Author - Jui Purohit.

 "You've to score good grades at school!" "You've to do your Olympiads!" "You need to have a co-curricular activity or some sports activity!" "You should be able to dance or sing or play a musical instrument!" Oh my my! So much pressure on these little one's learning to adapt and traverse the lanes and by lanes of this complicated world. "But its a rat race! He/she needs to figure it out sooner. Studies, career, universities, the stress builds up as they advance into their grades (classes), isn't it?" Yes, true. It's a tough task for the coming generations. Population is ever increasing. Even though the colleges and courses are increasing in numbers but we have no say on the quality of education they impart. Also the leading universities and colleges are always the first priority, obviously. So the newbies are looked down upon. Also the reservations hinder the paths of many. Well, so what score is a good enough score...

  And 2024 ends..... What a roller coaster ride!  Every year passes by and the new year comes afore, leaving you with something and making you leave something.  It would be quite odd if time doesn't indoctrinate our minds. This year taught me so much, like the previous one and the prior ones too! I have learnt valuable lessons thanks to 2024. The year was challenging, demanding yet gratifying.  What I grasped this year would be exemplar for rest of my life!  The fear of losing your close ones, leaves you petrified. While the close ones are battling, struggling with all their mights, you feel helpless even when you have honest intentions of support. Mental support, yes that can be given in abundance, there's no ceiling to it. But the one you intend to support is going through so much that sometimes just being there, showing up is also helpful.  Sleepless nights, nightmares haunted me for days. But then when you see them valiantly striving and vanquishing the...

 Victor got up early today. He made his tea, as usual. He skipped reading the newspaper, instead rushed to take bath. At the age of 70, he was quite fit. He lived alone, doing things on his own. There was a maid who helped him with basic chores. But maintaining his garden, making his tea and breakfast, folding his laundry, cleaning his room...all this, he did independently. Today was a special day! He took out his favorite coat from the cupboard. He had already ironed his white shirt and blue trousers. " This coat goes well with the combination", he affirmed to himself. He got dressed up, sprayed some perfume, combed his grey hair in a neat partition. He smiled looking into the mirror, " Blue is her favorite color ", he murmured. " Kya saab? Aaj itna tayar hoke...date pe jaa rahe hai kya?", his maid asked, jokingly. If he had a daughter, she would be of the same age, as the maid. So, they used to have funny conversations, always. " Ha date pe hi jaa r...

 Jaya never talked about it. She always thought that she would be made fun of. No one took her foreboding seriously. When ever she was with someone in a car she would get jolted at crossroads. Her feet hitting the floor of the car even in passenger seat, trying to brake urgently. When she drove herself, her heart would skip a beat while at the crossroads. It was the same even on a scooter or motorbike. When riding pillion she would grab her husband's back tightly and squeeze her eyes shut. "Kyun darti hai itna Jaya", "Arey, don't speed up, varna Jaya darr jayegi", "Yeh back seat driving band kar yaar Jaya", was what Jaya would often hear when travelling with friends. They took her phobia for her cowardice. Jaya took those comments as joke, not taking to her heart. They were Jaya's friends after all. The other day Jaya was driving alone, as usual she slowed down at the crossroads. As if crossing the road on foot, she glanced at both the sides fo...

  Woman, even if you are one, you would agree, cannot be put into a certain mould. She is different from you in many a ways yet similar to you in some or the other way. And when you travel with a bunch of such assorted ladies, its dire fun. Don't give grammar replete significance always. Yes I know that's irony right there....'dire' 'fun'? But you must experience it to understand. And if you haven't experienced yet, get together and plan an all women's tour.  It starts from shopping for the journey. Well yes, women plan a shopping tour, however they love to shop ahead of the tour too. Just another reason to meet and also to confirm what the counterpart is carrying along. She shouldn't miss what others are wearing...right? Moreover repeating costumes for every trip is a strict no! The unsaid rule is; you click pictures and they should look distinct, never redundant.  She tries several colours and multiple fits. Shorts shouldn't be too short and fu...

 "Why don't you look at me the way the male lead looks at his heroine in this drama series?" Jiya asks Nirav. Nirav glances at Jiya who is watching her favourite Korean drama on the mobile. Nirav is busy in giving finishing touches to his presentation he has in the office the next day. Simultaneously, listening to his playlist on Spotify. He doesn't bother to answer that question.  Jiya pauses the drama, takes a look at her husband who has all eyes on his laptop. She thinks, "Doesn't he care anymore?". And her soliloquy disheartens her. She plays the drama again to distract her thoughts.  Nirav and Jiya have been married for three years now. Both are working for reputed companies, doing seemingly good at respective jobs. While studying engineering both fell in love with computers and each other. And from then have been together. "Korean drama heroes have eyes oozing with affection as if shooting hearts, pink, fuscia, purple, orchid, lavender, crimso...

  "In the end it doesn't even matter..." goes the famous song by Linkin Park band. They say that however hard you try, in the end its going to cease to be.  Well, yes! But does that mean you shouldn't be living at all? People strive their whole lives to be better, to earn more, to be happier, is it all in vain? I don't think so. The phase you are in, you need to enjoy that. Yes it will not be forever but the moment matters. To say it doesn't matter would be harsh.  People work hard to make a place for themselves, build a dream adobe, decorating it as and when they assimilate some wealth. They want to make sure that there are enough assets created for them to not become liability for others, in the future. Slogging and hustling, they try to move forward as far as they can and until they can endure. Premiums are paid, spending their precious youth, to be able to sustain the senescent years of their lives.  "Aging is just another word for living" - Cind...