Till now, I was under the illusion that spending on education and hard work can lead to success and that, in turn, leads to admissions in the right institutions, prized postings and cushy jobs. In Pakistan, though, success is relative i.e. depending on who your 'relative' is, or more precisely who your father is. Having wasted a lot of money and precious years in getting myself educated, I have realized that the way to be successful in life is to offer myself for adoption. I am sure that the adopting Godfather, preferably some solid pillar of the state, would help in opening up new avenues for my bright future. -DR IRFAN ZAFAR, Islamabad, January 1.