Those Who (think they) Know Better

I met a friend of mine this morning. Well, he’s not actually a ‘friend’, just some dude who was with me in school. You know, another one of those, ‘oh-I-can-get-anything-done’ types.

So, the conversation goes like this:

Him: what’re you doing these days?

Me: I’m doing my BA from St Xavier’s.

Him: what? why do you  have to go that far?! I could get your admission done here in Ulhasnagar!

Me: um, what makes you think I wanna go to Ulhasnagar?

Him: arrey! It’s not worth it going that far! that too for a BA! So, what’re you doing after that?

Me: planning to do an MA.

Him: what!? You wanna become a teacher or what?

Me: yeah. (He gives a stupefied look; actually, he looks that way, but this was more pronounced) So, what are you doing?

Him: law, I couldn’t get into computer science.

Me: great…so, now you’re gonna be attesting documents in front of Esplanade?

Well, I didn’t exactly saw those lines (what! it’s rude, right?) Nevertheless, I meant every word of it. 

I’m pretty sure you guys must’ve met characters like this friend of mine at some point in your life; be it a friend, a cousin, uncle, aunt or even some random acquaintance in the train (yes, even that has happened to me. This particular person tried convincing me to do an MBA then get into finance, because marketing is ‘too hectic’).

And I am also sure that they’ve managed to test your patience time and again. They never seem to understand, do they? I call this, the ‘i-know-better’ syndrome’ (for the lack of a better name…)

These people, as my observations go, are a given in societies. You see them in communities, trains (in plenty, mind you!), and among any social group. As irritating as they are, they manage to serve a purpose: to annoy you (ok, not scientific), and give you a lot to think about. Out of many notions, the one that first comes to your mind is: ‘God, I hope I don’t turn out like that.’

They boast about their contacts, relatives, and Heaven knows someone from somewhere, while they, themselves are stuck in the mediocrities of life. Yes, sometimes I do feel like pitying them, not exactly pity, sorry; but, just sympathize. For all their contacts, they never could make things ok for themselves. Or, perhaps, it’s because of these very contacts that they are where they are, and not on a level worse than that. Because, God help me (and them) if they were.

Do Say: “So, can I have the number of that contact-chap? Is he on Facebook?”

Don’t say: “Dude, I’m training to be a career counselor. Here’s my contact.”