Society
When you hear that word, maybe you think of people, culture, rules.
But me? I hear alarms. Loud, annoying, nonstop alarms.
Because for me, society is a group of overly interested people who seem to think your life is their group project.
Let’s start from the beginning.
Step 1: Born? Great. Career Decided.
The moment you're born — even before you open your eyes — there’s already a career waiting for you.
You’re still crying because you either want milk or a diaper change, and they’re out here going:
“My kid will become a doctor!”
Excuse me?? I can’t even hold my neck properly, and you're already handing me a stethoscope?
Doesn’t matter if I hate blood or faint when I see injections. I must become a doctor. Because aunty said so. End of discussion.
Step 2: Age is Not Just a Number – It’s a Countdown
After you grow up a little and start figuring out life, let's say you have a decent life even if it's not a doctor, society hits you with a big question:
“You’re almost 25? When will you get married?”
Like there’s a timer on your forehead!
And if you say, “Not now,” get ready for a full lecture.
“You know these days people are not getting pregnant naturally. Everything has become artificial.”
As if your eggs or sperms are about to expire like milk.
They talk like your body will stop working the moment you turn 25.
They don’t care if you’re happy, ready, or even interested.
All they care about is ticking boxes.
Marriage. Kids. Done.
Suddenly, every wedding you go to becomes a place where people try to fix your life.
“I know a nice boy… he’s working in the US.”
“My niece got married at 25 and already has twins!”
You feel like shouting, “Can I please live my life at my own pace?”
But nope. Society has its own clock. And sadly, you're always “late” on it.
Step 3: You Finally Have Kids? Good Luck!
You thought marriage would shut them up?
Nope. Now comes the Parenting Olympics.
Whatever you do — it’s wrong.
Feed the baby? Too much.
Don’t feed? Neglect!
Your toddler throws a tantrum? Your fault.
Their kid is a genius who learned 4 languages at 3 months old. Obviously.
“See my son? He is excellent in everything.”
“Look at your kid... must be something wrong with your parenting.”
I swear, even if I raise a decent human who says "thank you" and washes hands, they’ll still find a way to say,
“But does he know calculus at age 5?”
Step 4: You Can’t Win — So You Just… Stop
No matter what you do — speak, stay quiet, follow dreams, stay single, marry, parent, not parent — someone always has something to say.
Their background voice becomes louder than your own thoughts.
And one day, you look in the mirror and wonder:
"Where did I go wrong? Who even am I now?
All that pressure — to be good, perfect, obedient — just turns you into someone even you don’t recognize.
Now your best friends are:
So... is this really worth it?
Being born just to live a life designed by people who aren’t even living it for you?
From the cradle to the grave, they decide what’s "good" for you.
They never asked you what you want.
They just assume. Assign. Judge. Repeat.
Society is like that nosy neighbor who rings your bell, gives you 99 problems, and walks away saying,
“It’s for your own good.”
Thanks, but no thanks.
Let me breathe. Let me live.
And maybe — just maybe — let me figure out life without a 24x7 commentary team.
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Hello there! I thought this piece was quite a play on what life is like. In a way, the people around us ARE "a 24x7 commentary team", constantly trying to shape us in a way that gets their approval without considering our own interests and passions. I love that instead of just saying that there are a thousand people or a hundred, you give a mathematical measurement, symbolizing the emotionless, machine-like way of going about things that society indulges in.
The part of the writing that spoke most deeply to me was "Step 4: You Can't Win -- So You Just... Stop". Even I find myself falling into this one at the moment. You can't do anything right when you do anything, so you just don't do anything. It feels awful, but you can't seem to drag yourself out of the pit you've been shoved into. The most powerful line of this part is "All that pressure — to be good, perfect, obedient — just turns you into someone even you don’t recognize." It's filled to the brim with raw emotion, and there is much truth in what you are writing here.
The way you switch between the ridiculous and hilarious comments such as “But does he know calculus at age 5?” and the emphasis on having an absurdly smart child to a more serious note, like when you turn to angsty lines about not being able to live your life (ex. "You feel like shouting, “Can I please live my life at my own pace?” But nope. Society has its own clock. And sadly, you're always “late” on it") creates a strong effect that beautifully portrays the foolish way that society wants us to be perfect from a young age, while still preserving the anguish of losing yourself to their desires.
Overall, this was a great read! It has a refreshing balance between mockery, humor, and emotion that is maintained throughout the whole narrative. The mix between personal experiences and experiences that are more broad engages readers, and I think a lot of us can relate to it sometimes. I can't wait to read more of your works.
Thank you so much kuro for reading
Hey Alwaysea! This is Alex. Today I'm dropping by a review on yet another one of your hilarious societal satires, on the occasion of August's Review Day. I was looking for some short stories to review for a change and stumbled upon this, so let's get things started.
