Infinite Reflections

I hope most of the Indians can relate to what I am about to say. Chai is not just another beverage. It is a feeling, an emotion, a culture, and a tradition. To be honest, I am not a massive fan of the taste of chai, it's, of course, delicious, but that's not the reason why I drink chai. For me, chai is a getaway from reality beverage, taking a pause, taking rest, taking a break from all the work we do, to relish the short but precious moments we get every day. It is the emotional connection that I have with chai that makes it so special. I enjoy the journey and the ritual that I take while preparing the chai. You could say that why not coffee? Why I am talking about chai here and not coffee. Coffee is not an emotion. It does not require a ritual to be performed; it lacks the journey. While chai takes you into another realm where everything is okay. You forget your pains, you forget troubles, you forget your worries, you forget your work, you forget all the things that you need

Have you ever felt as though you've lived two lives? Wait, listen to me first before judging; by two lives, I mean not at the same time or two faces. What I mean is past lives, again not as in the past life before birth but past life like a few years ago. In the sense that certain parts of your life were so vastly different, yet eerily similar. It's as if you're living a whole new existence, but with the same events and experiences playing out.  Having done with defining the complex definition, I believe I have lived 2 lives.  First, when I was a child, I played, studied, went to college, learned, found a job, worked in Mumbai, and had ups and downs and all the emotions one can have in a lifetime. I faced it all. And then I moved to the US, and it was like my life had been reset. I again went to a university, studied, found a job, faced ups and downs, and started working again. Probably because I have a terrible memory, but to me, I consider the events before 2020 a part of

I came to the USA precisely 1 year, 8 months, and 15 days ago for my Master's. If you had asked me about doing a Master's 2.9 years ago, I would have laughed and said, "Not in this lifetime." But 2.9 years ago, I felt let's do something different in life, something painstaking, which hindered my peaceful sleep for 2 years. And I thought of doing a Master's from the USA. I got into New York University. I applied for Computer Science but instead got Computer Engineering. But when I checked the syllabus of Computer Engineering, I did not see much difference between CS and CE and then NYU it is. I wanted to do a Master's for three reasons: to earn loads of money, to learn more about Computer Science, and do something different in life. "Wait a minute, are you saying we just have one life? What!!! Are you serious! So you are saying a Human Being has to finish all the things they want to do and frame their whole life in just a few years. That's ridiculo

"Aye zindagi hui kahan bhool jiski humein mili ye saza, kahan se kahan laayi tu humein, hum se hai tu kitni khafa.." Whenever I hear these lines in Kishore Da's poignant voice, a pierce goes right through my heart, and suddenly, I don't feel anything, just numbness all around. Life is really uncertain. Sometimes I feel everything is falling apart, and sometimes, it feels like I am making progress every second. I knew about this for years, but now this has become a constant in my life.   I don't know what life wants exactly, good relations, money, happiness, sadness, pleasures, pains? There are so many things to do but so little time. And I really don't know what to achieve and what to lose. There are just way too many things to do than gazing over the night sky without worrying about anything. There was a time when I just used to walk on the roof for hours listening to the songs, and watching the night sky, stars, and moon. But now, I keep reminding myself of

Window seats are something that everyone is fond of. What a peculiar topic, isn't it? Well, who talks about window seats anyway? But if you just think about it for a second, you will realize window seats are the most insignificant but beautiful thing around us. I have always been amazed by this particular seat. Since my childhood, I have always wanted a window seat. When I was a kid, I used to think trees do actually move backward, which always fascinated me. And now, watching trees going back reflects all kinds of emotions that touch my heart. There is indeed something magical about this place. You can see your past moving in front of your eyes like a motion picture. When I sit on the window seat on a bus or train, and when the journey begins, my mind always becomes nostalgic. I start pondering about various things like the meaning of life, relationships with special people, parents, friends, childhood memories, career planning, world peace, the chaos of the world, problems of

Don't you think that ordinary simple little things actually make up life? They have always been underrated, and people always take them for granted. We, humans, are complex creatures; we always have to make things complicated. But the truth is life lies in the little things that happen every day. Little things that always have mattered. Life is not about having a 9-5 job, buying a big car or a big house, earning lots of money, or getting famous. Life is all about little things. Like having someone by your side when you get home after that 9-5 job. Like when you finally learn how to make "Gol Chapattis." Like when you finally finish that book or fall asleep while reading. Like when you ask for extra pani puri. Like when you taste the first kerry of the season. Like when you get wet in the first rain without being concerned about your health. Like when you finish the game, you have been playing for so long. Like when you pass a smile to little babies, and they