Illusion.

An influential intellectual will shatter your existing illusion and leave you with another. Beware.

Don't let things be.

That message you typed but didn't send, that number you dialled but hung up, that feeling you had but didn't express, that poem you wrote but didn't share or that disappointment within that never came out- Life is too short to let things be. Send it, speak up, express, share and emote. Don't keep it within, it'll bring you peace, if nothing else.

What matters the most.

My inspiration.

I was in Australia for a fortnight and I had a lovely time there. Met inspiring people, visited scenic places, partied, made friends for life and traveled non-stop. All of this taught me just one very very crucial thing, that I believe I should share with all of you.

The problem.

Many of us blame our luck, the situation or destiny among other things, for goals we couldn't achieve, dreams we couldn't realize and passions we couldn't follow. We feel it was beyond us, it wasn't meant to be or that we couldn't have done better.

The reason.

You never really wanted to achieve, realize or follow.

If you had enough grit and really wanted to reach where you couldn't, you would definitely be in a much better place.

The solution.

These goals, ambitions and dreams should be like the necessary centre of your universe around which other minor luxuries revolve.

Let's take an example: A friend of mine loves to travel, but blames her monetary situation for not being able to do so. If travelling was really the centre of her universe, everything else would revolve around that passion- She'd save money wherever she possibly could, read and follow travel blogs from the world over, meet similar people and get to know their views, work overtime, etc. At the end of it all, she'd have all the resources required for a moderate trip, if not her dream one.

Here, the second aspect comes into pictures- the luxury of choice.

When we know we have a choice, we become complacent. When you have no choices, you're helpless, motivated, more determined and focussed than ever because you have no way out and you give it your all. You won't let it go wrong or fail, because that's all you've ever wanted to achieve. There will be no comfort zone for you as it lies beyond that success point and you're striving for that zone itself.

Summary.

Find out that one thing that matters, that drives you, that you live for, that you can die for. Let everything else- the smaller joys of life, your hobbies, friends, family, etc. revolve around that central objective. Let those factors adjust to the centre of your universe. Don't get complacent due to choice, you don't have any, remember? And most importantly, exhibit unimaginable grit that doesn't let you stop before the finish line.

Desperation.

Don't take someone's desperation (for you) for granted. It is fuel for your ego, self-esteem and confidence.

Fare thee well, brother.

I know we've not had the best of equations over the years. I know that we've not been 'brothers' and shared our problems with each other. But I also know that I have always cared for you and that you care for me too.

It's tough to see you go so far and for so long and I am so full of regret today for not having spent enough time with you, but at the same time I'm hopeful that tomorrow will be better, that you will nail it in Spain, come back stronger, smarter and wiser.

I know we'll not stay in touch blah blah, because your life is going to be way cooler than mine, haha! which is why I want you to keep in mind these 5 things that I think may help you in this journey:

1. Befriend.
Make friends wherever you go and choose your go-to people wisely. These friendships may last a lifetime. Your friends will shape your life and you will shape theirs. Make sure it's for the better.

2. Exhibit grit.
Exhibit grit and determination throughout and stay focussed. This is the most important trait that'll decide how far you go in life.

3. Stay humble.
Help, guide, care and lend a ear to those in need. Remember your roots and value the power of benevolence. Humility is magnetic, charming and sexy.

4. Make your choices.
You are not going there to live someone else's life and you are old enough to make your choices. Don't let any pressure bog you down and always back yourself. The choices you make will define you so seek advise but don't blindly take it.

5. I'm there.
There are moments when everything seems fucked up and life's a mess, these are moments when you need to sit back, take a deep breath and give time some time. I don't know if you will, but I want you to give me a call in such times and I promise we'll see it through, together.

I say good bye to you with utmost faith in your capabilities and trust in your decisions. Enjoy your time and travel the world, you have my travel tips and my wallet, always. Come back with that billion dollar idea and we'll do the needful, together. Cheers!

Say Hi! to Nadal.
Bye Diku!
Love you. Yes I do.

- your best friend to be,
Nukul.

Value those you love.

Those that you love may not be there with you tomorrow,
So express yourself and love them to the fullest,
Or you'll be left with lesser memories than sorrow.

#OneYearSinceDadiLeftUs #ValueWhatYouHave #KalHoNaHo

Take the leap.

If you know you can recover from the worst of falls, take the leap of faith. Because if it works out well for you, you'll be in a better place. If it doesn't, everything worked out as expected.

#OneLifeTakeTheLeap

The equation of relationships.

The simple equation I use when it comes to people:

If
(Happiness added by 'X' to your life) - (Stress caused by 'X' in the process) > 0

Then
'X' is worth your time.

Else, let go.

Nothing else does matter!

Online vs Offline

Don't celebrate the 'justice' for Nirbhaya.

