There are so many instances of students saying that they are under a huge strain and tantamount pressure but the question which actually arises is that who is putting this pressure on them? The answer to this I believe is the expectations of parents and students themselves, on a child who might have proved brilliant in their childhood. Parents believe that if our kid takes to studies all of the problems will be solved. They will land a good job, get married and then settle down in life but is that really all that life has to offer? We are not getting another chance at this life and to not live it to the fullest would be an insult to the wonders that the world has hidden in its nooks and crannies. Who decides what age there is to get married? What job is considered high class and which is considered low class? Why should we plan out our life every step with no room for adjustment instead of living it as it goes and learning along the way? These sure are rhetorical questions which make me lapse into thought as to what we call progress, is that actually progress? Or is it just us in delusion thinking that we are leading the future generation forward but instead actually bringing them closer to their doom? It’s high time for parents to understand that their kids have their own dreams and ambitions and before passing your burden onto them just stop to consider whether they are willing to take it or not. Just saying that we birthed you and fed you and raised you is not enough- that was your choice and when the time comes we will do the same but the life that parents have bestowed upon us is ours, not an experiment to try out whatever did not work for you. If you weren’t able to do it for whatever circumstances doesn’t mean that the torch has to be given to the next generation. Let them try out things on their own, broaden their horizons. Please stop imposing your will on your kids because it does no good, neither for you nor for them.

A Reflection

Her eyes were dry, devoid of any tears, She hid her feelings behind a smile so wide; But her spirit was breaking- her very foundation, Slowly shattering her on the inside.

She never wanted what the world expected of her, And stayed in a delusion her entire lifetime; But it is far too late to give up, to put a stop, For it will be labeled no less than a crime.

Her dreams and hopes were never even thought of, Nobody cared of what she actually desired; She was merely a puppet in the hands of the world, Of hurting her they never got tired.

But then she rose like a beacon of hope, Breaking the glass that confined her wings; Soared into the moonlit sky, free from her bonds, Savouring the exhilaration only freedom brings.

She was no longer a suppressed bird, But a lioness- ferocious for her own rights; For she'd realised that no one would fight for her, And so she'd celebrate her every triumph and mights.

I posted the launch of India’s third space mission on the 14th July, 2023 namely the Chandrayaan III, and am proud to announce that India successfully made it to the moon. We landed at 12 minutes past 6 pm circling the moon from the South Pole and becoming the first country to do so. The lander Vikram touched the surface of the moon on 23rd of August, making the entire country proud 🥲 and Indians raving about our space science achievements.

CONGRATULATIONS 🎉 INDIA

The never ending summer months had taken a toll, The harsh Sun 🌞 glared down at Earth, Ice and cold water provided no relief, For the sultry weather was at its peak.

The months rolled by in a daze of heat, Animals and plants suffered alike everyday, But finally the prayer of the hundreds was heard, For clouds gathered above making the leaves sway.

What started as a light shower was soon a resounding thunderstorm, The raindrops fell in a clatter on the roof, The sound of falling water was music to my ears, As the heavenly aroma of wet earth filled the air.

We ran out to welcome the rain and the relief it brought, As the Sun hid behind the massive clouds, The grass looked greener, the flowers looked alive, As nature too rejoiced the arrival of rain.

HAPPY MONSOON 🩵🩵🩵

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME...

A place of an unforgettable past, a city that has seen more change than any other in the world, where history resides in every nook and cranny, the shooting location of some of the most legendary films, where you can find the perfect fusion of old and new- it was a dream come true to visit London and feel its old and experienced heart beat through my veins...

The summer break of 2023 brought with it the prospect of visiting the capital of England as we geared up for the vacation- packing loads of clothes and accessories, shopping and most importantly applying for the UK Visa. The grant of the visa required us to travel to Delhi for the confirmational check of our documents as the UK authorities impose strict conditions on those traveling in and out of the country. We boarded the Air India flight to London’s Heathrow Airport on the 15th of June, 2023 with exhilaration building up in our souls and excitement flooding our hearts. London, as we know is four and a half hours behind the Indian Standard Time and thus, we landed in the early hours of the morning, a little jet lagged because of the time difference. That however did not stop us from hailing a taxi and heading to Central London. The first views of the city did not disappoint- picturesque houses lined the roads, fashion outlets could be seen at every corner but all the while the one thing that caught my eye was how old and new fit together so perfectly. The houses had post boxes and protruding balconies, something that you do not get to see in any other metropolitan city. A number of bright red double-decker buses carried people as an everyday commute. Checking in at the hotel, we dropped our luggage off at the room, freshened up and headed straight out for an afternoon of sightseeing. The very first place on our list was the infamous Tower Bridge, more popularly the London bridge. A huge imposing structure, built brick by brick with hand, the London bridge was a sight to behold. Tourists could also go right up to the top of the bridge and take in the marvellous view of the river Thames below.

