Being 'MAN'ly.

Professions are sexist...

Immediately after catching the glimpse of his first son and fourth child, his deep buried wish came out and filled the silence of the hospital room.

“He will become a cricketer. I will ensure he becomes one. He will live my dream.”

His destiny was written before he could even open up his eyes. His mother, because of being a mother, loved all her four children with equal heart. But his father, he saw him differently. He wanted him to be his replica, but with a cricketer’s tag attached. He gave a bat in his hand when he could not even lift himself. He got him admitted under the best cricket coach before even thinking about which school he should be entered into.

As he grew, he practiced day in and out. A father is a child's superhero and with all his might, he kept pushing himself to make his superhero’s dream come true. But there was always something, that he felt, was not right. He always thought, “Maybe I am not made for this”. What he could not gather was enough courage to let his father know about his sons's wish. 

Like every other son, he used to find solitude in his mother's presence and used to bring his heart out while she used to cook meals for the family.

What he didn’t know was that what started as his 'peace-time' with his mother in the kitchen will one day become his passion. He started loving the smoke in the kitchen more than the dust of the cricket ground. He enjoyed holding spoons more than his cricket bat. A new wish was budding in the isolation of his mind. But somewhere in his heart though he always knew; his father would never accept this.

And that destined day came. While he was busy learning the art of making those perfect chapatis from his mother, he heard something that was going to make him live his worst nightmare.

“What the hell do you think you are doing”, his father said with all the anger in the world streamed towards his beloved son.

“I was...I was just...” and a hard hand landed on his cheeks.

“I thought I was a father to a boy, but look what you are making him. Another girl”, and his father gave a forceful push to his mother. His mother hit hard on the wall behind and fell on the floor.

“Is this how you are going to make my dream come true? By making chapatis? I have enough daughters to do that. I have begged you from the god. I thought you will become India's biggest batsman but look, you chose to hold a roller pin in your hand instead of a bat.”

“But dad, I don’t think I can do good in cricket. I don’t want to. I think I can become a good chef. I want to go to a culinary school”.

“I don’t think we have to discuss that any more. I never want to see you again in this place. Be a man. Act like one too. Go to the ground.”

Another heart broken. Another dream got crushed under the feet of patriarchy. 

Professions are very sexist by nature and let only a person of a particular gender choose them.

Years passed and his disinterest in cricket made him lose a place in any major selections. His father could see his dreams getting shattered. Disheartened,he dropped another bomb on him. He got him admitted in an engineering college; again something he did not wanted to do. While in college, he realized that this is again something he does not want to do. 

Parents often fail to realize that even though they are parents, they have given birth to an individual who has his own ambitions, his own perspective, his own dreams. He knew nothing in this world could change his father's rock-strong, stubborn mindset. He still hasn't figured out how he is going to make his passion for cooking his profession. But what he has learnt is he is not anymore going to live under the weight of someone else's aspirations while crushing his. 

This not does not, by any chance, qualifies as disrespect for his father. He still loves his father but he is not ready to live by his terms. 

Also, no profession comes with a tag 'Only for Males' or 'Only for Females'. Stereotyping professions on the basis of gender is harsh and he was not ready to take it anymore. He knows that he knows nothing at this point of time. But he will one day get clarity of thoughts; will see his vague, dark sky getting cleared, will see the horizon and will start marching towards it.