Photographs: Susana Vera/Getty Images
If you thought your life after graduation was going to be one endless party, there are some things you should know about.
Your college teachers always told you that that it's a rough world out there.
Here's a glimpse of how the world of grown up works. So, gather around kids... here's what you've probably never been told about growing up:
Filing taxes will drive you up the wall!
The least fun thing about getting your first job is that a part of the measly salary you earn goes to the government.
Come March and you will most likely spend one full working day trying to fill out the form that the good folks from your account section would have emailed you.
You would have ignored that mail and you'd be filling it up on the last day holding your head and wondering just why you couldn't do it sooner.
The next year you will have learnt nothing and the scene will repeat itself!
That, my friends, is a #Fact
Abbreviations like PF, PPF, MF will become part of your vocabulary
You probably heard these things when you were a kid and couldn't have given a damn about it.
Except that you cannot afford to do that anymore because your dad is probably hounding you to invest in them.
That being said, you also probably have no idea what any of those abbreviations really mean.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
In March, you will realise the only person you can rely on is your dad
Photographs: Anshum Mandore
You've paid no attention whatsoever to your dad's investment advice all year long.
Come March and you are begging him to help you.
The reliable man that he is, tells you exactly where to invest and probably gets you the medical bills so you don't lose out on your salary next month.
What can we say, dads are the best!
You will spend more time at work than anywhere else...
Photographs: Dadang Tri/Reuters
Like an awful lot.
So much that your colleagues joke that you now owe the company rent for staying back so long.
Except that it isn't a joke most of the times :-(
Your weekend will begin on a Sunday... and will get over on the same day
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Unless of course you are in one of those few lucky organisations that only work five days a week.
In which case your weekend begins on a Saturday afternoon… because you've been in the office till about 11.59 on a Friday.
You will get asked about getting married an awful lot
Photographs: Parivartan Sharma/Reuters
Sometimes it's direct.
Most other times, the hints are fairly subtle.
You are taken for 'jewellery shopping' or one of your parents suddenly rediscovers their long lost friend who has a daughter/son of about the same age as you.
To make matters worse, your friends will most likely be getting hitched and posting their wedding photos on Facebook. Ouch!
At some point you will ask yourself that all-encompassing existential question:
Photographs: Reuters
You get the drift right?
You will most likely end up with one of your colleagues
Photographs: Sai Kiran
Before you write off office romance, think again.
You will be surprised to know how many people end up finding their life partners at their workplace.
(Do read some of the stories from our readers here if you don't believe us)
Since your colleagues will possibly be the only people you will most likely be seeing, there is a good chance you will finally muster the courage to ask out that cutie from across the cubicle.
And if s/he says yes, you should consider yourself lucky.
Because the possibility is that s/he wants to go out with you despite having seen the worst of you...
Which isn't so bad now for a happy ending, is it? :-)
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