To me, people are more important than things.
If I want something for myself, and the people I love dislike that, or have some reservations against it, I would certainly not have that thing, at least until I am able to make it acceptable to my people. There is no way I can truly enjoy something materialistic by upsetting people around me. The agony of hurting them would pinch me forever.
If I want to do something, and my parents are against it, and I am unable to convince them otherwise, I would quit. If I did it nevertheless, my conscience would kill me for being a disobedient son.
Thing is, I just can’t hurt the people I love. I just can’t say no to them. As much as I try to talk them into letting me do as I want, if they didn’t show any flexibility I end up sacrificing my desires for them. I have no complains because my mind is guilt free. The things I give are usually related to luxuries of life which I can have any time later, but if I loose the people I would never get them back.
Very true; sometimes even “truth” has to be presented in a way that it doesn’t hurt people and change is gradual for them.
When you find out the answer to this one.. let me know. I think this is the story of every good desi kid’s life.
S