Not From a Princess Diary

While growing up I always felt my chances of finding a ‘Prince Charming’ were rather bleak. Simply because I didn’t meet any of the qualifying criteria – I didn’t have a cruel step-mother to start with. There were no villainous characters either, trying to make my life difficult for no fault of mine. I was not locked away in a high tower. And last but not least, my doting parents provided me with more than sufficient clothes and toys and books and everything else, to disqualify me from a rags to riches story.

I didn’t have anything in common with Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White or Belle. I was an ordinary girl, destined to have an ordinary story.

Today, when my daughter is growing up, Rapunzel has become a rebel. She doesn’t wait for any prince to climb the high tower, but jumps down instead.  Today Moana is not scared of the high tide. They are independent and courageous. They write their own stories. And probably aim to inspire my daughter and her generation to do the same.

But what if, just like me, my daughter also finds it difficult to emulate these heroic tales. After all, just like my parents, I also leave no stone unturned to ensure she has a happy, trouble-free childhood. With her adventures being restricted to the monkey-bar in kids’ play-area.

I wonder why we undermine the ‘ordinary’ so much? Why is it not worth writing about? Why it fails to inspire us?

My father could cook a full meal for himself, and for anyone else who cared to eat. My mother was both highly educated and financially independent. And thus today I find paying EMIs is as much my responsibility, as buying grocery is my husband’s. Both my husband and I have clear and vivid memories of growing up amongst grand-parents and cousins. And we strive to give the same to our daughter. From soaking in monsoon rains, to coming back home with bruised knees, from sharing school lunch-box to fighting over petty issues, we wish the same for her.

I wasn’t swept off my feet by a ‘prince’. Neither did he travel far and wide in my search. Nor did I win any ugly battle to win his heart. And yet, I am living the ‘happily ever-after’ of my fairy-less tale. Punctuated with challenges, troubles, sorrows and worries, the saga of this ‘ordinary’ girl continues.