is at its peak. I have full confidence now! I wrote resignation letter this morning. Took a clean printout of it. I went too early to the office. I decided to handover the letter at 10am as the office opening timings was 9.30. It was sharp 9.35. Office boy told me to meet HR. I was surprised and was happy too. I prepared to give the resignation. I went into his chamber. As soon as I entered, He said " Congrats man, You are promoted to senior developer post. The salary  now is 5.8lakhs per month!! He handedover the promotion letter. As usual, I had to kill the painter inside me again for the 3rd time!!

"At the age of 16, I was poor and I couldn't follow my passion as it was not in my hands.
At the age of 22, I was unsecured, Wanted money to get settled and left my passion behind.
Now, I'm secured, rich but un satisfied!! I want to quit everthing. I want to follow my real passion. Help me out to get out of this life!! Help me to restart my carreer!! Solve my problem, Mr Rohith, Solve this problem for me!"

The voice shouted, cried and soon after it vanished!!

Chethan was too late in his decision. One must know when to quit!!
From the childhood, we started quitting playing for the sake of topping in exams. The race of life started from our childhood. Each time we were taught to run the race which was destined to another race. The loop of races made us to quit our dreams. The race to top in exams. The race to get good salary. The race to get promotions. The race to build a house. The race to get rich........ it never ends and one never meets happiness. The unsatisfied, undestined, pointless, endless, self defeating RAT race!! Are we made for it!! This rat race has killed so many painters, artists, and writers out there.. If your are one of them in the rat race, its never too late, quit it right now.. Explore yourself. The Self need to be satisfied. The skill in you need to be showcased. The fire in you need a little bit of oxygen to glow. The passions need a little push from your side.
Leaving passion behind just for the sake of secured life? Is it not what prostitute does!??
The soul in you should not grief for the past desires!! Quiting is good, only at the right times!