Anay Rathi 9 Years If I Could Invent Something If I could invent something, it would be something different which no one on Earth would think of. It would be a fully functional boat with very advanced safety features. First, I would ask people for scrap metal, which they would give me easily. Then, using half of the scrap metal, I would craft a boat large enough for two to four people to sit inside. Then I would make a battery which would fully charge in one minute but could run for twenty hours. I would then connect the battery to the engine of the boat which I would make. I would also put a C-type charging port outside the boat and connect it to the battery. At the same time, I would take another board and connect the wires from the engine to the motherboard. After that, I would take my iPad and connect its motherboard to the boat’s one. I would also code the iPad in such a way that it controls and monitors the boat’s functions, making the boat smarter and safer to use. Also, there would be options for speed boost, stability control, navigation options etc. Furthermore, I would take a propeller and connect it to the engine using wires and place it behind the boat. I would now make a key compartment and connect it to the engine again using wires. I would also attach a steering wheel to turn right and left. At last, using the remaining scrap metal, I would cover all the wires and the engine, and my fully functional boat would be ready. This invention would help people travel safely on water and make boating easier and more advanced. I would then test-drive the boat, and if it came out successful, I would be elated. How I wish I could invent something like that!

Harinath EI Outlook Editor, Linkedin Profile, Blog The places we never fully leave behind Editor’s Note The houses we remember are rarely made of bricks alone. Sometimes they are built from the smell of a grandmother's kitchen, the quiet corner where we escaped with a book, the courtyard where festivals unfolded, or the small habits that slowly became part of who we are. Long after the walls disappear, these places continue to live within us. For this edition, residents were invited to revisit a space they still carry in their hearts—not necessarily a house, but a memory-home that shaped them. What follows are three very different journeys. Yet each reminds us of the same truth: We may leave our childhood homes,but they never truly leave us. A Small Note from the Editor Every month, this magazine becomes meaningful because people choose to participate—not as writers, but as human beings willing to share a part of themselves. Thank you to everyone who wrote these letters, and to everyone who continues to read, encourage, and support EI Lifestyle with warmth and sincerity. A community is not built only through buildings and events. It is built through conversations, memories, kindness, and the quiet ways in which people show up for one another. This edition reminded me that gratitude often exists silently in our hearts—waiting for a moment to be expressed. Thank you for making this space feel alive. — Harinath, EI Universe Chief Editor SECTION 1 Corners of Wonder The smallest spaces often hold the biggest memories. Shachii Manik, T9 Playing with words, creating wonder The Reading Loft “Where has she gone now?” bellowed Mum, right when the clock struck one. It was time for lunch on a hot summer afternoon. But I was oblivious to the heat or the hubbub and lost in another adventure in Kirrin Bay or a beautiful country house in England. Since the day school closed for the summer, Mum had noticed that she was missing a few things. Her pink, floral bedsheet, a beautiful cushion from the sofa, and a bunch of books from the rack next to my bed! Little did she know that one by one, each of these items had snuck in with me into my grandpa’s empty room, to the far window, clambered up the six horizontal bars, caught on to the edge of the cupboard and bounded up to the flat surface that was just the right size to hold me and my favourite books. It wasn’t easy to find me unless you knew exactly where my secret reading loft was. I’d used the bedsheet and cushion to make the space comfortable enough to spend hours up there during the summer vacations. To this day, the mere thought of this cosy cupboard-top corner conjures up memories of all the little things that brought so much joy when we were kids! SECTION 2 Summers We Still Carry Some memories return not through photographs, but through a taste, a smell, or a season. Harish Dixit The smell of summer, the thrill of mischief, and the comfort of belonging. The Mangoes That Tasted of Summer There is something quietly extraordinary about the way a childhood memory can find you when you least expect it. Not through photographs or stories told at dinner tables, but through a smell, a sound, or the sight of someone you love doing something wonderfully unselfconscious. Last week, I was on a family vacation in Dapoli, Ratnagiri, when