Saturday 14 March 2009

Of Tears and Green Dogs

Yesterday I realized that one ends up taking so much for granted without once thinking about the fact that someone sitting right next to you is deprived of the very thing that you so easily presume. The movie I saw yesterday was as mundane as it could possibly be. But it got to me. Life is not a movie. It never was.

 

When I was little, I was made to believe that I am a princess cut out for all the goodies life brings. But when some sense got to me at 16, I realized that I am just another girl who is going to have her share of ups and downs, of bad hair days, of good friends and nasty peers, of hostile mirrors and clothes that don’t fit, of failures and more. My father wrote to me a letter on my birthday that very year that talked about life, what lies ahead of me and more. What is ironical is that he addressed me as ‘Doll’. Although I am not that at all, actually far from it.. words such as ‘angel’, ‘princess’ and a corny ‘Doll’ actually mean a lot to my family – coz they actually feel that way. My grandparents, my parents and even close relatives like to believe them. So living their dream has always been a compulsion for me. But it’s been tough.

 

As I have grown up, I have realized that there are no Sleeping Beauty dreams or Rapenzul escapes or Snow White kisses. Prince Charming is an illusion. What one ends up with are complications, regrets and cringy moments, if that’s what we can call it.

 

When I was a gawky teenager (well, a part of me still is), I was called Olive Oyl and Giraffe. I still am but it doesn’t bother me as it used to. Once Tyra Banks said that she used to be called Olive Oyl and I just hoped that even I would be just an ugly duckling. I don’t know now if that is really true.

 

Yes, there is all this and I could crib about everything under the sun. And yet there is so much that I have and that I can be proud of. I can only thank God and everyone around me for giving me all that and making me the person I am. Life is no movie. But it sure can have rave reviews. Making it count is what matters. So rating it doesn’t get you anywhere. But having some popcorn and coke sure can make it quite interesting.

 

Someone said to me once that if you want to know about yourself, look at your friends. The common trait among them is you. And I have always been a million dollars lucky to have amazing friends by me, God bless them all. This someone also taught me courage, an amazing outlook towards life, being nice and more. So this one’s for you… Kudos!!!