Uncharted Fragments

On parallels with the previous post { See You 2024 } Dear 2025, We barely know each other, but I already feel the excitement and anticipation brewing for what you’re about to bring. You’re like a blind date I’ve been waiting for - probably a complete mystery, full of surprises, a touch of nervous excitement, and the hope that you won’t ghost me halfway through the year. I’m suiting up for what I wish to be a fantastic journey, packed with countless challenges and untold stories. Right now, I can only imagine the twists and turns you’ll throw at me, much like your older siblings - 2024, 2023, and the rest. But one thing I know for certain is that you're going to offer me the same gift as them. 365 days i.e. 8760 hours i.e. 525,600 minutes i.e. 31,536,000 seconds. Most of this time will be spent on life’s essentials - working, eating, sleeping, and more. A report from Our World in Data reminded me that an average human devotes 80–90% of their day to these basics. That leaves me w...

Hey 2024, I know your time is up, and I feel a tinge of sadness bidding you a goodbye. You’ve been a fantastic companion, full of surprises, lessons, and challenges. Let’s rewind and reflect on our journey together - me, you, and the long days and nights. As the saying goes, " The greatest battles are with the closest ones ," mine too was with one of the most influential people in my life - the most supportive, the most caring person I have ever known. A best buddy of mine, a great mentor too, and many more. By now, I guess you're wondering who that might be, as you have seen many people throughout the year with me. Let me tell you - it is none other than Me, I fought many battles against and with myself, and your helped me grow stronger through it all. Let’s recap the most important aspects of life you touched and how you shaped me. Work and Career If you (2024) were a Race , mine was a marathon with a lot of hurdles, but you made sure there was always a finish line in s...

Cooking Catastrophe One fine evening a woman is preparing a meal in her cozy kitchen, the aroma of freshly baked bread filling the air. She smiles, glancing at a family photo on the counter, thinking about how they’ll love the surprise dinner. As she chops vegetables, her knife slips slightly, nicking her finger. She reaches for a towel to stop the bleeding but doesn’t notice the spilled oil on the floor. In one misstep, her foot skids on the oil, sending her crashing backward. Her head strikes the edge of the counter, and what began as a joyful meal preparation ends in haunting silence, with blood spilling across the floor and the unfinished dish left untouched. The Gym Accident On a fine morning, a fitness enthusiast completes his daily workout, feeling accomplished and energized. But that day, he decides to add an extra set on the bench press, pushing his limits. As he lifts the heavy barbell, a slight miscalculation causes it to slip from his grasp. With no one nearby to help, the ...

Anger may be a two-syllable word, but I believe it has the power to break even the strongest relationships between two people. Those who’ve known me for the last couple of years might see me as a calm person who doesn’t show many emotions outwardly. Those for over a decade would probably describe me as someone who loses their temper every now and then - sometimes on a large scale. And people from my childhood would definitely stamp me as a short-tempered, angry person through and through. (Here, I am confined to only one emotion of mine; anger - as my defining trait. I am funny as hell as well, but that is out of scope for now.) Let me take you through a few scenarios from my life to explain my journey with anger and how I’ve learned to manage it. The Angry Persona During my early schooling, I was mischievous, often on my class’s hit list for various antics. One day, I was cast in a school drama to play the role of Sage Vasistha, known for his wisdom and calm demeanor. Despite my best ...

Continuing from where we left with  Part 1 , Sitting in her cell, Mary replayed John’s final words in her mind: Clevant... Save... Murder .  A rattling thought struck her, John wasn’t urging her to trust Clevant. He was warning her to save herself from him. John had known too much about Clevant's involvement, and now it was clear that his cryptic notes were a desperate attempt to warn her before it was too late. Fueled by this revelation, Mary resolved to uncover the truth, even if it meant revisiting the haunting past she had buried for years. The Anonymous Package The night before her next court appearance, Mary received an anonymous package slipped under her cell door. Inside was an old photograph she wasn’t prepared to face. It was from the night Rutherford died. She saw herself and John, standing with Rutherford, drinks in hand. But her eyes locked onto a fourth person in the frame, someone she hadn’t noticed before. It was Clevant, and the sight left her awestruck. ...