it happened to me. We had woken early that morning to the fluting calls of the Indian Blackbird and set off on a morning walk through the resort’s magnificent Aamrai, a grove of over 3,000 mango trees sprawling across 55 lush acres. The previous night’s storm had been generous. Mangoes lay scattered across the ground. That is when my wife abandoned all adult composure, and started gathering them with the unbridled joy of a seven-year-old. Watching my wife gather fallen mangoes from a rain-soaked path in Dapoli, brought back a childhood memory, bright and whole, like a childhood song you never quite forgot. Every summer, when the schools closed and the city of Mumbai grew hot and restless, our family would make the long journey to our native village in Uttar Pradesh. For a child, that train ride alone felt like the beginning of a grand adventure, full of passing fields, and the slow, magnificent widening of the sky. The village was everything Mumbai was not. Quiet. Green. Unhurried. And best of all, it had the mango orchards. On one particular golden afternoon, a band of us children had slipped away for our favourite forbidden sport of harvesting mangoes by lobbing stones at the branches. One boy stood guard, watching for grown-ups. The mangoes were ripe and heavy, and the air smelled impossibly sweet. We felt like the cleverest children in the world. Then the alarm was raised. The orchard caretaker was coming. What followed was the most dramatic sprint of my young life. Small legs pumping, heart hammering, I ran until the village temple appeared before me and my lungs simply refused to carry me further. I bent over, breathless, and waited for my fate. The caretaker arrived. And then he did the most unexpected thing in the world. He laughed. He offered me water from the hand pump nearby, asked me gently why I was running, and walked me all the way home. My father was waiting at the door. The two men exchanged a few words and then both burst into laughter that I could not understand at all. My father knelt down and explained, still smiling, that the orchard was ours. Every last tree. There had never been anything to fear. He even asked the caretaker to bring me the finest mangoes he could find the very next day. I stood there feeling wonderfully, gloriously silly. It was a comforting memory to recall. The human mind is an amazing thing and so is our childhood! SECTION 3 The Workshop Within Sometimes the rooms that shape us exist entirely inside ourselves. Simar Bedi, T5 Driven by purpose, grounded in gratitude Gold In The Cracks Growing up, the world inside my home wasn’t built from store-bought luxuries but from the hidden treasures others had overlooked. This shaped my inner world by a unique magic; seeing beauty and potential in things the world had cast aside. Lacking a school best friend, my childhood solitude became my studio. I found sanctuary in the quiet alchemy of creating "best out of waste”- crafting photo frames from discarded cardboard and trees from ordinary stones, weaving yarns & making vases from coal tar. In those days, if you ran out of a material, you couldn't simply order it online with a click. You waited for days. That anticipation taught me the true anatomy of dedication and focus. To my parents, this seemed like a worthless waste of time. "It’s not worth it," they would say, unintentionally planting limiting beliefs about value. But our inner nature knows what we need before we do. That childhood loneliness, once a heavy void, became the foundation for a fierce, unshakeable independence. It taught me focus, dedication, and how to stand alone. It also taught me that ‘some beautiful pieces’ takes time, determination, a lot of passion and patience. For years, life took over, and I thought I had left that creative girl behind. But this past May, everything came full circle. Life gave me the opportunity to teach children the very “Art & Craft’ that saved my own childhood. I seized it with all my heart. I planned each & everything that gave me joy when I was a kid. For a recent Summer Camp, I spent four months excitedly curating twenty-five distinct art and craft activities from scratch. I proudly, lovingly, and very passionately designed each one around mindfulness and emotional intelligence. I wanted everything built from scratch. Most importantly, I insisted on "take-home crafts." Remembering how my own childhood creations were dismissed, I wanted every child to carry their tangible pieces of joy home, feeling entirely validated and proud; like once I did after creating my own, unique pieces. The ultimate plot twist? The very passion I was once told was "worthless" became profoundly rewarding. By honoring my inner nature, this project earned me more this month than I imagined possible. Parents love us, but their fears can create boundaries we aren’t meant to keep. The girl who sat alone, meticulously gluing broken pieces together around the world, accidentally built an adult who