Disclaimer: With this
blog I do not want to hurt anyone’s sentiments but expecting a small change in
mindset.
 |
| The world might judge you for not drinking, but you know you are awesome! - Zomato :) Zomato nailed it again!! :) |
May be this is the first blog I am writing on Me – Mr. Sanket
Rav
A decade ago in my school days, trotting somewhere between 7th
or 8th standard learning Algebra, Geography, History, Science. Peak
of teenage and my friends were discovering few adolescence stuff. Exploring a
new erotic word in Oxford Mini Dictionary was giving a proud feeling which even
Vasco Da Gama wouldn’t have felt that way after exploring sea route to India.
Hormonal changes, beard/moustache, heavy voice, and attraction towards porn.
Yes!! Suddenly things must have got interested for many of the readers.
That
was the tender age when many of my friends started collecting DVDs, CDs of porn
all over the world. Brunette, lesbian, gangbang, they felt like song genre at
first. Naturally it was fascinating! Intimate for a 14-15 year old guy. Very
intimate!! But a typical 14-15 year guy. NOT ALL! May be I was one of those ‘HYPOCRITE’s.
I shifted as tenant in new city Akola for my High School
studies. People were carrying memory cards full of adult videos. I was
generally fired a question by few of them, “Why
you show no interest in porn? Don’t you feel excited?” And my usual answer
used to be, “I find them disgusting.”
Then there used to be huge debate for the reason why I don’t watch porn. I
couldn’t convince anyone of them. This in turn was separating me from group on
many instances. Left out on many occasions!
 |
| Yes!! I am posting this blog at 3:30 am on a Saturday morning after spending Friday evening in writing this blog |
On many instances people used to stop talking about girls
just because I was around. Thinking I might get hurt. I was lucky enough to
have friends who were feeling my presence.
Now I was in my graduation days. In graduation having
alcohol, smoking, having non-vegetarian food was the definition of fun. And yes
I was exact opposite to all this – non-alcoholic, non-smoker, vegetarian. This
was enough to again detach me from being a customary average guy. I was the
person from the group who prefers Frroti-Slice over Pepsi-Coca Cola. And I
still am!
For many people it was even hard to believe that people like
me exist in this world. I never felt like SUPERHERO or something, but felt pity
of myself; am I weird to the world? Have I failed to fit into this globe? Was
me not watching porn a decade ago a mistake? Can I do the damage control by
starting drinking now?
But I continued being same, my conscience stood strong by me.
I am 23 now and working in an IT company as Hadoop Developer.
Corporate world! Most of my friends now have money to spend lavishly; on
shopping, in pubs and on their girlfriends. I am doing nothing of these things.
But yes I do charity, I bought novels to read, I help specially
enabled blind friends, I spend money on an online course, I go on a bike ride!!
For me definition of enjoyment stood here.
In a typical day of office I was asked by colleague, “You don’t drink, you don’t smoke. Do you
even have girlfriend?” I said “No”.
Next exclamation was, “Why are you
staying in Pune? Go in ******* city [Won’t
mention city name as it might hurt locals of that city] and spend life there?”
But this time I was well prepared, I exclaimed “Life and fun is not all about girls and
drinks, there are many other things that define fun.” Colleague said, “Like what?” I proclaimed, “Travelling, trekking, reading!” with a confused
look colleague asked “College is over!
Who is the world reads?” I said, “Novels
are there. And ya writing. That’s my favourite hobby.” I gave colleague no
chance to say anything and continued, “I
am third best travel blogger in India by the way. Have won three national level
fiction writing competition and have got my blog featured in Times of India’s
Speaking Tree column.” I smiled and with a deep breath and continued, “I have also developed my own investment
model which predicts the Sensex. On LinkedIn my profile was 469th most
visited profile out of 3,18,000 profiles of TCS employees on LinkedIn. Have
worked with UNO, in a global event...!”
Words proclaimed by him will remain with me for years, “I am blessed to meet you in my life. Never
meet a person till today. You are really talented and...” praise continued
for another 5 minutes and he ended it with “...got
the reason why you don’t have a girlfriend.”
 |
| A quote from Robin William's movie 'Dead Poets Society' |
I, as a person would judge someone only how he/she treats
his/her peers, I would never look someone in disbelief who drinks or smokes
provided he/she is doing it responsibly. You have many girlfriends, be happy
with that; I would never say you are a pervert. It’s your choice to have them.
You drink a lot and after drinking asks your friend to drop you home in your
vehicle, you earned my respect. You are engaged in gambling but also sponsoring
a girl’s education, I respect you.
Me as a person would never-ever judge someone by what you
eats or drinks or wear, but from your character. That defines who you are. Each
of us is unique in itself. Don’t force someone to be you, just because you like
being yourself.
If you still think that drinking and smoking is cool here is
the list of celebrities who are sober – Bradley Cooper, Russel Brand, Mathew
Perry (F.R.I.E.N.D.S), Eminem, Jennifer Lopez, Tobey Maguire (Spider Man),
Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), Kim Kardashian.
Celebrities who are vegetarian? Yes, I have got their list as
well – Mike Tyson, Pamela Anderson, Russel Brand (again), Bill Clinton,
Benjamin Franklin, M K Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, Leo
Tolstoy, Leonardo Da Vinci, Issac Newton, Nikola Tesla, Shrinivasa Ramanujan, Edward
Witten (founder of String Theory).
People who don’t consume alcohol, don’t smoke-tobacco-drugs
are termed as ‘Straight Edge’ or sXe. Be proud if you are sXe, we are unique
people left in the world.
Remaining non-alcoholic, non-smoker, vegetarian is also a
challenge. Sharing some questions from Quora who faces the situation just like
me –
 |
| Luna Lovegood!! < 3 |
For many of you may be I perfectly define definition of a HYPOCRITE
PERSON!! And yes I don’t verbally abuse, don’t go to McD/Subway/Dominos/pubs
and am still a virgin (better to clear air before someone judges me).
But yes I do adventure; I have done white-water rafting, paragliding,
rock climbing, rappelling. Explored most part of India. Works for a NGO. Help people
in need! Do writing, photography, read novels, techie nerd, sky gazing.
Learnt one huge thing in life, toughest job is not to create
yourself or finding yourself but its retaining yourself; who you actually are.
And I am extremely happy that I have managed it very well.
I won’t request you to skip smoking or drinking or save animals. I just want to request all of us to give every person in the world a chance to be themselves, because not everyone is the world is not strong enough to sustain their originality!! :)
P. S. Now I will be watching 'Dead Poets Society' before falling asleep. :)
 |
| On a lighter note ;) :P Found it interesting!! :) |
Like this blog?
Please subscribe through your e-mail on the top-left and like my blog's Facebook page on the top - right. Else CLICK HERE
Want to read more? CLICK HERE to read all blogs in categorized version.
To contact me CLICK HERE
keywords - pune, alcohol, smoking, smokers, non-smokers sober, adolescence, intoxication, hypocrite, robin williams, dead poet society quote, sanket thodge, sxe, straight edge, vegetarian, non-vegetarian