The next day was completely devoted to visiting all the major landmarks that London is famous for. We bought the tickets for the Hop-on Hop-off buses that toured the entire city and climbed aboard. The bus dropped us off at the London eye, a gigantic Ferris Wheel that takes tourists a full round and from where you can see the entire city of London from an eagle eye perspective. The city unfurled before us like a map teeming with people and activity. Our next stop was the Big Ben, a tower that dominates the bank of Thames, seems as though plated with gold and attracts tourists and salesmen alike. After spending a good one hour at the tower, we headed to Lords- the stadium that gained fame for the 1983 World Cup which of course, India won under the captaincy of Kapil Dev. It was nerve-racking to stand in those grounds where we lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time and I could feel the cheering of the Indians all those years back pulse through my body. Madam Tussauds is another famous studio which would have been a shame to miss so that is where we went next. The wax idols of all our famous stars as well as a joy ride through London’s history made for a spectacular experience.

The next day, we visited the Buckingham Palace, a definitely go to location if you’re in London. The dimensions of the palace were such that they did not fit into our phone cameras! The late Queen’s guards were stationed outside the doors standing to attention. We also toured the Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, famous marketing landmarks of London where you find everything from restaurants to boutiques.

Having covered all the major sites, we decided to take the train to Oxford- home to the prestigious Oxford University where students from all countries and all walks of life dream of studying in. The university has 22 colleges dedicated to different subjects and we could see pupils going from one place to another or enjoying their free time on the sunny afternoon. We had lunch in an Indian restaurant right in the city centre and headed back via train. With more than half of the day remaining to us, we visited Southall, the small part of India which has seeped through London. We were amazed at all the sweet shops and street food counters that highlighted the place. Entire Indian families could be seen doing their shopping or buying their daily vegetables.

The next day we spent at Cambridge, another university only an hour’s train ride away from London. Cambridge is the home of one of the greatest scientists we know today, Isaac Newton. It is said that the tree from which he saw the apple fall which led to the discovery of gravity is still planted there. After an afternoon of sightseeing, we went to Harrods, a posh shopping centre in London. Women of aristocratic families flanked the huge building that housed every fashion brand found in the world today- from Louis Vuitton to Chanel, and from Charlotte Tilbury to Gucci. The prices made our heads reel, the lowest of them starting at 2000 pounds. It was a major tourist attraction where people just came to sit and enjoy the view, occasionally eat a bite or two.

We ended the tour with a visit to Greenwich zero-degree meridian and the Tower of London, which is home to the Kohinoor diamond, stolen from India all those centuries ago. It now resides in the crown of the current monarch and is on display for the public whenever King Charles III does not wear it. A visit to Kings Cross station was a must as we boarded the train to take us to the airport. Platform 9 and three quarters was on display while a huge shop housing Harry Potter merchandise took up a large part of the station.

We boarded the flight home with memories and experiences that will be engraved in our hearts for all eternity, with a kind of wistful sadness for going away from that amazing city and with souvenirs to remember our trip and cherish it deeply for every day to come.

The ongoing most talk-of-the-town project that India has been successful in accomplishing is the launch of Chandrayaan-III on the 14th of July,2023. The Indian Space Research Organization has been working tirelessly round the clock for the third attempt of the landing of a satellite on the moon. The second one, most unfortunately, though have made a successful landing on the lunar body was not able to send any useful data our way because of damage due to landing impact. This is the reason why India attempts to make a soft landing, making it the fourth country after USA, China and the former Soviet Union to be able to do so, if successful. The satellite is aboard the heavy-lift LVM3-M4 rocket and took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra's Sriharikota. Thousands of cheering citizens gathered to watch this historic milestone in India's space research and millions more tuned in live from television. The journey from Earth to moon is estimated of about a month with the landing date expected on August 23. Technicalities, however might postpone or prepone the landing. The satellite is designed to operate for a single lunar day, which is 14 Earth days thus giving ISRO Bengaluru scientists ample time to study the surface of this remarkable lunar body. The satellite is equipped with a lander, rover and a propulsion module and has an impressive weight of 3900 kilograms. Spanning a distance of 300,000 kilometers, it is said to reach the moon in the coming weeks.