doesn't need a crowd to feel complete. She didn’t realize that while she was fixing those discarded scraps, she was quietly fortifying her own spirit, sealing the cracks of her isolation with gold. My message to the world is simple: Follow what brings you joy from the inside out, even when others call it a waste. The house we carry within isn't built on the approval of others; it is built on the things that make our souls feel alive. SECTION 4 The Village That Lives On Some homes are not remembered room by room, but feeling by feeling. Harinath, T15 Building paths where none existed I Left Home… But Home Never Left Me I left home… but home never left me. It lingers in my mother— a restlessly busy bee, weaving us into beautiful butterflies. I remember the worship— long, tiring, endless as a child. Eyes on the clock, heart on the delicacies waiting, each served with its own SOP of love. Back then, I wished it over. Now, I wish it back. I remember the lawns— daily dressed in Rangoli, gardens blooming in every home, and us, tangled in hammocks woven from nothing but imagination. We were close to nature, and closer to each other. And oh, the festivals! The madness of Holi, the laughter, the unstoppable joy— all stitched together into a kichadi of memories. These moments made me. They live in me. I may be far from home… but home is never far from me. Closing Reflection What Remains The houses we carry within are rarely marked on a map. They live in old rituals, secret corners, unfinished craft projects, summer afternoons, festival colours, and the people who filled those spaces with meaning. Years pass. Cities change. Families move. Yet somehow, when we close our eyes, we still know exactly how to find our way back. A Final Thank You To everyone who wrote these letters—thank you for your honesty. And to everyone who inspired them without even knowing— thank you for being the kind of people others feel grateful for. Somewhere in these pages, a community remembered itself.

Kaalika-The Rise of Raktbeej Poonam Desai Author In the previous chapters, we saw Hiranya Kashyap and his aide Swarbhanu discover the resurrection stone at Kalimath and manage resurrect demon Raktbeej while Sharvari, Dhaigham, Kasar and Dilan fail to stop them. As Raktbeej comes to power, chaos reigns in the entire country. Mr. Raghav Sinha from the disaster management office is contacted by Hiranya under guise of Bija financials. The PM asks Mr. Sinha to contact DIG Pandey. Sharvari and Kasar brief Mr. Sinha and DIG Pandey about their discoveries and the duo is shocked to learn about Raktbeej. They are now banking on Dilan and Dhaigham to find a solution. Meanwhile Hiranya and the demon Raktbeej have raised the bar. Dilan finds Durga’s lost weapons. Chapter 17 Sharvari had a restless sleep that night. As slumber took over, she found herself standing in the corner of a room. Hiranya was kneeling before Raktbeej, and they were speaking but their voices were muffled. She slid closer, remaining in the shadows. “Master the preparations are underway. We will strike hard. Once the head is gone, the country will fall to its feet.” She heard Hiranya saying. Raktbeej smiled satisfied. “How is the enzyme coming along?” “It is ready to be tested my lord.” “What best place to start than the defences of the country.” “Any particular department you have in mind, Master.” Raktbeej looked up and stared straight into Sharvari’s face. “The one who is investigating, the nosy one, the one to whom the lady bows.” Sharvari gasped and was awake. She looked around panicked. Only when she was sure that she was at Dhaigham’s house did she release the breath she was holding. She rushed to Kasar’s room and knocked hard. “Coming,” came his reply. On seeing Sharvari he said, “Can’t sleep?” “Hiranya and Raktbeej plan to take out DIG sir.” She spoke in a rush. “What? How do you know that?” “Will explain on the way. Let’s get going.” In 15 minutes, they had changed, woken Dhaigham and Dilan and they all left for Delhi. On the way Sharvari explained what she had dreamt of. Kasar pointed out, “You sure he is not distracting us. If he knew you were listening, why would he divulge his plan?” “I thought so too. But then I realised he is a self-absorbed b****rd and was wielding his power. It is a challenge and he is testing me. He even sounded like he knew I am the Durga sent to fight him and he wanted to show me he wasn’t worried and I was dispensable.” “Call DIG sir.” “I tried, he isn’t reachable and neither is his residence reachable.” “Call Raghav sir.” “Right, he would be faster at reaching out to the police headquarters.” She dialled and briefed Raghav Sinha of the threat. “Don’t worry Sharvari I will immediately visit the police headquarters; I am in the building itself.” She cut the call and prayed that they were on time. Kasar turned away from the Jai Singh Road to Civil lines. “Where are you going?” Sharvari asked. “Sinha sir has the office covered, let us head to his residence.” They