THINK POSITIVE

  Recently, I unexpectedly reconnected with a friend I had known couple of years ago. Time had passed, but some things about him hadn’t changed. He was still the same hardworking, focused, and dedicated individual I remembered. There was always a smile on his face - not forced, but natural. He carried an energy that was lively yet composed. He approached every task with enthusiasm and was always ready to extend a helping hand whenever extra work needed to be done. I had always seen him as someone calm and balanced. His steady nature made me assume that he was well-settled and content in life. He seemed like the kind of person who had everything under control. I was wrong. A few weeks after reconnecting, on an ordinary day, I noticed him going through the details of a new car model. Curious, I casually asked if he was planning to buy one. He replied that he was just looking into it for someone else. Out of interest, I asked whether he had plans to buy one for himself an...

Happy 79th Independence Day!! We celebrate freedom every year, but do we actually understand it? Or has freedom become an excuse to break rules and forget our responsibilities? This 15th August morning, I woke up to the disturbing noise of loud exhausts and continuous honking by a group of bikers near my home. It instantly took me back to my good old school days when Independence Day carried a very different vibe—a sense of pride, a feeling of freedom, and a day filled with the reverberance of patriotic songs and themes. However, these days, at least in my city, the occasion has sadly turned into an excuse to create nuisance on the roads through bike rallies, blaring exhausts, endless honking, and blocking traffic. Many young people think this is what freedom means—to break rules, behave in an uncivilised manner, and act as if they are above the law. This left me wondering: Is this the freedom we got, or the one we chose? Over time, the memory of India’s great struggle for independ...

On a pleasant Sunday evening, I was savoring Panipuri with a friend at a roadside stall. The spiciness of the ‘Paani’ had both my eyes and mouth watering, and I was thoroughly enjoying it. I even asked the vendor for another plate. As I indulged in the crispy panipuris, I noticed a man walk up to the stall with his wife and three daughters. At first, I thought they were there for some snacks as well, but they stood across the road, while only two of the daughters approached the vendor with excitement. I assumed the parents weren’t interested in having any. The older of the two daughters asked the vendor the price of Panipuri, and he replied, “Rs. 40 per plate.” In an instant, their excitement faded, replaced by polite smiles, and they returned to their father. Even though I was across the road, I could overhear their conversation. The father, shaking his head, said, “It’s too expensive,” and firmly declined. They all walked away, empty-handed. Although the thought of helping crossed my...

I'm a Coldplay fan! When it was announced that Coldplay was hosting a concert in India, I was over the moon, thinking I might finally get a chance to see them live. But to my disappointment, the tickets sold out within minutes. Today, some of those tickets are being resold on platforms like Viagogo for a jaw-dropping ₹9.9 lakhs. Yes, you read that right—₹9.9 lakhs for a concert ticket! What really surprised me, though, was seeing people crying on social media about missing out on the tickets, as if it was the end of the world. Intrigued, I dug deeper and found interviews where many admitted they weren’t even that familiar with Coldplay’s music. They simply didn’t want to miss out on what was deemed " the event of the year" . I couldn’t help but think: Really? I also noticed this phenomenon in other aspects as well.  It's interesting, and a bit disheartening, to think that something as deeply personal and spiritual as a holy journey could be influenced by FOMO (Fear o...

(Illustrative image) It was a festival morning, and I found myself soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of the day. I sat in the balcony, watching people pass by in their festive attire, their faces glowing with joy and celebration. The air was filled with laughter, the aroma of special dishes, and the spirit of festivity.   Amidst this colorful scene, my attention was drawn to a woman walking down the road. She was dressed in ragged clothes, holding an infant in her arms. Two small children, likely around 3 to 5 years old, trailed behind her, barefoot. One of the younger ones stumbled and fell, scraping his knees on the hard ground. I watched, expecting the usual reaction - a cry for comfort, tears welling up in the child's eyes, and a mother rushing to console him. But to my surprise, none of that happened. The mother turned back, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. The child, with a look of quiet determination, got back on his feet, dusted off his scraped knees, and continued w...