Rajiv sat on the park bench as the late afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the playground. Children’s laughter floated through the air, free and untamed. He watched them run, carefree, and allowed himself a small smile. But beneath that warmth, a heaviness pressed against his chest. It had been there for years, quiet but persistent.
Earlier that morning, his friend Vinay had called. His voice carried exhaustion and frustration. I can’t keep up, Rajiv . Deadlines, late nights, endless meetings. I wish I had your peace.
Rajiv laughed softly, ironic. Peace? If only Vinay knew. Rajiv had health and time, yes. Yet he had lost his parents too soon. His small rented room was quiet and empty. Meals were eaten alone. There was no one to ask, “How was your day?” Life had given them both blessings and burdens, just in different measures.
Rajiv thought of childhoods he had never fully experienced. Friend’s homes filled with warmth and laughter. His own home had been small and silent. He had learned early that life doesn’t hand out equal pieces. Some grow up with abundance but without safety. Some grow up with love but without freedom.
Nobody gets everything.
Some have a house, but no family.
Some have wealth, but no sleep.
Some have respect, but no love.
Some have freedom, but no direction.
Some have childhood, but no safety.
Some have health, but no time.
Some have time, but no purpose.
Some have love, but no joy.
Then Rajiv realized something quiet and clear. What he had right now might be exactly what someone else was praying for. What he was still searching for might be the everyday reality of countless others.
For the first time in a long while, he stopped measuring his life against Vinay’s or anyone else’s. Life’s unfairness did not feel like punishment. It was simply life. And in that truth, there was a kind of freedom.
Rajiv leaned back on the bench, feeling the sun warm his face. Every morning offered a chance to understand who he really was. A chance to be a little light in someone else’s darkness. A chance to feel whole, even in the parts of life that hurt. Life may not give everything, but it always gives something. It is up to us to notice, to value, to use it.
Life is not about having it all. It is about seeing what you already hold and letting it matter. What in your life right now could someone else be praying for? What are you still searching for that might be someone else’s everyday truth?
Every sunrise is a reminder. There is still time to cherish what you have. There is still time to give light. There is still time to live with gratitude.
Author’s Note:
I wrote this piece not just as a story about Ravi, but as a mirror for all of us. Life is uneven, and sometimes we only see what we’re missing instead of what we already have. If this story made you pause or reflect, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your own reflections in the comments or reach out. I truly value your feedback.
—Vasanthi Velama
