The Introspective Chronicles

A Warrior's Smile: Remembering My Friend High school. Those years are a blur of classrooms, awkward moments, and the slow unfolding of who we were becoming. I met her then, during higher secondary. We shared the same school, her class right next to mine, yet she was a peripheral figure until an awards function brought her into sharper focus. Later, we found ourselves in the same class, she sitting in front of my group. We were among the few who didn't attend tuition classes, forging a unique bond, a "friendship of situation-ship," as I like to call it. Until 10th grade, academics came easily. I learned by listening in class, reflecting on the bus ride home, and applying concepts to the world around me. I embraced mistakes as learning opportunities, a stark contrast to the rote memorisation favoured by others. Consistently ranking above average, I never consciously set academic goals; it all just happened. Everything changed in higher secondary. The medium of instructi...

  From Heartbreak to Breakthrough: Reframing Emotional Setbacks Heartbreak—a word that encompasses so much pain. The sting of a romantic breakup, the gut-wrenching ache of betrayal, or the hollow feeling of abandonment—we’ve all been there or know someone who has. These emotional setbacks are universal human experiences. While the pain can feel overwhelming, even unbearable, it’s important to remember that every heartbreak has a mourning period. Feel the pain, acknowledge it, but don’t let it consume you. Do it, leave it, and don’t hold on to the hurt. Within that pain lies the potential for incredible growth. As Ed Sheeran in his song wisely said, "A life that's been loved is the one that is lived," and I would add: a life that has weathered storms is one that is strengthened. 1. Acknowledge the Pain, but Set a Mourning Period Feel the Pain : It’s important to let yourself grieve. A breakup is a loss, and like any loss, it deserves a mourning period. Don’t Hold On ...

Life Lessons from a Little Dog    Happiness always felt fleeting to me. I’d hold back from fully embracing joy, afraid of the inevitable sorrow that could follow. I lived cautiously, in a gray, cloudy state—neither sunny nor stormy—just existing. 'Bhagavath Geetha', a guiding presence in my life, echoed this philosophy: don’t aim too high, don’t feel too much. And so, I followed. Then, one day, a small, fluffy puppy entered our lives. My father brought him home, hoping his love and innocence would light up our moody household. At first, I hesitated and even asked my father to return him. What if I became too attached? What would happen after 10 years, knowing his life would be so much shorter than mine? My previous experience with pets as a child made me even more hesitant. But my parents didn’t listen to my pleas or commands—they decided to keep him. I declared I wouldn’t participate in any activities involving him and insisted he not enter my room. But his cuteness broke thr...

  The Blessing in Being Unplanned;                                         Being born as the second child, I just happened to my parents.I wasn’t in their plan—not when I arrived, at least.But they loved me wholeheartedly, even if they saw everything about me as “extra.” And that’s how I became the “extra” in my family. As a child, I didn’t always see it this way. There were moments when I felt neglected, moments when I misinterpreted their ease with me as a lack of love. My sibling would tease me endlessly, saying I was a child they picked up off the streets out of sheer kindness. And my parents? They played along, laughing at what they called a “universal joke.” But the kid in me didn’t find it funny. I created countless arguments and imaginary narratives, questioning why I was treated differently. A Blessing in Disguise It took years to see the truth. The diffe...