What do you want to become in life?

Amidst a cluster of elevated wooden huts in Dalhousie, a bunch of kids in their mid-teens are rushing through, in search of lesser known nooks and crannies that they can just about squeeze their bums into, till Amir reaches zero. It's the seventy first round of lukka chuppi for today. The kids had gone to school in the morning, but the excessive snowfall from last night prompted the headmaster to give everyone a day off. The rapturous screams of the kids' unbridled joy, and the smiles of their teachers was a sight to behold.

The next few weeks went on with nothing too eventful to speak of. The day before the school closed for the winter break, Partha's class teacher gave them an assignment. They had to write an essay about their "Ambition in Life". Partha was sulking on his way back home, and the other kids assumed it was because he was thinking about missing his mates at school. The lad was bright, proactive, and always had an answer at the drop of a hat. He decided to approach a few of his best buddies, and ask them about what they were thinking of writing in the essay. None of them seemed too bothered. He thought that it was probably ideal to defer it towards the reopening date; and enjoy the vacation.

Every occasion on which Partha was alone, the unfinished task came back to haunt him, and it was beginning to affect his behavior. An otherwise energetic, charismatic, smart and affable boy, was turning into a sombre, zoned out, brooding individual; wee adult-like. He decided that it was about time, to address the elephant in the room.

On the very first day of the Christmas holidays, immediately after finishing his breakfast, Partha got on his bicycle, and went to each of his friends' houses in the area. He convinced them that he had something super interesting to tell them; as a bait. Manisha, Amir, Sonia and Sumedha were seated on the lawn, their eyes transfixed on Partha's. He wasn't saying anything. "Why did you call us here?" asked Sumedha. Partha conceded, "I'm sorry, I don't have anything interesting to tell all of you. But... I really need all your help. I want to know if you've decided what you'll want to become in life. Miss Jacob gave us an assignment. I can write gibberish and finish it in an hour. For some reason, I am obsessed with finding a real answer to that question, a vision that I can work towards. I can't seem to find it right now."

Sumedha: the chatterbox, started, "I want to become a kindergarten teacher. I want to have a nice little classroom, with baby pink walls, adorned with alphabets, numbers, fruits, vegetables and Teletubbies. Kids should love coming to school. I will greet them with a warm hug, and check if their pinafore dresses are in place. I want to be the second mother to each of my students." "Wow, sounds like a fairytale, Sumedha!" exclaimed Manisha.

She continued, "Deep inside, I see myself becoming a palliative care nurse. We are so blessed to have good health leading normal lives. The people who are afflicted with terminal illnesses feel cursed, and get into the depths of sadness and misery. I want to uplift their emotional state, and try everything in my capacity to tick a few things off their bucket list, so they can leave this world with an inkling of happiness, perhaps." There was stunned silence. The kids looked at each other's faces with pride and awe.

"I just want to be in the outdoors, one with nature. Something like a forest ranger or a wildlife conservationist. I can catch the bad guys who trespass, kill innocent wild animals, smuggle wood and animal body parts. I will get to travel the length and breadth of this wonderland, and see what it has to offer. I dream of being famous for busting an illegal trade racket, or shooting a bad guy... one day." Amir concluded.

It was Sonia's turn, she was being cornered. Immediately, she began, "My aspirations aren't as exciting or noble, as compared to you'll. I dream of owning a small café. We will serve about ten different items, all made to order. The quality of our food, service and, most of all, hospitality would be second to none. It'll come straight from the heart. The thing that would attract people will be the pay-as-you-like model. Anyone can come, we will serve a beggar with a child at a traffic signal and a CXO in identical fashion." Instinctively, Partha started clapping, the others joined in. Sumedha said, "I'll visit your café every evening, that's for sure. And you have to give me free food, and free coffee."

There was one person left, and he was clearly restraining himself. Amir said, "Go on, Partha, you've been quiet so far. What are your plans?" Partha commenced, "My thoughts are racing at a million miles per hour. I can't control my mind right now. I could vicariously live each and every one of your desired careers, and all of them are wonderful paths, in their own right. The reservation that I have is this: when you set a goal for a career, you're making it your life's mission to pursue it. You chase it like a horse with blinders. You basically make this route sacrosanct, and become oblivious of all else. The thought of it makes me feel fettered, and my mind imprisoned. There are thousands of things I want to do in this life, but I don't want to "be" anything. I don't see the need to tag and codify an individual, to fit in. I dream of being a different person each day, a jack of all. Why become a master of one by struggling to get there all your life, without the assurance that you will even succeed, when you could get a plethora of varied experiences instead? There are so many things to worry about in this world, why add another by burdening yourself with a distant target? My goal is to be happy with myself, add value to society and to spread love, empathy and harmony wherever I go. We don't even know if we will wake up in the same condition that we were in while going to bed. How preposterous is it to assume that you will be the same person years and years later, when that old vision comes to fruition?"

"You have really thought long and hard about this, haven't you?" enquired Amir. "Of course he has", Manisha interjected. "Chalo, chalo, let's leave. I have to help mom prepare lunch", Sumedha stated. But Sonia held everyone back, "Wait, what are you going to write in the essay then, Partha?" He grinned sheepishly, and said, "Nothing!"

On the 3rd of January, Partha marched into the school gates, a bit anxious, without the usual spring in his step. He got through the first two periods and then miss Jacob walked in. She went on with the usual class, and did a revision of the previous lessons, to bring the kids up to speed. Partha was a bit concerned. Once the class ended, he went up to her and asked, "Miss Jacob, you had asked us to write an essay on our life's ambition. It seems to have slipped your mind." Miss Jacob retorted, "Did I? Ah yes, it was just to keep you'll from getting bored at home. So, what have you written?" "Well, nothing. It'll write itself, eventually.", said Partha. "I'm sorry, say that again." Miss Jacob was sure she misheard the reply. "I said I'll do it later, miss, have a nice day, miss", Partha minced his words and ran away. "Silly boy", said miss Jacob as she chuckled briefly and entered the staff room.