Beta, Sunoooo
There’s a very strange rulebook that society follows.
No one knows who wrote it, but somehow everyone has memorised it.
Especially when you come back from hostel.
The first thing people don’t ask is, “How are you?”
They ask, “Did you lose weight?”
And if you didn’t, they look genuinely concerned.....like you’ve been eating cement for breakfast.
“What were you even eating there?”
As if hostel food is a five-star buffet and you personally betrayed them by surviving.
Then comes the talent audit.
“You learnt piano for eight years, right? Play something.”
Bro… I learnt it when I was a child.
I also learnt multiplication tables till 12. Should I perform that too?
You’re left-handed?
“Ohhh… but you don’t seem that intelligent.”
Sorry, forgot being left-handed automatically comes with a topper certificate.
Teachers ka daughter?
“Then you must be very smart.”
And when you’re not living up to that expectation?
Silence. Confusion. Mild disappointment.
You took Literature?
“So you’ll become a teacher, right?”
Like it’s a compulsory package deal.(I love teaching btw)
Degree + chalk + blackboard. No other options allowed.
Arts student?
“Oh… so not very intelligent then.”
Because clearly intelligence exists only in science labs and commerce books.
And my favourite one.....
“You went out of town to study Literature? Hein ji?? Kyuuu?? ENGLISH HI THO HAI?? STORIES AUR POEMS HI HONGE?"
“It’s such an easy subject, you could’ve done it anywhere.”
Easy.
Yes. I'm learning how to sing twinkle twinkle in different ways.
Easy like understanding emotions.
Easy like thinking deeply.
Easy like existing.
But expectations don’t stop there.
If you’re a Literature student, you’re supposed to:
– Know perfect grammar at all times
– Drop fancy vocabulary naturally in conversations
– Quote Shakespeare randomly
Preferably with a British accent.(Basically you should be the whole dictionary)
And if you don’t?
“But you’re a Literature student…”
Then comes social life judgement.
“She’s always seen with only one or two friends.”
Eww.
As if friendship quantity equals personality quality.
You write blogs.
“But during presentations, you don’t really speak much?”
Yes. Because writing and speaking are not the same thing.
Introverts exist too, by the way.
And then comes fashion commentary.
“That dress makes you look a little fat.”
Immediately followed by:
“You should eat less.”
Wow.
Didn’t know you were also my nutritionist, stylist, and life coach.
The funny part?
Most of this doesn’t even come from bad intentions.
It’s just… society’s default settings.
Everyone expects you to be something:
– Thinner
– Smarter
– Louder
– More successful
– More impressive
– More acceptable
And somewhere in all of this, being yourself starts to feel like a wrong answer.
But maybe
life isn’t about fitting into expectations.
Maybe it’s about sipping chai and laughing at how ridiculous these rules are.
Because honestly?
If we start trying to meet everyone’s expectations,
we’ll forget what we actually want.
And that would be the real loss.