Ting.
Payal looked at her buzzing phone and guessed it must be one more like or comment on her new display picture. She aimed at a minimum of 500 with this one having spent some 2 hours looking for the perfect spot to get it clicked during her coffee date with the guy she recently met on Tinder. The guy looked uninterested. What was his name? Payal thought and checked her phone.
The moment she saw Tina’s new update, she felt pangs of jealousy. Tina was her junior in college. While Payal was always known as the confident and beautiful one in college, Tina was just the opposite. In fact, nobody remembers what she looked like, back then.
Payal had almost forgotten about her existence when suddenly she got a friend request from her on Facebook. Casually, she opened her profile and could not believe her eyes. If there was ever a frog princess, it must have been Tina. She had evolved into being a lifestyle influencer now with millions following her. Everyone complimented her beauty and poise. Wonder where it all was, back in the day.
Payal was not happy. She closed Her Facebook app and opened Instagram now. Sarah, her first friend from her first job had posted another ‘reels’ video. She looked so happy and the glow was unmistakable on her face. Marriage and motherhood had done wonders for her. She had a perfect life now – a beautiful house, two cute children, a wonderful husband and such a secure career at work. And those holidays almost look like picture postcards.
Payal looked out of her window and thought where did she go wrong? How come she could never enjoy all the fame and the beautiful life that she rightfully deserved. She was no way less beautiful or deserving than Tina or Sarah.
Ting.
This time it was a message from her Bank with credit card receipts. She had gotten another dress for herself about half an hour back. She knew she was shopping impulsively but did not know how to stop. Tina had posted wearing something similar last week, and the moment she saw the seller on a Facebook group promoting this dress, she could not stop herself.
Payal knew she did not need this dress. There were around ten new ones lying in her wardrobe. Her father had been paying off her rent and EMI for her new phone, since the time she had lost her job after the first lockdown. She knew he was banking on his savings, yet she could not stop herself. She knew she needed to find another job, meet people and start living again. Yet, all she could think of was ‘the perfect life’ of Tina and Sarah.
Tina has become so arrogant, she thought. She is now an admin of a beauty group on Facebook, but she behaves as if she is some beauty queen. Payal kept on thinking about ways to give her a piece of her mind and shatter her false pride and ego.
But couldn’t she be like Sarah? Her earlier relationships may not have worked but she deserved better – men and jobs.
But what could she do? She pondered and thought. Maybe posting some ravishing new photos on Facebook and Instagram will do the trick? Maybe somebody will connect on social media after seeing those photos. And that will make Tina and Sarah see some sense and understand that Payal is not finished! With newer enthusiasm, Payal fetched herself a bowl of instant noodles and closed the doors of her room. She now needed to think about how she could click those next set of photos wearing her newly bought dress and perfect edits to blur out any rough, edgy patches. It should look all dreamy, beautiful, and perfect.
By Paushali De Roy
Paushali De Roy dons the hats of a mother, daughter, wife, sister, lawyer and a storyteller with equal enthusiasm and passion. An author, a handloom and saree enthusiast and a connoisseur of everything beautiful, lively and colourful, she loves to spend her time reading, travelling and trying out new cuisines. She can be reached out on Instagram on @adventuresofanewmommy.
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