India's space research has been highly significant in the past years with the mission to Mars raising our reputation in the world of planets for all eternity. Being the first nation to reach Mars in the very first attempt with a limited budget and continual criticism in tow, we have long earned our respect in the field. The might of the country and its citizens stands behind ISRO's attempt to take us even further in line and wish it all the very best for a successful landing on the moon.

A final goodbye

I was four when I stepped through the threshold of those gates, into a world I never knew I would come to love as my own. Although my memory of that moment does not stand witness to my feelings, I'm pretty sure I felt apprehensive entering the school buildings full of strangers and people so much taller and older than me. But today as I stand watching those very gates in class XII, I can't help but wish that I could live all of it once again. It seems impossible that 13 years have passed since that day and I'm ready to walk out of my school life into the actual world awaiting my destiny. A lot of seniors before me talked about how they made memories one can only find in dreams and now when the time has come for me to pass on the torch to my successors, I realize that they were not lying. Looking back, I laugh at the absurd situations I managed to get myself into and how my teachers always gave me a second chance. My feelings are bittersweet for the moments I've had the privilege to experience and how I'll never be able to live that time again. When I look at those toddlers carrying heavy bags and Milton bottles around their necks, my eyes brim with emotion for we were all there once in that place, young and naive and innocent. Everything that I call my achievement is something I owe to my school who has been more that family, in each one of my endeavors, always ready to accept me the way I am. My school has made me the person I was meant to be, not the person I should have been. It has given me wings to soar, to dream, to explore and such is the beauty of school life, it never comes back but those memories are the only ones we remember until our last breath. I am proud to say that I am passing out from school with everything a student could wish for, with a heavy bag full of stories, of idiotic things we did together and with lessons learnt for a lifetime.

London- a place of an unforgettable past, a city that has seen more change than any other in the world, where history can be found in every corner, the shooting location of some of the most legendary films including DDLJ, Double XL and Harry Potter, where you can find the perfect fusion of old and new, where machines were born- it was a dream come true to actually stand on the ground of this city and feel its old and experienced heart ❤️ beat through your veins.. 😍😍😍

Harry Potter is forever.. the books of the season and my most favourite read ever.. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Failure- one of the most scariest things that human civilisation has had the misfortune to face. Every person with a dream is supposed to go through it to achieve their ambition. But the real problem is that the hundreds out there give up after the first dose. This might seem like an age old sermon but the truth is what we hear from motivational speakers that you need to keep trying, ladies and gentlemen, it is not easy to bounce back. I totally agree that it’s horribly hard to go back and pursue the same thing once you’ve failed but that is no excuse to give up. It might be a bit difficult at first but just remember that if you let it go, it will hurt more. The regret will fester itself in you that I could have tried. Never let the words ‘I wish I had’ enter into your life because that can literally kill you. Just know that regret is always worse than failure. Life hurts- that is it’s job but it’s our responsibility to not let that bring us down. It’s bad enough that failure tries its best to crush you but if that thought enters our mind, there is no hope.

So people buckle up and chase your dreams no matter how far they seem, how distant they try to get!!! 😍😍😍

No matter how high the temperature, how sultry the days and how stuffy the air- the evenings are always an amazing time to sit outside with a cup of steaming coffee and my favourite novel…

HOPE

When all seems lost, The world and your future looks bleak; A word comes which sounds small, But stops you from growing weak.

There come moments when life doesn't seem worth living, When people become difficult to deal with; That is when the word comes into play, Conveying all that we fail to say.

The scarcity of love in this world, Is something that has sucked out happiness from most of us; We only want to look at the worst of things, And the world is deteriorating thus.

What we need is a little compassion, The reduction of competition; The word I've talked about will not let you mope, For it's called hope...

A reverie in the mountains

Those breathtaking, gradually descending mountains, Leading to the sparkling rivers; Those rocky, hazardous slopes, That will give you the shivers.

Those appealing and magnificent pines, Lining those endless ranges; Those dangerously hanging rocks, Witness to a million changes.

The bell from the temple chimes, Just as the sun peeks out from the summits; Streaking the sky a brilliant orange, Indifferent to the changing times.

A gentle breeze flows through the clouds, Rustling the leaves and flowers; The sound is like music to the ears, Blowing away all of one's fears.

It feels like heaven when, The hundreds of stars form a perfect dome; Whenever I experience all of this, It seems like I'm finally home.

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. - Albert Einstein Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself. - Coco Chanel Don't feel stupid if you don't like what other people pretend to love. - Emma Watson

A few few quotes by some famous names... 💕💕❤️❤️👌👌

A WISH COME TRUE

A gentle breeze ruffled through her hair, sending her unruly wisps tumbling behind her, the grass looked greener than usual and her heart seemed to be singing in her chest- welcoming the gorgeous day and celebrating for all it was worth. It felt like a dream when he proposed to her the night before, declaring his love for her finally after a wait of weeks and months. Sasha twirled about the meandering path for it all seemed too good to be true as she made her way to her college. Her best friend, Julie hugged her as she entered the magnificent building and hankered after her to know what happened after they left.

