A Short Guide to a "Successful" Life

(As approved by society)

Earn a lot of money.
Buy two cars. Minimum.
Develop BP and diabetes by forty. That means you're doing well.

Send your kids to another country.
Post airport photos.
Stay back. Be alone.
Then give life advice to everyone.

Work nonstop.
Complain about work nonstop.
Retire and ask where the time went.

Society is very clear about happiness.
It has a checklist.

House.
Car.
Marriage.
Kids.
School fees.
EMIs.
Weekend escapes to recover from a life you don't enjoy.

Deviation is not encouraged.

If you walk, people ask why you don't drive.
If you drive a Bentley, people still ask what's next.

If you eat two rotis, you're "simple".
If you eat chapathi with gold on it, you're "successful".
No one asks if you're full.

Marriage or no marriage.
Kids or no kids.
City or mountains.
Alone or surrounded.

None of these come with guaranteed happiness.
They never did.

But we keep chasing templates.
Upgrading lifestyles while downgrading peace.
Collecting things while leaking time.

I met people at minus thirty degrees
with nothing extra
and nothing missing.

They weren't searching.
They were living.

Happiness isn't in the format.
It's in the fit.

Are you filled?
Are you satisfied?
Can you sit with yourself without distraction?

We keep running in search of nonsense
and forget the one thing that never needed chasing.

Happiness isn't ahead of you.
It's already here.
It just doesn't shout.