Coversation over a coffee.

Before I dive into the full conversation, here’s a quick snapshot of how it began.

I have an Indian friend here in Adelaide, Noor. We met over coffee, and she started talking about an executive manager, Carol, at her office—someone who, according to her, does almost nothing at work.

She apparently watches series at her desk, comes and goes as she pleases, and is only 20, without even a graduation degree. It turned into a stream of corporate-bashing comments.

So naturally, the question came up—why is she still employed? Because she’s the owner’s daughter. That’s where the discussion really started.

Noor: I don’t understand why she doesn’t realise she should study. She doesn’t work, yet still gets paid.

Me: Hmm.

Noor: She’s always talking about her manicures and the new BMW her mom is getting her.

Me: Hmm.

Noor: She should do something on her own, stand on her own feet. And stop saying “hmm” to everything.

At that point, I laughed. Honestly, why does it matter so much? Why should Carol be bothered about what others think, as long as she’s happy?

Not everyone is raised with the same values we are.

In our culture, the conversation doesn’t just stop at basic manners—it stretches into bigger expectations: standing on your own feet, proving your worth, constantly achieving more.

We’re raised with a kind of pressure that pushes us to outperform—even to outdo the imaginary “Sharma ji ka beta.”

But not every culture operates that way. Some people grow up without that constant scrutiny—no one questioning or judging what they earn or how they earn it. And maybe that’s why they move differently, think differently, and live without any weight of expectations.

So while it may seem frustrating from the outside, I don’t see it as something to judge. If she’s content in her world, untouched by the pressure we’ve always known, maybe that’s just a different kind of freedom, I said.

After that little “lecture,” Noor never brought up Carol again. 😄