16th December 2012.

'Reckless', 'Shameless', 'Silly' and 'Asking-for-it' Nirbhaya passed away.

Before that and ever since too, endless Nirbhaya's have got what they 'deserved'.

5th May, 2017.

Her rapists are sentenced to death. Of course, not all, as some kid got away with being 'naughty'.

Here we are, celebrating the sentence that comes after almost a 5 year ordeal for her parents. As if they hadn't suffered enough.

I don't know whether I should laugh at those who think of this delayed judgment to be a moment of celebration, or to apologise to the parents for being part of the society that put them through all this.

'She knowingly got on that suspicious bus'
'What was she doing at a late night show?'
'The guy must've been involved'
Blah blah blah blah.

I can't imagine what it would be like to even listen to such statements and not give a thought to it. Letting the inhuman souls breathe for so many years after that beautiful lady lost her life is not only ridiculous but is justice DENIED. Especially for a case that got so much media attention. I can only imagine how the low profile cases must be handled.

At the end of it all, I know you want to know what you can do to make a difference. I don't know if I have a concrete answer, but what I'd do is encourage women to open up about the 'smallest' of such humiliating instances, ensure that the ones who blame and shame the victim get a piece of my mind and most importantly, make the lives of such creeps miserable by shaming them publicly, etc.

Do these little things. They matter. PLEASE.

Fairness Cream Ads- Condescending or Fair Enough?

I'd love to share my views in short.

I believe that a fairness cream ad is just like a toothpaste, anti pimple cream or a suiting ad (many more examples can be cited).

Provided it does not highlight the 'before' phase as the phase of a dark skinned woman/ man rejected by every possible human being just on the basis of her colour. THAT IS INTOLERABLE. (Still a reflection of how we think, btw. Just like our movies)

I believe in calling a spade a spade and I won't be part of the 'trendy' narrative of these ads being unFAIR.

It is a product. It has a demand. If there was an ad for a tan machine, it wouldn't be racist, would it?

Would love to know your thoughts too, just in case your Saturday night is as boring as mine. Cheers ;)

Suicide

In wake of the recent suicides committed by youngsters, there's something I wish to share with you guys.

I'm 22. Like most others, I have big dreams. From being the Prime Minister to being the founder of the next unicorn or maybe a revolutionary activist, I dream of it all.

Because of the decent network of friends that I have, each day I get to read about their success stories on social media or see photos of their 'happening and cool' lives.

While comparing my life to theirs, I often say to myself that it's going nowhere for me. I'm nowhere close to where I want to be. My dreams seem more and more unrealistic each day.

I don't know where I'll end up and whether I'll be able to accomplish anything I've ever wanted to, but I make it a point to discuss this with those few friends and family members that understand me. It doesn't solve anything, but when my friend says, 'Abey tu chutiya hai yaar. Itna soch mat, chal milte hai, tujhe badminton mein haraata hu.', it makes me realise that life is beyond our dreams and goals. Life is about these little moments too. Those little moments of happiness, chiding, fighting, struggling and laughing.

I DON'T HAVE A HAPPENING LIFE. I AM NOT AS COOL AS MOST OF MY FRIENDS AND I DON'T GET TOO MANY 'LIKES' EITHER.

But I have friends who care about me and who I care about. We discuss things. We make this struggle called life, worth it.

So if you feel the same when you compare your life with your friends, please share it with an idiot friend of yours and laugh about it. Because life is not about anything that causes stress.

If you have anything to share, I'm listening. Please do so for someone who needs your ear too. Let's fight this together. :)

P.S I don't know whether it takes more courage to live or to commit suicide, because I have never been there and won't ever be there, but for all those who have ever thought of taking that drastic step, please don't give up. We can make this work. I promise.

Stop this 'meme'. Enough.

'Tag a Rahul who you want her to marry'

I appreciate humour. I endorse it. I enjoy it. But I don't propagate bullshit in the name of humour.

Those of you who have shared, liked, endorsed or even silently ignored friends that have done any of the above woh respect such posts, are as guilty as the filthy souls who make these in the first place.

You may like white/ thin/ tall people.
You may like black/ fat/ short people.
That's a choice.

But creating a narrative around your choice, generalising or passing a judgment based on your choices, openly influencing or condescending others' and humiliating those who don't fit into your physical 'filters', is WRONG.

I strongly condemn such measures and I request each one of you to do the same, explicitly.

That 'meme' could abet suicide, cause depression, influence gullible minds and what not. Please don't stoop so low in the name of 'fun'. There are other ways to go about it.

Work and passion

Make your work your passion. If you make your passion your work, it may slowly start seeming like work and you may have to search for something you're passionate about.

