“Can We Talk About How Exhausting It Is to Always Be ‘Better’ Than Someone?”
Misha’s POV
They say comparison is the thief of joy.
In my family, it’s practically tradition.
I’m Misha.
Founder of my own marketing agency.
Mentor to women across the country trying to learn SEO.
Self-made, no shortcuts, no safety nets.
But none of that matters at family dinners.
Because I’m not Riya.
Riya, the corporate darling.
Chartered accountant.
Supposedly “so much more ahead” in life than me.
What they don’t know is —
I’ve seen her.
At the club where I used to work as a bouncer.
Slurring her words,
Grinding on strangers she won’t remember,
Crying in the bathroom stall because life isn’t what she promised herself.
You say she’s better?
Then why is she the one who calls her mum at 2AM sobbing?
Why is she the one ghosting work,
While I’m out here building my own business from the ground up?
They think I’m the one who “needs to get her life together.”
If only they knew.
Riya’s POV
Everyone says I have it all.
Great job, great guy, great grades.
But it’s all a performance.
The truth?
I hate my job.
I call in sick at least once a week —
Not because I’m unwell,
But because the hangovers are brutal.
Clubbing isn’t fun anymore.
It’s just a break from pretending.
A temporary blur from expectations.
At home, I smile.
At the club, I escape.
But every morning, I wake up
Feeling like a fraud.
I see Misha, and I envy her.
She doesn’t need anyone’s validation.
She owns her path — unapologetically.
She doesn’t owe anyone a version of herself she doesn’t believe in.
I wish I had that kind of peace.
Riya’s Parents’ POV
Riya is everything we hoped for.
High achiever.
Good company.
The example we set for the others.
Misha?
Well, she’s… different.
We don’t quite understand this “digital business” she runs.
We just want her to settle down.
Find stability.
It’s not criticism —
It’s concern.
Why can’t she be more like Riya?
Misha & Riya’s Siblings’ POV
It’s wild how the family talks.
Like Riya’s perfect and Misha’s rebellious.
But we’ve seen Riya break.
We’ve held her hair while she threw up.
We’ve seen her texts asking for a way out.
And then there’s Misha —
Running meetings, signing clients,
Helping other women chase independence.
The irony?
The “less successful” one
Is the one holding it all together.
Their Grandparents’ POV
We were raised to value quiet obedience,
But Misha’s spirit reminds us of something deeper —
Freedom.
They praise Riya,
But she’s drifting.
And Misha?
She’s rooted in purpose.
Success is not just a marriage proposal or a degree.
It’s peace of mind.
It’s sleep without guilt.
It’s building something that’s yours.
And one day, they’ll all see that.
Ending with Misha’s Thought
They compare us like we’re chapters in the same story.
But we’re different books.
Written in different languages.
You think I should be more like Riya?
Riya wishes she could be more like me.
Riya’s Final Thoughts
It’s funny how the girl they pit me against
Is the only one reaching out to pull me out of the dark.
Misha sends me wellness articles.
Checks in when she sees me spiraling.
And never once says “I told you so.”
She even helped me clean up my resume last week.
Said, “Whenever you’re ready to start again, I’ve got you.”
Kartik reached out recently.
He says he wants to try again —
But only when I’m ready.
When I’ve found myself, not the version everyone else wants.
For the first time in years,
I’m not performing.
I’m pausing.
I’m healing.
And maybe, just maybe,
Misha wasn’t behind me all along.
She was just running a different race.