May I say, the Indian roots are obviously showing. Of course it's a guess at best, but I can tell a fellow Indian when there's this much angst for the interference of 'society' in our lives XD. This is coming from a guy who was told as a child he's got to become a doctor, just like his fabulous aunt who cradled him while everyone in the house was out partying. So yes, this was awfully resonating. I did end up going to med school afterall, lucky it really did end up being my calling. But I really sympathize with the kids who go through that immense pressure and end up pursuing careers they don't like, so not worth it. Such a serious issue, yet you manage to present it as such a light-hearted irony, so very impressive!
I specifically loved you used the metaphors such as alarms and group projects in the beginning, they're so apt for the overly involved and over stepping Uncles and Aunties who can get so annoying sometimes.
The sheer accuracy has got me cracking here haha
The ignorance is so well represented. It's so problematic when you think about it, that elders overlook such crucial reactions just to force on their own dreams on their children. A seriously pressing issue we need spoken about more.
The countdown bit was intimidating. I haven't experienced it myself but is certainly scary to imagine an endless and exhausting race of marriage, kids and parents.
The first line is a hilarious comparison! The next two lay a much needed contrast. I'm not going to ignore the fact that there are obviously proven scientific benefits to having children before 25, but people need to understand today's lifestyle is not built in a way where one can achieve that. Raising kids requires financial independence and settlement in addition with enhanced maturity. It's not a commitment you can rush in and at such a young age, today's youth is simply not ready to bear the responsibility. A delay is better than doing a sloppy job, any day! Again, the personal opinion of the concerned people being undervalued is a painful reality. It's their life afterall, they should be allowed to live as they please and see fit for themselves.
Parenting Olympics- that certainly had a ring to it XD
Proud parents really do be this boastful. Like we get it, he's a genius - let's let it rest at that please. Don't make claims you know you can't defend. Not everything is a competition parents, live your kid's childhood with them, all that learning can wait.
Losing one's own amid the commotion is very understandable. In seeking validation, we lose our own identity and it's still is never enough.
It's satisfying to see the narrative take a stand against society's unnecessary interference. The frustration is so very real. I swear their ears are mere ornaments, for they never actually listen anyways.
Lastly, the comparison with a 24X7 commentary team bit seemed so accurate. Always gossiping and passing comments on a life in which they have no say.
Overall, this peace captured the angst of living by the society's rules quite well. People you barely know dictate your life while you have no power over it, so real. The humor is purely satirical, adding to the richness of the work. I also loved the formatting- using bold titles, central quotations and personal opinions by breaking lines. The latent anger carries this piece, keeping things heightened till the very end. Very resonating. An impeccable job writing about such a delicate and serious theme in a funny mocking style. An engaging read, I had a great time reviewing it. Hope to read and review more from you very soon.
Regards
Alex
Hi Alex..I enjoyed alot while reading you thoughts. You absolutely got a grasp of concept and all the very best for ur studies and I am really happy for you and YES I am one of the victim's of Indian society's judgment.
Hey there! Plume here, with a review!
I really enjoyed this piece! I thought it was quite clever and tongue-in-cheek, and made me smile and laugh throughout. You made great use of a common experience (others commenting on one's life) and ranted about it with really smart comparisons to make this an enjoyable piece to read!
One thing that stood out to me was the structure of this piece, in a good way-- this was structured so so well. The narration made it feel like the writer was speaking to me, with paragraph breaks in all the right places. Sentence variation was also really great, too. The entire piece just managed to be so engaging: the fed-up tone of the author was spot on, the use of italics to convey other people's comments was great, and the metaphors sprinkled throughout (especially the one at the end about society being like a nosy neighbor) amplified the points you were trying to make. The fact that it took you through chronologically as well was amazing too.
Specifics
I absolutely adored this line! The humor in it is so nuanced and clever. 10/10.
One tiny thing: I feel like this might be better formatted in italics? Most of the other dialogue in this piece is in italics, and while I know that's to convey someone else talking, I feel like the bold here was a bit jarring. I think it would still be fine to use italics.
One more thing I caught: in the title, you've spelled manual as manuel-- I think you meant the former! Manuel is a first name.
Overall: lovely job! Besides the title and the one tiny formatting thing I mentioned, I really can't find anything else to critique about your work! I enjoyed this piece a lot and really hope to read more of your work soon! Until next time!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review Plume. I really appreciate your feedback. I%u2019m not sure how I missed the mistake in the title, but I%u2019m grateful you pointed it out. I%u2019ve gone ahead and made the update as per your suggestion. Thanks again for your helpful input.