Entering Adulthood

Growing up is a blissful thing for a child. Just like in a video game every level we unlock leads to new adventures and updates. Similarly, every year we age we get new privileges. Like, we can go to bed late, our curfew extends, and we shift from cycling to scooters.

This year I finally entered my 18th year on this planet. I am sorry, Peter Pan but I feel okay growing up. Because even though it is amazing to be a child, I am excited about what the future holds for me. 

Grade XI and XII have been the longest and most boring classes of my life. And even though the prospect of an entrance exam sends shivers down my spine. I can’t wait to get over it so that I can once again experience life. 

The sad thing is that after grade 10 I was not able to make many new friends and the old friends kind of drifted away. So, this year I was doomed to party alone. But like last year my mother started to come up with exciting plans for my birthday bash. 

‘The pleasure isn’t in doing the thing, the pleasure is in planning it.’ So, we came up with various ideas for an entire week. My birthday ended up being celebrated in an entirely different way. 

And before I knew it, all the guests had left and I was sitting on the couch with a broad smile on my face and relishing the feeling of being an adult. 

I must have greeted my parents a hundred times with, “Howdy fellow adult.” (I somehow can’t get over the fact that I am an ADULT.)

Now that I am 18, I can watch all the 18+ movies and read all the books in the world without worrying about their age limit. 

I can even sign my brother's link book notices as his legal ‘adult’ guardian. 

I can now even drive a car. My car learning lessons had been just as fun as the scooter ones.

I have traveled a lot in the car. I have sat in all the other seats in it. But the day I sat in the driver seat and buckled myself in did I realize, ‘With Great Power comes Great Responsibility.’

All the vehicles on the road can be easily compared to economic groups in society. All the cars are middle-class citizens. Whatever the situation, the middle class suffers the most. Being in the car you should always focus on the road. 

You need to take care of the pedestrians and the two-wheelers, horse carts, etc. They can represent poor people. And in any accident, they would harness the major support of the audience around.

Then the trucks and the buses are like the Rich citizens. A clash with them will leave nothing of your car but barely a dent in them.

And oh, I forgot to mention the gangsters on the road. Or they are better known as Auto rickshaws. Never ever drive behind them if you are a new or even an experienced driver because experience falls short behind the wildcard break of the auto.

Overall driving the car was a good experience. I am still trying to bond with the car. It is just like how in Avatar they link to the creatures. You need to feel the car’s body like your own. Slowly I am getting better at parking and overtaking. Hopefully, I will nail the driving test next month.

When I turned 13, I wrote an article, ‘My life is changing.’ (It got published in the Hindu newspaper) 

Now that I turned 18, I don’t feel any change in my life. Everything about me seems pretty much the same as last year. I don’t feel any different physically, my superpowers are yet to activate and Hogwarts still didn’t realize that they have left behind a brilliant student. My life is the same as it was a month before, just studying and giving tests. 

It looks like it takes time to kick-start adulthood. Like curry slowly cooking in a pot. 

Until then I carry on with the routine using the newfound library of 18+ movies and books for my relaxation. 

But even though I have turned 18 I still can’t get over the YA stuff. I mean the collection of teenage books is never-ending. The plots and characters still keep me glued. So, I guess, I will continue reading them. As for the movies, our house might now have 3 adults but there is still my younger brother. And on second thoughts 13+ movies are not bad. All the Marvel collections, Harry Potter, Hobbit, Hunger Games, and Sherlock Holmes fall under this category. What else does a person need in life?

Ok, I know you might be thinking what kind of freshman adult she is?

But the thing is I don’t really know how to feel the independence of adulthood. I don’t have anyone to look up to for guidelines. My parents were 18 a long time ago and all my friends are busy right now. Guess I will just wait till college to try out 18+ stuff like horror houses, thrilling roller coasters, and other things.

As I pen my thoughts of entering adulthood I find it similar to a sunrise I saw early this year.

The car rolled towards Bhimtal, which is located near the famous hill station Nainital. Bhimtal is a quiet lake with fewer tourists. In the month of march, the weather was crisp and spring brought out more natural beauty. 

On my first morning there I awoke before sunrise. We all decided to go for a pre-dawn trek. 

The trees smelled fresh from the mist and dew collected. The mountain soil crunched softly under our feet. In the canopy overhead, we heard some stray bird rustle and insects creep. 

Finally, we reached a good point and waited for the sunrise. The sky in the eastern mountains started to change colors.

It came in bits first just a tinge of red then slowly it spread like orange wildfire. Kissing the treetops on the eastern mountain. The orange hue was a stagelight.

And in its spotlight nature started the show. A gentle wind started to flow and it blew the pine cones and their clanging became nature's gong for the announcement of another day. The birds started to chirp excitedly in the nests. And bees began to buzz in the bush behind me.

They all knew that the moment was here. Any moment the sun would rise now. So, we all waited amongst nature. 

And the sun came up. It peaked in the gap between the mountains. Just like the drawing we used to make as little kids. 

It was beautiful seeing the sun sparkle in the lake. Seeing it glow brightly each second as the rooster started to cock out loud happily. 

Yes, the sun finally rose on the mountainside. But for my life, it’s still in the orange glowy part. It is going to begin soon. But until then all I do is wait patiently as I did months ago on my trip. My life is not changing this time. It is just beginning and I can’t wait to see what new adventures it holds.

Through my new adventures in adulthood who said I need to leave my childhood behind? I like being a kid so I will keep carrying it with me as long as I can and when I can’t then I will just sit for a while and relive a few memories from it. And then again confirm to keep it safe. 

I guess this is what Peter Pan always wanted. And maybe that’s the reason why he never grew old because he kept the child alive in him. 

Guess I will enter adulthood in my own style.