Middle-Classness

I don't lie unless absolutely necessary, because I am middle class.
I buy little with leftover money except a book or two, because I am middle class.
I know how to find the joy of a whole egg even in half an egg, with deep satisfaction, because I am middle class.
I haven't learned to beg as long as my hands have their strength, because I am middle class.
I've learned to live by earning respect with sweat, mind, and blood, because I am middle class.
I still love to believe in the beauty within people, because I am middle class.
I cannot raise my voice while looking into my father's eyes, because I am middle class.
I can save from my pocket money and give some to street children with a smile, because I am middle class.
I still trust in the childlike hope of changing fate through hard work, because I am middle class.
When I occasionally get to eat expensive delicious food, I can savor it with great pleasure, because I am middle class.
Unless absolutely forced, I cannot ask to borrow even after fighting a thousand battles with myself, because I am middle class.
Instead of chasing after others, I stay on my own case constantly in pursuit of fortune, because I am middle class.
I spend night after night trying to become perfect, because I am middle class.
I've never learned to cheat someone and enjoy their rightful money myself, because I am middle class.
I consider all the wealth of the world trivial before my sense of self-respect, with supreme patience, because I am middle class.
Running after self-discovery, I never find time to criticize others, because I am middle class.
I still consider getting a job as attaining heaven, because I am middle class.
Just seeing my child smile a little makes me forget all fatigue in an instant, because I am middle class.
I learned to be inspired by people instead of envying them, back in childhood, because I am middle class.
I'm used to believing that saving money is life's religion, because I am middle class.
Instead of smearing tears in the ledger of what I lack, I know how to live hanging smiles in the ledger of what I have, because I am middle class.
I know how to live swallowing tears, how to walk with a smile while suppressing sorrow, how to keep suffering personal, because I am middle class.
Even with my eyes on a plate of biryani, I live trusting in the supreme contentment of a simple meal of rice and lentils, because I am middle class.
I still know how to sit by the open window of my heart and feel others' pain, because I am middle class.
Looking at my father, I constantly strengthen my shoulders, because I am middle class.
Looking toward dreams, I can walk the path of light even while groping through darkness, because I am middle class.

If you ever see any deviation from these qualities in me, know for certain that day that I am no longer middle class—I have dragged and pulled my position down to the level of a petty person. There are some middle-class people who, showing the rage of the powerless, want to climb on the head of someone whose position is so high that to climb on their head, one's own head must be strong enough. Those who proceed relying on mouth and arms without strengthening their heads—their worth drops below even that high person's shoes. They continuously irritate and hurt that high person so he's forced to keep someone worth less than his shoes in mind, even momentarily. No one talks to their own shoes. Someone whose place is below shoes also wants to join the conversation—forcefully, annoyingly, dragging their ugliness forward! Time bears witness that not much success is visible in their lives beyond this. After growing old, to display their heroism before grandchildren, they'll say, "You know, one day I found a place on that person's head, though I was always below his shoes!" Petty in youth, small-minded in old age. This is their unbreakable life cycle! Something to talk about yourself is needed! The subject of a story reveals its narrator. Yes, they're called not middle class, but petty. Let me remind you again—being middle class, I learned to be inspired instead of burning with envy.

Middle class! This isn't the name of any temporary position—this is the name of an eternal feeling! How precious that feeling is! Its permanent homeland lies far beyond the temporary boundaries of wealth. This consciousness-wealth of the mind lasts a lifetime! This feeling lives as much in wealth as it does, even more, in the heart! There are many things in this world that money cannot buy. Among them, at the very top, is being middle class.

Let them burn in rage and envy, the destination that jealousy leads to
Is breaking the wall of middle class, ending in pettiness itself.