Confusion

Confusion is good. It means you're thinking. Unless you're thinking about whether you should think or not. In that case, don't think. Just think. Like you're thinking about what you just read.

It's Friday. Don't think too much. Just party hard.

Please don't give up.

In wake of the recent suicides committed by youngsters, there's something I wish to share with you guys.

I'm 22. Like most others, I have big dreams. From being the Prime Minister to being the founder of the next unicorn or maybe a revolutionary activist, I dream of it all.

Because of the decent network of friends that I have, each day I get to read about their success stories on social media or see photos of their 'happening and cool' lives.

While comparing my life to theirs, I often say to myself that it's going nowhere for me. I'm nowhere close to where I want to be. My dreams seem more and more unrealistic each day.

I don't know where I'll end up and whether I'll be able to accomplish anything I've ever wanted to, but I make it a point to discuss this with those few friends and family members that understand me. It doesn't solve anything, but when my friend says, 'Abey tu chutiya hai yaar. Itna soch mat, chal milte hai, tujhe badminton mein haraata hu.', it makes me realise that life is beyond our dreams and goals. Life is about these little moments too. Those little moments of happiness, chiding, fighting, struggling and laughing.

I DON'T HAVE A HAPPENING LIFE. I AM NOT AS COOL AS MOST OF MY FRIENDS AND I DON'T GET TOO MANY 'LIKES' EITHER.

But I have friends who care about me and who I care about. We discuss things. We make this struggle called life, worth it.

So if you feel the same when you compare your life with your friends, please share it with an idiot friend of yours and laugh about it. Because life is not about anything that causes stress.

If you have anything to share, I'm listening. Please do so for someone who needs your ear too. Let's fight this together. :)

P.S I don't know whether it takes more courage to live or to commit suicide, because I have never been there and won't ever be there, but for all those who have ever thought of taking that drastic step, please don't give up. We can make this work. I promise.

A Yes is a Yes.

I think we feminists have been explaining 'consent' in the wrong way, all this while.

Girls, you don't have to explain that 'A no is a NO.'

Guys must wait for a clear cut YES. Everything else must be assumed to be a rejection.

#YesOrNothing #LearnToTakeRejection #TheOnusIsOnUsMen

Anti-National

A long read, but trust me, it'll be worth your time. Even if you've not followed the issue at hand, at all.

The 'Anti-National' debate and its likes.

I have a LOT to say about this issue, but I suppose we have all had our share of frustrating social media discussions over the same in the last few days.

So I have tried to summarise my opinion about the ongoing Ramjas College debate and other similar instances of late, in 10 points:

1. Never make the mistake of making India an emotion. It is much more than that.

2. Before forming an opinion on any such issue, PLEASE READ ABOUT VIEWS THAT DO NOT RESEMBLE YOUR OWN VIEWS.

3. Branding someone is easy, what is difficult is to understand what the reason behind their opinion is.
Ex. Kashmiris and their pain is not fictional. It exists.

4. There are larger forces at work who intend to polarise our nation and make most of it, so think before you fall for a narrative. Ex. The 'anti-national' narrative.

5. A different opinion need not be taken as a personal attack. We are known world over for the unity in our diversity. Let's listen, debate and then conclude.

6. Idiots normally politicise and dramatise issues like the 'Army', 'The Indian Flag' and 'Religious Sentiments' to drive their argument. Don't fall for it. Ex. Saying that a section of the Indian Army is performing atrocities on Kashmiris, is NOT AN ANTI-NATIONAL ACT.

7. Cherry picked quotes, figures and facts are only publicised to divert our attention from the true issue at hand, which is the suffering of our own people.

8. Develop the art of reading news and follow diverse pages on Facebook as its 'show them more of what they like' algorithm is only polarising our world further.

9. Students are the future of this country and an open platform to debate is our biggest weapon to bring about change. Let's not let politics enter our campuses.

10. An Indian is like the child who loves his/her mother, stands by her side in good times and bad, proudly praises her for all she's done and at the same time, QUESTIONS/ CORRECTS her when he/she thinks she's going astray.

I don't know what I may be termed as when I grow up to bring about those changes that I intend to bring about in my motherland, but I know for a fact that I'm an Indian and a proud one.

For all the Pseudo Indians, I'd love to hear from you. That's what separates us. Jai Hind.

Bajaj Motorcycles Ad.

Ride into an open world.

I don't divide,
I don't discriminate,
I am what makes one,
From many who hesitate.

Looking for the silver lining,
I tear through the cages.
I am what tapes the cut,
Of beliefs, faiths and wages.

Instilling you with unending hope,
I inspire, I let you dream and leap.
Limits limit the commoners,
You're meant to fly and dive deep.

I salute, I respect and bow down,
No matter what flag is unfurled.
I am what let's you ride,
Ride into an open world.