Chris was the college heart throb, sought out by all of the popular girls, the most persistent of whom was Mira, the head cheerleader. She made her feelings evidently clear and everyone thought the two of them would get together eventually, being the most popular and stuff. Sasha had harboured a secret crush on him for ages but she knew he was far out of her league and she was nothing but a nobody to him. So she just satisfied herself by stealing glances at him in their common Psycology class and getting disappointed when he never looked back. Years had passed with the same routine and Sasha never dated, her feelings never wavered. Before she could realise it, they were in the fourth and final year of college and the ever awaited annual prom was just round the corner. Guys made a big deal of asking their girlfriends out for it- the entire batch was plunged into excitement and readying themselves for the big day. But surprisingly, Chris did not ask anyone for being his partner. Why the guy did not have a girlfriend already was something Sasha failed to decipher. He was everything a girl could wish for- smart, handsome, popular and even caring. She knew that firsthand because he'd helped her during the Cultural Fest when she hadn't been able to get the hang of the dance choreography. He was the only one patient enough to bear with her and her disastrous steps. They'd had great fun dancing together, preparing her for her performance and that was when Sasha realised it wasn't just a crush anymore. His warm smile, deep voice and over-the-top lame jokes had sent her stumbling into love.

She'd not yet lost hope although it was foolish on her part to expect him to ask her but she still turned down every one of the guys who actually asked her, making her scared that she'd have to go alone after all. Mira was throwing a huge birthday party to celebrate her 20th and she'd invited everyone in the batch. Rumour had it that Chris was publicly going to ask one of the girls for the prom and had already kept a track of the guys who'd asked her and was sure she hadn't said yes as yet. Julie went mad because she was sure that the chosen one would be Sasha but she was sure that it had to be Mira, the best birthday gift awaited her. Nevertheless, she put on her dazzling black halter dress and decided to get over Chris and move on in life- he clearly loved someone else. She and Julie reached the venue together and met up with a few of their friends, enjoying the party and the picturesque terrace restaurant Mira had chosen. She does have good taste, I must admit- Sasha thought wistfully looking down at the glittering city of New York. The blaring of music interrupted her thoughts as Mira called all of them to the dance floor and have a blast. Girls paired up with boys and only Chris and Sasha remained without a partner. He came up to her and took her by the hand, grinning broadly and she too reminisced about the days of the Cultural Fest, smiling a little. He led her to the center of the floor and she panicked like she always did with the hundreds of eyes settled on her and she had to do her least favourite activity in the world, dancing. She tried to tell this to Chris but he suddenly took her by the waist and stared deep into her eyes, rendering her incapable of stringing two coherent words together. They slow danced and people were glaring at her but for Sasha nothing existed other than this dashing guy in front of her, in his black tuxedo, his chocolate-brown eyes and his pitch black hair who was looking at her as though she was the most beautiful girl in the world. The song waltzed to an end and to Sasha's greatest astonishment, Chris went down on one knee in front of the entire college final year batch and proposed to her!! Not just for the prom but also to be his girlfriend, saying that he'd been mustering the courage for this for the past three years and that he'd loved her at first sight, the days of the Cultural Fest were his favourite time of college as well and that he loved her for laughing at his lame jokes. She couldn't help but cry for this was the proposal she'd always hoped for and he stood up, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb.

People left them alone after that and they talked for hours, Sasha was literally glowing with happiness. He told her all about how he'd hoped for her attention all these years and she confessed how she'd done the same. The two laughed at their idiocy, thinking how better it would have been to just tell each other how they felt. Just before the night ended, Chris pulled her in for an unexpected kiss, causing fireworks to explode in her stomach. Her brain melted and she lost all sense of her own self, forgetting even her own name. He grinned at her and carried her all the way to her car only because she'd said her feet hurt. Love was just beginning and it was sure to be a memorable journey.

My favourite colour

The colour of the mighty Sun, The colour of the rubber band in my bun; The colour of golden butter, The colour of butterflies that flutter.

It is such a beautiful one, So mesmerizing to look at; It will leave you stunned for a moment, It is loved by all- be it thin or fat.

It's the colour of the buttercups, The colour of the tigers who bellow; I hope that you've got the hint, That my favourite colour is yellow.

Takeoff 😍😍😍