Many years ago, a woman was born to a middle class family. Her parents believed in the power of education. And encouraged her to learn, expand her mind and reach for the skies. They gave her a liberal education, at a time when doing a simple graduation and getting married, was all that was expected of daughters in her community.So she grabbed the opportunities presented to her and chased after her dreams. Some proved elusive, others were within reach.
Then, as she stood at the threshold of thirty, the walls started closing in. The M word began to intrude into her otherwise orderly world. 'Why aren't you married?', 'Are you supporting your parents financially? Is that why they are not getting you married?' The questions infuriated her. At first she deflected them. With aggression, logic and later evasion. Then,under the covert, but relentless pressure, she began to shrink into herself.
And so it might have been till she met him. A good and decent man. So she crossed that milestone and got married. Love was in the air and everything seemed good.
Then the walls started closing in again - the expectation to conform. And the confusion and veiled reproach when she didn't.
"You don't know how to draw a kolam(rangoli)!" . She restrained herself from sharply retorting " No. But I do know how to stand on my own feet and be financially independent. Do you know how to do that?"
"When are you going to give us some good news?". She wanted to ask " what good news do you want? I just got a promotion. We bought a house. His cholesterol levels are under control. Take your pick"
"Still no kids? Have you consulted a doctor?" She couldn't stop her tears in the face of this blatant intrusion.
"My sister's dying wish was to have a grandchild." How was she to deal with such emotional blackmail? Her back, her spirit even, was likely to crumble under the weight of this expectation.
"Nobody asks you!" she ranted at him. "Am I expected to make a baby alone?". He did his best to shield her. But it was not always possible to prevent people from riding roughshod over her vulnerability, leaving her exposed. 
What was she to do? In her mind she knew that one could not live one's life to please others. Hell, this was the advice she had handed out to many friends when they sought her counsel. But saying it and living it were different things.
Its true, there was price to be paid for wanting to live your life on your own terms.
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An Award despite my irregular posting
Thanks to my namesake: Deepa
In situations like these, its best to shake your head side wise and front and back - indicating a both yes and no at the same time with a nice smile. Its a tough skill to acquire, but try it on a couple of people. :)
Destination Infinity
Thought provoking post, well written. Yes, there is a price to be paid for living life on our own terms.
"there was price to be paid for wanting to live your life on your own terms."
You said it!
P.S. That was quite a long break. Good to see you back @ bloggersville :)
Wish you a very happy and prosperous year ahead!
It is not easy to live the way we want to, Deepa! Sometimes, I too feel that we give too much importance to others' opinion!
Just ignore them,though it is not going to be easy.
I agree with Destination Infinity whole heartedly ... I too need to learn that SKILL... But i wud not want ot smile :)
Its hard these day to live by our own standards you will find idiots here and there always around .. i know its easy to say IGNORE but sometimes ignore doenot work ..
I would SLAP :) but then thats me :)
Bikram's
Nicely written. Perhaps she should consult my sis. She knows how to shut people up when they get too nosey!
The priceless question is 'who will bell the cat'. There are several cats to bell... and we are neutering the dogs...
Best is to ignore verbal taunts and if they become too much to tell politely that it is none of their business.
Well written piece.
People say live for yourself. What does it mean? Have they gone down that path? Is it that when one lives for oneself, you ignore the others? If you do not ignore the others, then you bring into your sphere of judgement, the feeling of others, and hence do not live your own life? Life is an experience, which consists of you and the people around you. So you live for yourself and the others around you too. You win some, you loose some. You stand firm on some, you concede on some. You are right on some, you are wrong on some. Life is life, live it.
I wonder why people do not mind their own business! They should be sensitive to others feelings.
Best is to ignore verbal taunts and if they become too much to tell politely that it is none of their business.
Well written piece.
It is not easy to live the way we want to, Deepa! Sometimes, I too feel that we give too much importance to others' opinion!
Just ignore them,though it is not going to be easy.
Thought provoking post, well written. Yes, there is a price to be paid for living life on our own terms.