♪ finding answers ♪

At a place where the common road diverges into many
And we all must choose our paths,
When my parents asked me what I wanted to do,
I said it would be arts.

When they asked me what I would do after
I had no answer
But that wasn't acceptable
Because at 16, you're supposed to have your life figured out, right?

So in class 11 next year
When my teacher asked me why I wanted to be an engineer
I stood in front of the class, my vision unclear
Looking for comfort at my boyfriend, with no idea
Whether the romance would stay for life or disappear
Where was my life going?
I had no answer.

I and my friends had sat in a circle
Just before our class 10 boards
We thought we couldn't afford
To make a mistake
Our careers were at stake
But things changed then
They found their calling, and I didn't.

I saw them change in front of my eyes
I wondered if this was the sad demise
Of our friendship
Because how do you keep up with people
Who are running ahead of you?
I had no answer.

Then they found other people
To hang out with, in the recess
And here I must confess
That when the guy I had planned my life with
Said he wanted someone else,
I felt left behind.
Completely directionless and lost for the first time.
How was I going to get back up?
I had no answer.

But I knew I had a talent for
Stringing together some words
And one day I asked myself
Did I want to be paper, tossed around by the wind
Or did I wanna be a bird?
If I wanted to fly, I had to spread out my wings
But that requires space
And space is made when you throw out
All things unnecessary: people, reputation...phone?
So I did.
And my poems became a hit!
Now I wasn't a misfit.
My classmate told me I inspired her
Why?
This time I had an answer.

Next year in a saree, I was at the school gates
After watching my juniors perform on the stage
Bidding us farewell.
It was time to leave.
In this grassy little playground of life
I fell down a lot, but I survived
The pavement outside wasn't gonna be so nice
But I wasn't scared.
Because I didn't have to guess who I was anymore.
I knew.
I had answers.

And so I forgave my friends who had gone
I couldn't blame them for going on
With their life.
Hadn't I done the same
When I felt I had an aim?

Just before we went our separate ways
When we met in our favorite coffee place
I realized we had a history
That distance couldn't erase.
There was nothing to worry about.
As for him... he's happy now,
And so am I.
We all have our answers.