What Are You Doing?

Oh! That question...

- Kavita Panyam

So what are you doing these days?” This is a simple question but a very powerful one. In fact it can stir up the thinking pot to such an extent that the one who is not occupied with anything spectacular at that point of time could cringe at this question. My memory of this question goes back to when I had finished class 12. 

As postings in the Army are quite erratic, I was forced to drop one year after finishing class 12 due to place constraints. This came after topping the city in my stream. Needless to say, I was quite unhappy with the happenings and went into a shell. During this difficult time my nosey neighbours and many random people would often come up to me and enquire, “So, what are you doing these days?” I must admit that this question pushed me further into my shell, so much so that I had stopped meeting people wherever possible till I joined college the following year. I often thought about this question. Why couldn't people understand the predicament of others going through tough times? Instead of empathising all they did was judging.