were stopped at the gate. Sharvari flashed her ID and explained the situation. “Dhaigham, Dilan I suggest you wait in the jeep,” Kasar instructed. The guards at the gate accompanied them. The house seemed quiet. DIG sir lived with his wife and two dogs, but the animals were no where to be seen. The guards unlocked the main door and they all walked in, guns drawn. “Sir,” Sharvari called. No response. Sharvari gestured the guards to check lower guestrooms and kitchen. She and Kasar took the stairs to the upper bedrooms. She knocked on the master bed door. “Sir are you in there. Sharvari and Kasar here.” No answer again. Kasar slowly turned the doorknob and stepped in. The DIG was sleeping in his armchair, and his wife lay asleep on the bed. Sharvari checked their pulse and they were breathing, just sleeping sound. “Looks like they have been drugged.” “Madam,” one of the guards called, “the dogs are in the kitchen and are sleeping.” “Call Sinha sir and let him know.” Sharvari pulled out the phone, and it started ringing. “Hello?” “DSP Sahiba, did you find the target, or did you think you found the target. You want to defeat the king; you kill the Vazir. You should play more chess…. hahahahahhaha.” “Hiranya, you son of a….” She cut the call. “He played us. Call Sinha sir, now,” she yelled at Kasar. “The number you have dialled is not reachable….” Kasar looked at her, worried. “His phone is switched off.” Sharvari was halfway down the stairs, when Kasar got a call. It was his friend from police headquarters. “Somebody blew off the DIG office. Sinha sir was in there. Kasar, we lost him.” Kasar gasped and stared at Sharvari. “They got Sinha sir; he didn’t make it.” “Shit!” Sharvari squatted on the stairs, her head in her hands. Image courtesy -

Mangoes and Kokum Harish Dixit Senior Infrastructure Manager – APAC Linkedin There is something quietly extraordinary about the way a childhood memory can find you when you least expect it. Not through photographs or stories told at dinner tables, but through a smell, a sound, or the sight of someone you love doing something wonderfully unselfconscious. Last week, I was on a family vacation in Dapoli, Ratnagiri, when it happened to me. We had woken early that morning to the fluting calls of the Indian Blackbird and set off on a morning walk through the resort’s magnificent Aamrai, a grove of over 3,000 mango trees sprawling across 55 lush acres. The previous night’s storm had been generous. Mangoes lay scattered across the ground. That is when my wife abandoned all adult composure, and started gathering them with the unbridled joy of a seven-year-old. Watching my wife gather fallen mangoes from a rain-soaked path in Dapoli, brought back a childhood memory, bright and whole, like a childhood song you never quite forgot. Every summer, when the schools closed and the city of Mumbai grew hot and restless, our family would make the long journey to our native village in Uttar Pradesh. For a child, that train ride alone felt like the beginning of a grand adventure, full of passing fields, and the slow, magnificent widening of the sky. The village was everything Mumbai was not. Quiet. Green. Unhurried. And best of all, it had the mango orchards. On one particular golden afternoon, a band of us children had slipped away for our favourite forbidden sport of harvesting mangoes by lobbing stones at the branches. One boy stood guard, watching for grown-ups. The mangoes were ripe and heavy, and the air smelled impossibly sweet. We felt like the cleverest children in the world. Then the alarm was raised. The orchard caretaker was coming. What followed was the most dramatic sprint of my young life. Small legs pumping, heart hammering, I ran until the village temple appeared before me and my lungs simply refused to carry me further. I bent over, breathless, and waited for my fate. The caretaker arrived. And then he did the most unexpected thing in the world. He laughed. He offered me water from the hand pump nearby, asked me gently why I was running, and walked me all the way home. My father was waiting at the door. The two men exchanged a few words and then both burst into laughter that I could not understand at all. My father knelt down and explained, still smiling, that the orchard was ours. Every last tree. There had never been anything to fear. He even asked the caretaker to bring me the finest mangoes he could find the very next day. I stood there feeling wonderfully, gloriously silly. It was a comforting memory to recall. The human mind is an amazing thing and so is our childhood! -chalatmusafir (HD)

