Written by Nandini Sethi
Earlier, when I would string two completely unrelated verses together and call it a poem, I’d feel proud of myself: I was inspired because I knew once I’m gone my writings are what people will remember me by. But now it’s that very thought that scares me and pushes me away from picking up a pen (here: a metaphor for my laptop), because most of the times I write about being sad. And what makes everything even sadder is the fact that all things that are known and shown to us are sad stories.
Once I’m gone, I hope people remember me by the happy stories that I wrote, the ones that never got the views. Once I’m gone, I hope people post pictures of their success and happiness more than that of their stresses and the hustle culture. That one day people finally realize working till the late hours of the night isn’t inspiring or setting an example for the youth, rather a life that sounds like a punishment.
I wish I get to see a world where unpopular opinions are welcomed and not sidelined, and where canceling people just means canceling plans and not banishing someone for holding opinions that differ from their own. One day, I really desire to live in a world where generations aren’t generalised and people aren’t disregarded for being believers (of God, religion, spirituality, and even RCB).
Often, I daydream about a world where One Direction is a 5-piece band again and what we would be like if there were no airplanes and trains and cars: if we weren’t ever exposed to the concept of travel, would we be as discontent as we were during the pandemic?
Sometimes I wish for a simpler life, but I’m so overwhelmed by the staggering amount of information and accessibility that I fall prey to exactly what the monopolies want me to fall prey to. Is this just me?
Am I the only one who wonders what people will remember me by once I’m gone? Maybe it’s not for my writings, but I sure hope it’s not for all the controversial opinions I don’t realize I hold.
