That Coffee Girl

Children near trashcans jumping in joy, You see them playing, Do you see the hunger in their eyes? A woman on the street Walking fast at night, Was she out partying or working How is either of the two an invite? There is fear in every corner Suppression in shadows Filth on the road, Careless storms behind closed doors. Not for you though, You only saw what you wanted to see - The world as it should be. - PS

Most of the time we lose perspective, or at least that's my perspective. Call it recency bias or something else, I am sure towards the year end what I would be feeling would be a lot different thn where I am now. So, here I am, documenting my ISB journey that has already begun at home.  MBA online?  - I did not sign up for this.  Is it any good? - Absolutely not.  Let's not kid ourselves into thinking that just because it is online and we are home, the task is easier for us. It clearly isn't. Imagine logging onto zoom 24 hours a day. Imagine your interaction being limited to zoom calls. Imagine a 16 hour screen time. (My laptop is new but I swear to god I feel like throwing it atleast 3 times a day!) We have one class a day, and if you think about it, that isn't too bad. But add to that 3 pre-reads, 2 pre-class videos, a quiz, 2 assignments and exams every 2 weeks. Effectively you get a weekend after every 12 days.  I have one word - Drainin...

What was that feeling I felt when I was young, That moment I returned from school Eating food watching cartoons? What was that I felt the first day of summer vacations; Planning the endless long days filled with friends and games? Even though it's long gone,  Traces still linger... They surfaced when I got my acceptance and when I put in my resignation. If I had to tell you what I felt, I could sum it up in a word. The word is joy and the feeling is surreal.  About this poem: I got my acceptance to b-school. This is somewhat a throwback to November'19 when I finally got the news. It was this feeling, like being on the top of the world, like nothing could bring me down. That feeling, that moment, that's is what I want to hold on to. I think in the past few years, joy became something unapproachable. That childlike feeling on a summer day with rasna and Maggi, happiness became something to plan and work towards. I could ch...

Hello people, how have you been? A little bit lonely or sometimes bored or just losing your mind like me? I see you. Even you, the ones crippled by fear, unable to leave their beds. I get you. So, COVID-19 happened and, turns out life is NOT as we know it. Everything changed and the all we can do is cope up. I keep seeing so many posts and blogs telling people that it is okay to be unproductive. There is a pandemic happening. There doesn't essentially have to be a bright side to it. I agree with them, somewhat. It's more of a "you do you" situation. Let me tell you a bit about myself. I graduated from college in May 2016, and within a week I started my new job. It's been about 4 years and I have never been free. I moved from one job to the other, there was even a time when I gave myself a break for 2 months, but only on paper. In reality, that break had me preparing for an exam and interviewing for my next job. So no free time, ever. But this time, it's...

How much are you willing to pay for something that was once considered sacred? What is the price? A topic like no other. A book about surrogacy, about power, class and caste. A book about the server and the master. Till what length will you go for money? Will you go all the way? These questions are what this book highlights. The Farm, aptly titled is a place of paradise, with every amenity, all comforts taken care of for you. The only catch, you are pregnant and the baby is not yours. You would simply brush it off as a book about surrogacy, I would say, wait, read the title again. What does it say? The Farm. It is a farm, or more like a ranch except the babies here are human. Pregnant women, referred to as hosts throughout the book, sign away 9 months of their life to be constantly monitored in a comfortable facility designed with all possible luxuries to deliver the perfect kid for their high-profile clients. A lot of times, these hosts don't even know whose baby t...

You know it is a good book when it ends up schooling you. I am too old to read high school drama anymore but seeing people rave about Simon vs The Homosapiens Agenda and Leah On The Offbeat, I finally gave LOTO a try. And boy am I glad. Initially sceptical, because the writing style is aimed at teenagers, the first few chapters were a bit difficult to get through. I found the language exceedingly plain, it was overall too kiddish.  It was when the characters developed in the next few chapters, that I was hooked. I have yet to read such great character development in a high school book.  Let's start off with Leah. She is your average protagonist -  angry at the world, a broken family, overthinking things, overweight, smart, the only difference, she isn't lonely. She has a lot of friends. Oh and the fact that she is bi, secretly. As we delve further into the book, her layers peel off. She is in love with a girl who is dating her best friend who happens to...

The book, written by Nikita Singh, released on 14th February, was supposed to be this year's love story. *Summary* Siddhant meets Akriti during their medical residency in Delhi. Their connection is instant, blossoming from the many similarities between them. So, when Akriti faces a devastating loss, she leans on Siddhant for support. In the heat of an emotional moment, the two decide that this must be love. But as Akriti's depression begins to take a stronger hold over her, she spirals out of control, sinking deeper into an abyss of fear, insecurity and rage. And while Siddhant struggles to help her, it seems like everything he does is only making things worse. Meanwhile, Siddhant's life gets further complicated when Maahi, his ex-girlfriend whom he never stopped loving, re-enters his life. __ I shall try to write an unbiased review here but I will be honest, it is hard. I won't rate the book because honestly, this is not one of my favourite genres wh...