what do you really want from life?
This story revolves around two people who want the same thing but pursue it in different ways. It is the tale of two friends who meet once a year over a beer. They made this pact when they were 16, and now, 12 years later, they met again just two days ago. As time passed, their discussions grew more intense, eventually revealing the boundaries and thoughts each had about life. I was luckily with them sharing a beer. Here is my take on them (as their mutual friend)
Vedant :
Vedant is someone who struggles to understand how society works. He yearns to go out, shout, and cry in the wilderness. He wants to be in nature, present in the moment, playing with birds and mountain dogs. He wants to, but he can’t. He is frightened and calculative about his actions. He thinks about the future, tries to understand society, and blends in every day, though with a little regret every other week over the possibilities of what could have been. He is searching for joy and wants a meaningful life. While he likes the idea of leaving it all behind for an adventurous life like Bunny’s, he knows it might be fun for a while but not fulfilling in the long run. He is fascinated by the idea of living outside societal norms and occasionally ventures out to experience it. He is someone who is calculative, not too biased about his ideas, morals, and beliefs. You’d find him questioning everything. He is someone who is very curious and likes to read and study human psychology. He admires Bunny’s life but never complains about his own. Deep down, he knows he isn’t cut out to live in the mountains and wander like a nomad. He accepts that his place is in the daily routine, being happy with what he has and does. He wants to be happy, work, earn, grow in life, and come home every day to his loved ones. He knows he is privileged and has come to understand society and its people. He is now among them.
Bunny
Bunny is always restless, wanting more. He seeks thrill, madness, and fun, aiming to fly high. He dreams of running away to distant lands(as if he is not already distant), falling and failing. He never wants to stop. He goes with the flow and defies logic, pursuing his dreams. The thought of spending his life in one city, one house, and one room terrifies him. He wants to live life to the fullest and fulfill all his dreams as if each day were his last. He wants to explore every corner of the world. I remember him saying, “That mountain fascinates me a lot. I always wonder what’s beyond it.” He wants to go to the mountains and experience the Himalayas. He isn’t meant to stay at home; he’s always looking to cross rivers, roam in jungles, and dance in the mountains. He doesn’t have a family or many friends but has countless stories of the people he meets temporarily, all vivid. When he’s lonely in the wild, he longs for the things Vedant has. He honestly admits that he wants to be loved and surrounded by people who genuinely care for him, and vice versa. He questions the rationale behind the concept of family, yet is interested in pursuing it someday. However, he is frightened by the idea of having a family, as he worries he may not be cut out for it. Having spent so much time in the wild, he often speaks negatively about society and its people. Understanding Bunny can be very challenging at times. His ideas are his beliefs, and trying to convince him of anything contrary to his thoughts may not be worth the effort.
After spending days and having multiple conversations with Vedant and Bunny, you’ll find that Bunny is more emotional and giving, which is surprising given their personalities. Both are interested in seeing more and doing more things. Vedant balances societal norms with his adventurous spirit, possibly prioritizing societal workings more. Bunny, on the other hand, lives freely in the wild, on his own terms, unbound by anything. Both have chosen their paths and are clear about how they want to live their lives.
The question you should ask yourself is, what do you want, and how do you want to go about achieving it?
