Success Definition

Karunya contemplates about success. “Everyone wants to be successful. But then, what is the true meaning of success? Is it similar to happiness, a state of mind? Is there a yardstick to measure success?” she ponders.

I do not know how successful I am. But I’m successful in my own right. She smiles at the thought. The other day I had to rush for an audition to famous studios, Mahalaxmi. I brought the train ticket, and was waiting at Andheri station to board the train amidst the heavy crowd. Suddenly, a loud voice called me out, “Karunya, Karunya…”. When I turned back to the direction from where the voice came from, lo and behold, I found an ex-colleague standing on the opposite platform, surrounded by an ocean-like crowd to Vasai, with a bright smile on her face. I was pleasantly surprised. Immediately, I found people around me looking at me, smiling, people who were complete strangers.

Actually, my ex-colleague needn’t have addressed me, called out my name loudly. But, I guess she is quite fond of me to notice such oddities. I appreciated her sweet gesture. Who doesn’t want some kind of adulation? That’s perhaps what they call recognition. Though I would not term this as ‘being successful’. It’s just gratitude.

Some time back, when I was driving through the busy road near Mahakali caves, a bus full of staff inside passed by. Suddenly, they banged the bus walls and yet again called out my name. This brought a smile on my face. This too, I can tell, is nothing but fondness and recognition. Does this not signify being successful in your right? Doubt arises in my mind. I think it should not be misconstrued as success.

Or may be, you do command that respect. Like when you enter the mall for shopping and one of the staff members guides you throughout. That I think is attraction. Of course, here’s this young woman, with no one in the industry to back her, and who goes and visits production houses to ask for a probable role in her capacity. This is indeed commendable. The best part is that I have a steady monthly income to keep the kitchen running. What more can I ask for? So, I think that’s called success. Not that I have high aspirations to be a top star in the industry. I just want creative satisfaction. I think I deserve it.