# **Dear Diary... I Am Priya**

The Little Princess of a Joint Family "Every story doesn't begin with a hero. Some stories begin with a little girl. And mine started the day my father held me in his arms for the very first time." "Her name will be Priya," my father said with a smile. "Because she will always be loved by everyone." And just like that, I became Priya. I was born into a joint family. Our home was filled with life—my grandparents, my uncle and aunt, my parents, my younger uncle and aunt, and a house full of cousins. The house wasn't very big, but the love inside it was endless. There was always laughter echoing through the courtyard. Someone was cooking in the kitchen. Someone was calling out from the terrace. Children were running around the house. And in the middle of all that chaos... There was me. The little princess of the family. I always wore two little ponytails, and my baby-cut hair made everyone say how adorable I looked. My cousins loved teasing me by pulling my ponytails. I'd puff up my cheeks in anger, pretending to be upset. Everyone would burst into laughter. Then someone would hand me a chocolate... And just like that, my anger would disappear. My childhood was simple. School in the morning. Playing hide-and-seek with my cousins in the evening. Listening to Grandma's bedtime stories at night. Life felt perfect. I had no idea that one day it would teach me lessons no child should have to learn. The first day I went to school, I was incredibly excited. A brand-new school bag. A matching water bottle. Freshly ironed uniform. And my neatly tied two ponytails. Before leaving, my mother smiled and said, "Always be kind to everyone." And that's exactly how I was. Friendly. Innocent. Always ready to make new friends. But not every child was kind. Some laughed at me for no reason. Sometimes they made fun of my handwriting. Sometimes they teased the way I spoke. Sometimes... they simply wanted someone to pick on. I never complained at home. Whenever Dad asked, "How was school today?" I always smiled and replied, "It was good." Maybe that's what children do. They hide their tears because they don't want their parents to worry. Academically, I was never the class topper. But I wasn't the weakest student either. I was... average. Whenever my report card arrived, my father would look at my grades, smile gently, and say, "Marks don't define a person. Character does." Back then, I didn't understand what he meant. Today... I do. When I turned ten, my father surprised me with something I'd been dreaming about. A brand-new bicycle. It felt like the greatest gift in the world. I couldn't stop smiling. There was only one tiny problem... I didn't know how to ride it. My cousins confidently declared, "Don't worry, Priya! We'll teach you." Well... They certainly tried. But somehow, I ended up becoming an expert at falling instead of riding. Sometimes into the grass. Sometimes onto the dusty road. And once, I almost landed beside a pile of cow dung. The whole family laughed so hard that tears rolled down their faces. Trying to save my dignity, I'd stand up, dust off my clothes, and proudly announce, "I meant to get off the bicycle!" That only made everyone laugh even louder. As Dad helped me pick up the bicycle, he smiled and said, "Whether it's a bicycle or life, balance only comes after falling a few times." At the time, it sounded like one of his usual life lessons. Years later... I realized those words would become the story of my entire life. When I entered second grade, life introduced me to my first real challenge. I moved from a private school to a government school. The teacher there was extremely strict. Silence filled the classroom the moment he walked in. One forgotten homework assignment... One wrong answer... And punishment was guaranteed. I was terrified of him. As if that wasn't enough, there was a girl in my class who constantly blackmailed me. "Do my work... or I'll complain to the teacher." Out of fear, I always did what she asked. That single year taught me something I would never forget. Not every smiling child is truly happy inside. Eventually, my parents made a decision. "Priya will stay with her grandparents for a while." At that moment, I had no idea... That the most beautiful chapter of my life was about to begin. A place where I would find love... Comfort... And the strength that would shape the woman I was destined to become. To Be Continued...