A Story Called Life

‘So how is life?’ she asked.

‘Not as good as it used to be’ I said.

We smiled. She knew what I meant and I couldn’t have put it better. 

I could see various responsibilities – some willingly taken and some being thrust upon - manifesting on her face and she could see that I’ve been betrayed, taken for granted and mislead which in turn gave me a look of scepticism. 

But who were we to blame?

I remember listening to dad narrate the story of snow white, rapt with attention, a princess mislead into the forest where she slips into a deep slumber only to be awakened by her true love. A happy ending! 

The next evening it was Cinderella, ill treated by her family, only to escape in time for a bash after which the prince sought after her and married her. Another happy ending!! 

Rapunzel was next in line. Well the only problem she had was a mane that stretched to eternity which obviously got chopped off by the prince who fell in love with her and helped her escape from a tower where she was locked away. Happy Ending Truly!!!

Dad read these stories most nights to lull me to sleep, mom and I would watch the same on TV and I was induced into reading the same.
I read them.
I read them every night.
And every time I read them I believed that ‘bad’ doesn’t last long but ‘good’ does, the evil are weeded out and the kind hearted people can never be betrayed. In short ‘And they lived happily ever after’ would be everybody’s mantra for life. 

She believed them too. Just like me. And in the years that we grew up together we dreamt that some day over a cup of tea served in a dainty tea set we would discuss how well manicured our lawns were, how tough it is to match the lip colour with the nail colour and of course how all the best and close still remained our 2 am friends. Happy Carefree Life. 

But nobody told us that fairy tales belonged to the books alone and that l wouldn't find my prince charming just by acting dead, wandering in the woods or by stepping out at midnight and leaving one of my shoes at the party.

No one told us that life wasn’t always fair. That the word ‘Priority’ would play tricks which would either fetch us accolades or beat us down to pulp with criticisms flying at us from everywhere. 

No one ever mentioned that ‘Money’ would play a very important role in our lives. So much so that some relationships would be defined only on the basis of the riches and the goods that we have.

And no one ever told us that not everybody who we meet has a kind heart. They would lie to us, mislead us and betray us. No one told us about the scars such people would gift us with. 

Someday I will have children and I will read out the same stories to lull them to sleep. But the day when they are ready to listen to life’s story I shall tell them these: 

Fairy tales and life have nothing in common. Life is more beautiful. You only have to learn how to keep its beauty intact.

When surrounded by roses don’t get carried away by its fragrance that you turn a blind eye to the thorn that comes with the flower. Life has its share of ups and downs and certainly the good and the bad. Learn to accept them both. It creates a balance.

Money is something of course but not everything. Never trade your emotions for a few crisp notes. They can’t buy you back your lost emotions you see. 

And last but not the least; you are bound to meet a lot of people in life. Your gang of best friends will reduce from 25 in school to 1 by the time you are 30. The decline in the number doesn’t mean you are unpopular. It shows that only one person was worth sharing your joys and sorrows with. Just one person was worth all the time you spent with and that one person will be there no matter what and will stand by your side whenever you face the rotten eggs.

After all, it is life. Not a fairy tale that lasts only ten pages.