Rat-Race amongst a Hundred Million [Updated]

Wish I had the chance

To start over again

No matter what I do

I will be not satisfied

I’m tired of this race

Tired of this monotonous existence

I’m tired of trying to run ahead

Tired of the race

I had to race

A hundred million

To get to my mother’s womb

Oh Boy, was I tired!

But… “This is the beginning”

God said, and mocked.

Very soon I had to struggle

Along with my mother

And finally I was out in the world

Aspirations around me

Hopes around me

I felt the pressure

On my fingertips,

I felt it everyday.

The hopes heaped on me

The aspirations

Of generations gone by.

What do I want?

Who am I?

What do I want?

Does anybody care,

About how I feel?

Oh, the rat race is on!

It is always on.

I’m tired of running

Can I go to sleep now?

An interview I faced

To get to pre-school

Only to increase one

Notch higher every time

Pre-school passed.

My nose into books,

Parents called me ideal

Friends called me weird.

Oh Boy, Was I tired.

Oh Boy, Was I tired.

Went to school,

Middle school.

And then high school.

Remained a weird nerd.

The race was still on.

Got through engineering

A stamp on my existence

Then got a job

So many stamps on me.

So many “achievements”…

That is what everyone said.

But was it?

Everyone wants the best job

Everyone wants to be the favorite

Of his boss.

People said I was.

Was I among the first,

In this rat race?

Enemies I did not make,

Enemies became mine.

Achievements! Achievements!

Achievements everywhere…

Friends I call a few.

Friends who cannot

Come on your birthday,

Or your anniversary.

I liked to paint.

But I was a boy.

My father said,

I was to play with tools.

Worked my heart off,

Got a promotion.

Lost few friends,

Gained few enemies.

Company lost some,

So had to cut down employees.

I was let go,

For no reason.

Worked my heart off,

For the boss,

But he tossed my heart,

Without a care.

Does anyone care?

About me?

I just want to

Sleep… sleep… sleep.

I know now when

This race will end.

Tomorrow will be another dawn,

Another day,

Another race,

Another day to run.

Will I achieve something?

I know not… Run boy, Run!