Friday, February 21, 2014
Who pays to copy?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be another ‘Kiran Bedi’ because my folks thought that would be best for me. And all I wanted to do was please them. That point of time I didn’t know about the big hurdles like clearing the competitive exam where everybody is more prepared than you, maintaining the ideal body weight for which you need hours of physical exercise and so on. All that interested me was Ms. Bedi’s smart demeanor and the dress code.
When I was a little older, I wanted to be a doctor because that is what my dad thought I should be. It is prestigious and well-paying, I thought. By that time, I knew the importance of money due to the strict parenting policies of my folks. As a rule, one chocolate a month and one eating out per month was allowed. They believed that children should be made to realize the value of money. And the fact that they belonged to humble families, might have forced them to curb my childish desires.
When I was a teenager, I started thinking of the glamour world. I thought I was God’s blessing to mankind (like every teenager does). Hence, I’ll be a boon to the entertainment industry. My folks knowing my plans bashed me royally and the idea boomed.
During college days, I started talking to myself. I realized academics aren’t cut out for me. The fact that I wasn’t good at it was another issue all together (something I hated to acknowledge). Either, I slept off during the classes or decided to save myself from the torture by bunking them religiously. But then the big spoiler was the low attendance letter hideously appeared at my doorstep. I tried a lot to hide the news from dad but failed in that too. Obviously, I was induced to some heavy shunting and a threat that ate my carefree days. He threatened that he would marry me off to the first guy he set his eyes on, if I continue to ditch classes. And marriage for me meant end of freedom, plenty of examples existed within my family to scream out the danger signs. So, the fear factor got me thinking about a career that made my presence at home minimal.
Today, I am a Copywriter and I take care of my own bills. I don’t know how I became one because a decade ago I didn’t even know what it meant. Writing was like breathing to me and I started it as long as I can remember. But I was told writers don’t get jobs because it isn’t considered a job. It is a hobby which doesn’t pay. So I tried to find out one that pays and bumped into writing for advertising. As to my folks, they still think that I copy and write. They haven’t been able to figure out why would somebody pay you to copy? Isn’t copying an offence?
I don’t even try to explain because my profession makes sure of my frequent absence from home, social gatherings and anything that I want to make an excuse of. The perks aren’t great but it gives me the freedom to think, write and above all dress without any code.
Pic Courtesy: Google Images
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