My Ambition

Mother: Daud! Have you finished your homework yet?

Son: No, mom, a little bit more.

Mother: I see you staring at the ceiling for the last 10 minutes, do you have a problem?

Father: Why son, do you have a problem? Let me help you.

Son: I have finished all the questions except this one.

Father: Why is it hard? Let me see, "When you grow up, what do you want to be"? Hmm interesting question. You used to tell me you wanted to be a teacher, so just write that down.

Son: Things have changed dad. Whatever I am going to be, it must make me rich and powerful so that people will respect me and maybe even girls will like me.

Father: That sounds interesting. So you think being a teacher would not give you that?

Son: I don't think so. My teachers don't drive big fancy cars and not many wear branded clothes. I have heard some of them quarrelling with the canteen man about food sold being expensive. They are cheapskates.

Father: What about being an engineer then? You should get a lot of money.

Son: No, I don't think so. One of my teachers has a husband who is an engineer and he only drives a Honda Accord.

Father: Honda Accord? That's a good car son.

Son: Yeah, it's nice but it's Japanese dad. I want something continental and grand.

Father: Like what?

Son: Like a Mercedes or a BMW or Ferrari or Porshe or even all of them.

Father: Wo, hold your horses there son. Don't you think you should be more realistic? How are you going to afford all of that?

Son: My classmate's father is rich. He lives in a bungalow with a swimming pool and his father has all the cars I mentioned and a few more.

Father: Wow! His father must be rich. Has his father also got an extra wife?

Mother: I heard that. Why any ambitions? Anyway, you should not be talking like that to the boy, it gives him ideas.

Son: No, it's okay mom, we talk about this everyday in school. Yes, his father has two extra wives and also a mistress.

Father: Well I'll be damn. Lucky bugger that fellow is.

Mother: I heard that too. I think you should just leave him to his own devices.

Father: No, just kidding honey. Well what does your classmate's father do?

Son: He is a contractor. They say he builds roads and buildings but my friend says, his father is usually in the office or playing golf or in his other wives' house. He doesn't seem to work much. Some Chinese people would do the work for him. That's what I want to be.

Father: Playing golf?

Son: No, I want to not work and yet have so much money. I want to be a contractor.

Father: In that case, engineering could help you be one?

Son: Yes, I know, but I have to study hard for that. You know I have always been poor at maths and science.

Father: Then how do you plan to be one.

Son: My friend said that his father is a school dropout, he went into politics and voila he's rich.

Father: Do you really think it is that easy?

Son: It is dad. Just be close to some powerful politicians, especially the YBs. Follow them everywhere and do what they ask you to do. You don't have to spend any money dad; everything is paid for by that politician.

Father: What are the things you have to do for the politicians? Carry his bag?

Son: Sometimes, but most of the time you have to tell people that he is good and his rivals are bad. You have to spread lies about his rivals so that people will hate them.

Father: Are you willing to do that?

Son: I'd be rich. That's more important dad. Hmm Dad!

Father: Yes, son?

Son: Why don't you join the politicians so that we could be rich?

Mother: And have another wife? I think I like your father the way he is.

Son: Aw mom, what's wrong with that? I have other friends whose fathers have more than one wife and they are not even politicians. Some of them are even Uztazs.

Mother: Now, you just write 'Teacher' as your answer. Get all your books for tomorrow and run along to bed now. Don't forget to wash your feet before you sleep.

Son: Like this we are never going to be rich and the girls at school are never going to even look at me.

Mother: You just do what I say and no more 'buts'. And where do you think you are going Mr. Khan?

Father: If I am not mistaken, I have a meeting with the YB tonight.