Karan was an ordinary college student. He belonged to a middle-class family and lived in a small rented room near campus. His mornings started with the sound of a cheap alarm clock, rushing to classes, and standing in the long line for the canteen tea. Life was simple, sometimes too simple for him.
But Karan had one weakness—social media. Every night, after finishing his assignments, he scrolled endlessly through Instagram and Facebook. What he saw there made him feel smaller with every passing day.
His friends were traveling to Goa, clicking pictures at luxury cafes, buying the latest iPhones, and wearing expensive clothes. Their profiles were filled with wide smiles and glowing success.
When Karan looked at his own life, he only saw second-hand books, cheap shoes, and the same dull hostel walls.
"Why is my life so boring?" he thought.
"Why can’t I have what they have?"
Slowly, comparison became poison. His self-confidence broke piece by piece. He stopped enjoying little things like cricket in the park, late-night maggi, or chatting with friends. Instead, he sat alone, scrolling, comparing, sinking deeper into sadness.
One evening, his college organized a cultural fest. Music was playing, people were dancing, and laughter filled the air. But Karan, instead of joining, sat quietly in a corner, staring at his phone.
That’s when Laxmi, his classmate, noticed him. She walked up and asked softly,
“Karan, why are you sitting here alone? Everyone is enjoying, but you look lost.”
Karan gave a weak smile. “I don’t fit in, Laxmi. Look at everyone’s life online—it’s full of excitement and success. Mine is nothing compared to theirs. I feel… invisible.”
Laxmi listened carefully. Then she said something that shook him.
“Karan, you’re comparing your real life with someone’s highlight reel. Do you think those smiling pictures show the whole truth? Nobody posts their failures, their tears, or their struggles. Social media is a mirror that hides reality.”
Karan looked at her, surprised. He had never thought this way.
Laxmi continued, “Happiness is not in likes or comments. Happiness is in living your real life. Your struggles, your honesty, your dreams—that’s what makes you unique. Don’t let a screen decide your worth.”
For the first time, Karan felt lighter. That night, he kept his phone aside and picked up his old diary. He wrote:
“From tomorrow, I will stop comparing. My life may be simple, but it is mine. And I will live it fully.”
Days turned into weeks. Karan slowly changed. Instead of wasting hours online, he started studying with focus, playing cricket with friends, and helping juniors with their projects. He discovered that when he stopped comparing, he started living.
One day, he posted something different on his social media. Not a filtered picture, not a fake smile, but a simple note:
“Life is not about showing off. Life is about living. Don’t believe everything you see on screens. Behind every perfect post, there is a hidden story.”
To his surprise, that post received more comments than anything else he had ever shared.
“True words, Karan.”
“Exactly what I needed today.”
“Thanks for reminding me this.”
Karan smiled—not because of the likes, but because his words had touched people.
Laxmi, standing beside him, said proudly, “See? The moment you accepted your real life, you became an inspiration for others.”
Karan realized something powerful: The most attractive story is not the one told through filters, but the one lived honestly.
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🌟 Moral:
Social media shows glitter, not truth. Real happiness begins the moment you stop comparing and start valuing your own journey.
