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Wednesday, December 9, 1998

Horrors of being an adult

Varsha Pillai  
After my 18th birthday my friends questioned me as to how I felt after reaching the much-awaited age. Frankly I didn't know what to feel. The only thing I felt was that I could no longer hide behind the fact that I was young and now I am legitimately being told to grow up all of a sudden.

According to me this glorious age holds only few benefits that I've listed below:
I can finally exercise my voting rights. I might have some say (though minuscule) in the political situation of the country.
I, now, have the legal right to get married. (How terrible, not for me but for the guy who gets married to me!)
I can get my driving license (thus add to the increasing number of accidents).
The law permits me watch the so-called `adult movies'.
I am also permitted by the law to enter `pubs'.

Apart from the above-mentioned plus points, I am sorry to say, I know no other good that one can desire after reaching the golden age of 18. It feels like I am being pushed into a category for which I have no option other than doing nothing. I am asked to behave, laugh, talk, walk... like an adult. For heaven's sake I have just become 18. What do I know of a prized 18-year-old's behavioural pattern. I am being told to act responsibly and I can only shake my head in despair and wonder whether an addition of 365 days can change my mental capability to such an extent where I cannot act responsibly. I'd like to make one thing clear; I was responsible before, I am responsible now, I will be responsible in the future too. Period.

I am being asked to pump up my general knowledge because no adult is supposed to be dumb. When I am hurt (not physically, but emotionally) I am told not to cry aloud but to sulk and shut up. Among the other things I'm told to deposit and withdraw money (horror of horrors) and to be more organised and neat.

Well one thing's for sure, being an adult need not necessarily bring any change in you. But it sure brings out changes in the attitudes of your near and dear ones and even in the eyes of law!

Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.


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