The zero blog

 This year, I got my very first haircut. As shocking as it sounds, I've never had my hair cut or styled in the past 25 years except for trimming the split ends from time to time.  Growing up, I was always told long hair is the prettiest. After I grew up, when I became okay with the idea of short hair, I was told that once we cut out hair, it might not grow back properly or that not everyone can pull off short hair. So I never dared to get a hair cut and I wasn't really allowed to.  But this year something shifted, and I kept talking about getting a haircut but hesitated and procrastinated it for months. After much reluctance I gulped down my fear and self doubts one random afternoon in September, I went to the salon with a friend and got my very first haircut.  And guess what? It wasn't the end of the world!  And then shock struck me like lightning because of how much I hesitated over something so simple. Like when people told not everyone can pull off short ha...

What an awful day. Exhaustion slowly engulfs you, devouring every drop of energy left. You're drained to the point where it feels tangible—like your weariness is a person standing next to you. Like it’s someone standing on your shadow, holding you back from moving forward. You're beat, but you’ve managed not to crumble, not to collapse. It’s the kind of tiredness that sleep won’t wash away. You reach for your earphones and plug them in. The rhythm hits—almost as if it’s been customized just for you. You’re not sure whether to laugh or cry. But all you need is the company of this song. For, i t feels like you’re being cradled in a pair of arms, whispering sweet nothings to you with utmost delicacy. It reminds you that the day wasn’t the best, but at least it’s over. All of a sudden, you’re lifted off the ground, confined in a bubble where nothing but good things can reach you. You are embraced by hope, looking forward to the days to come, the dreadful day now long forgotten. Sur...

  Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; One step enough for me. The above lines speak about being content with knowing just the next step, even if you do not know the whole picture. Sounds nice, no? Now imagine you keep saying this out loud almost every day. What will it elicit? Though there's no generalized answer, it could imprint in our minds that moving forward and progressing is as important (if not more) as the destination we desire to reach. And what if it’s kids singing this aloud? Imagine how big of an impact it would leave. “Lead Kindly Light” was one of the songs we used to sing in our school assembly. Back then, I always thought the only thing I'd miss after school would be either having lunch together with my friends or the famous canteen bonda. But I was caught off guard when I found myself missing the morning assembly the most. I vividly remember my school assembly. We had around 10–12 prayer songs, and nobody would know which song would be su...

Two days back, I got myself a new pair of shoes. Like anyone would, I only bought after trying them and walking around the store. The next day, I wore them to work, and they felt awful and uncomfortable. Painful, even.   So the whole day, I was mostly barefoot. That very evening, I wanted to return the shoes, but I was reluctant, because I’d worn them once and they looked slightly soiled. Still, I took them home, scraped the bottoms with a wet cloth, and made sure they looked new.  When I told my mom that I was going to return them, she said, “No one in their right mind would refund or exchange old shoes.  It doesn't matter whether you've worn them for an hour, a day, or a month.” I still wanted to try, ‘cause what would I do with shoes that don't fit me? So I went to the store with the shoes, told them they didn't fit, and asked for an exchange. Though they were hesitant at first, after hearing my monologue, they checked with the owner and to my surprise, they exchange...

  What they see, they do. It ain't just for monkeys but also for kids. The world teaches you more than textbooks. And unlike us adults, kids struggle to differentiate between good and bad. It is our foremost responsibility to teach them while they're young. Obviously, what they're reading and watching plays a big role. Once, cartoons were child-friendly and educational. But some cartoons these days disguise arrogance and ignorance as humor, while some promote fat-shaming. Kids grow up watching these. Things like these are so normalized. There's a quote that says, "It's only a joke when both parties are having fun. If it's one-sided, it's called bullying." But amid all these cartoons, we have a few that instill virtues in young minds. Doraemon is one of the daisies in a field of poisonous ivy. Today, I'll be walking you through an episode called "Thank You Badge." Like the name says, it's all about gratitude and appreciation. The e...

Wise men say, “Only fools rush in.” But I can't help falling in love with you. Love is a thing of the human race, and you and I are no exception. Be it cringe or cliché, one way or another, we all yearn for love. Love doesn't come with a user manual, nor does it have any criteria. It doesn't require experience, nor is it time-bound. But if you think finding someone as similar to you is all it takes to have your happily ever after, newsflash: it is not. You don't find love; it finds you. Love is daring. Love is trusting. It dares to choose someone who contrasts you yet trusts them. Love is mending the stark differences between you and your partner and striving to bridge the gap between you.  When two different people fall in love, it either lasts forever or goes down in flames. Only the young can run, and only the strongest can survive. When one tips towards the right of a seesaw, the other should be on the left. Love likes to sit and watch everything unfold like it'...