Muthu was contemplating the question that his rather pompous neighbour uncle had posed: "Young man! What do you want to be when you grow up?" Muthu was often amused by how elders always referred to "...when I was your age..."
The uncle had mentioned that at ten eleven years of age, he had already started working towards his goal of being a doctor. Muthu had wanted to ask the uncle how come he was an attender then? All that uncle did, according to Muthu, was register patients and give medicines that the doctor prescribed. But Muthu was not given to being rude and resisted the urge for clarification.
As for himself, Muthu had not come up with any clear answer- because he realised he had not even given it much thought so far. After the uncle had left, he began to wonder what his options were.
He could become a bus driver like his father - it required skill and offered scope for social interaction - given the varied passengers who travelled from different states, age groups and stages in life. But it also meant long hours, starting early each morning - Muthu loathed* the idea of waking up at five. Also, his father did not want Muthu to be a driver - he often said that Muthu and his sisters were being educated in a good school so that they could move forward in terms of career choice. An opportunity their father had been denied since he belonged to a poor and large family that had lost its sole earning member (Muthu's paternal grandfather) very early. 
When Muthu was about five, he had wanted to be a doctor, then a fireman, shortly thereafter a policeman - all based on the toy or gift he was playing with at that moment. Muthu's grandmother, whom they visited during most vacations, always blessed Muthu saying, "When you grow big, may you become a collector." The modern equivalent of this is an IAS officer - he had to admit that the power and popularity that came with the role were attractive. But politics and governance were not Muthu's idea of having fun.
But could work be fun? He recollected what Ben Sir had said: 'Passion and dedication can make work fun. And if you enjoy your work, the quality and efficiency of your work will only improve.'
Cricketers and movie stars seemed to have fun at work. Maybe that would be a good choice for him. Muthu wondered if it was a realistic goal to set. One had to be exceptionally talented to make it big in cricket and lucky to be in the movies.
*loathed-detest, abominate, hate
detest, abominate, hate
