"Beyond the Mask: Lessons on Cruelty, Love, and the True Value of Life."

 "Beyond the Mask: Lessons on Cruelty, Love, and the True Value of Life."

Sometimes, we don't realize how cruel the world can be. It’s not always strangers who hurt you—often, it’s the people closest to you who play with your life. People make mistakes, but they often realize them too late. By the time they do, their lives have already changed. I may have made some wrong decisions myself, and I’m living with the consequences. These decisions may cause suffering, but over time, enduring that suffering can feel like a punishment.

But remember the days when you failed, the times when people made you feel small, or when they treated you poorly. One day, all of it will be repaid. That day will come for you too—a day when you can give back all the pain they caused. However, for that day to arrive, you must fight. Fight for your life with the hope that your time will come.

I have no respect for people who wear masks—who act like someone they’re not. You can pretend for a while, but you can’t hide behind that mask forever. One day, you will have to face the truth.

When you do something for a loved one, never say, "I did this for you" or "I spent this much on you." If you truly care about someone, you won’t keep score. If you do, it means you’re not acting out of love but out of expectation. Let me share a short story to explain this better:

There was a bird who got married and moved into her in-laws' house. She loved her new family deeply. But as time passed, they started saying hurtful things like, "We spent this much on your food," or "We spent this much for your stay." The bird began to feel isolated. She thought, "I believed this was my family. Why are they counting the costs? Am I not part of this family? The money is spent on them too, but that doesn’t seem to matter."

She realized that the people she thought were her own were treating her differently. The sad truth is that people in this world can be cruel. But no matter what, you have to live among them. You have to survive. Don’t let it bring you down—these are just your bad days. Your good days are coming. Hold on to that hope.

In today’s world, money has become the driving force, often at the expense of emotions. People put value on a piece of paper, forgetting about the value of human connection. Yes, money can feed you, cover your medical bills, and provide entertainment, but it cannot love you. It cannot give you the warmth of human emotions.

When you’re young and surrounded by money, it may feel like it’s all that matters. But one day, life will catch up to you, and you might find yourself wishing for a shoulder to cry on instead of more money. When that day comes, and if you find yourself completely alone, ask yourself—what was the true purpose of it all?

Pooja Mattapalli