"I used to earn fifty thousand rupees per month in the early nintees. That is almost the same at eighty or ninty thousand today!"

 

A lot of random conversations hit my ears while I sit and study at a local cafe after work. I like the background noise and usually, it doesn't distract me at all. In one ear and out the other for the most part. But when I heard this line coming from the table next to me, I had to look up from my papers and take notice; not because I wanted to see someone who used to make a decent amount of money more than a decade ago, but because I could almost predict where the conversation was going and wanted to see if I was right.

 

I was.

 

Two men, in their early to mid fifties, discussing how satisfied their lives have been. They seemed to be both retired bureaucrats or army officers (there really is no difference these days), and their conversation was something I have heard multiple times over the years at different venues, ranging from weddings to social call-ons, and now a cafe. They wandered away from past earnings to what their strengths used to be at their jobs to what they were planning to do these days.

 

From "Plots in defence housing have fallen over the recent weeks. I am thinking I can buy now and construct a house finally", to "I was talking with <insert name of renowned businessman of Pakistan> and gave him an idea of how I could bring him business on commission. I have the contacts he needs"; the usual cliche's about how we all play our innings and make the best of what is given to us; and not to be ignored was the discussion of how certain Federal Minister was a buddy and would never turn down a favour.

 

"Life of dignity is all that one can ask for"

 

Is it? I ask myself. I wanted to tell them that if that is ALL that was needed, the two of them would not be sitting here convincing each other of that. People who are satisfied with their lives do not need reassurance from others in similar situations. I agree that dignity is an essential part of life, but you really can't stop asking for more, striving for more, or achieving more! I know there are no guarantees in life but to have such a defeated attitude towards life is not helping anyone, least of all themselves!

 

I have been through enough in my life to know that there are times when no amount of effort can cause change. But there are other times when we can strive for something more than just making the best of what is given to us. We can strive to change what is given to us.