Harish Dixit Senior Infrastructure Manager – APAC Linkedin For five years, a tiny, nine-coloured wonder had been giving me the slip. The first time I heard its cheerful two-note whistle on one of my morning walks, I ran towards the sound. But by the time I got there, the bird was gone. All I had was a sound recording and a heart full of hope. After that, friends and fellow birdwatchers kept spotting it in different corners of the city. It even entered people’s homes, primarily due to exhaustion and disorientation. Every single time, I was either out of town or when I rushed to the location, the Pitta had moved on, as if it knew I was coming. It began to feel personal. But I never gave up. I kept going out, kept listening, kept looking during its bi-annual migrations. This summer, I planned a family holiday in Dapoli, Ratnagiri. We chose a homestay, nestled inside a fifty-five acre “Aamrai”, a mango forest of over three thousand trees. My family wanted rest and beaches. I wanted one bird. The Ladghar beach was five kilometres away. The mango grove was right outside our door. It felt like the right place. The very first morning, the Indian Blackbird whistled outside the cottage window and woke us up before the alarm could. When I stepped out of the cottage, two Gold-fronted Leafbirds were chasing each other through the branches, darting and diving like children at play. I smiled. The forest was alive and generous. Then, at half past six, we set out for our morning walk, through the quiet mango grove, I heard it. That short, sweet, two-note whistle. My hands found my camera before my mind had finished thinking. My wife stood quietly beside me, saying nothing, sensing everything. We had walked barely a hundred metres when we stopped again. Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) There, not eight feet away, a small blaze of colour was moving along the forest floor. It held a dry twig in its beak, moving with calm purpose. My brain took a full second to believe what my eyes were already seeing. The Indian Pitta. Closer than it had ever been. Not fleeing. Not hiding. Simply going about its morning, building its nest, patiently. Neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke. Indian Pitta, starting a nest. The bird couple made trip after trip, gathering nesting material, completely unbothered by the two stunned humans watching from below. It was focused, peaceful and utterly magnificent. Interestingly, the Pittas never flew straight to its nest. Not once. Each time it returned with nesting material, it landed first on a random branch nearby, sometimes a metre away, sometimes a little further. There it would sit, perfectly still, eyes darting in every direction, scanning the trees, the ground and the air around it for any sign of danger. Only when it was completely satisfied that all was safe did it make that final short flight to the nest and get busy. It was as if the bird carried an unwritten rule, “Never lead trouble to your front door.” Indian Pitta on the lookout Watching this quiet ritual repeat itself, trip after trip, I felt a deep admiration. Here was a creature that paired its hard work with sharp wisdom, never once letting its enthusiasm override its caution. People often say, what wonderful luck. But I want to be honest. Luck had very little to do with it. That morning in the mango grove was the result of years of quiet, unglamorous habits practised with discipline. It was the result of training my ears as carefully as my eyes, learning the calls of Indian Pitta until it became familiar, because in thick forest you will almost always hear a bird long before you see it. It was the result of understanding how seasons move birds across the landscape, and choosing Dapoli not randomly but deliberately, knowing the Western Ghats in summer hold breeding Pittas. And above all, staying positive and saying quietly to myself, today could be the day, even on the mornings that looked grey and unpromising. Every birdwatcher knows that feeling of a day that seems destined to deliver nothing, only for a rarity to appear at the very next turn in the path. You just have to keep walking to reach that turn. Indian Pitta nest in final stages Five years of early mornings, missed sightings and long walks through empty forest paths had led to this one quiet moment. And standing there, camera raised, hands steady at last, I understood something simple and true. Patience is not about waiting and doing nothing. It is about waiting and still trying, every single day, until its enough. The Pitta did not come to me because I was lucky. It came because I never stopped looking for it. And that, I think, is the only secret worth knowing. Enjoy this video of the Indian Pitta couple busy with nest building: -chalatmusafir (HD)

Aarya Fahoum 8th Grade. NEXT school Participating in a beach clean-up drive at Prabhadevi Beach taught me that small actions can make a big difference to the environment. The experience increased my awareness of carbon footprints and how daily activities contribute to pollution. By conserving electricity, reducing waste, carpooling, caring for plants, and recycling responsibly, we can lower carbon emissions and protect ecosystems. If everyone adopts simple eco-friendly habits, we can create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future. I understood the importance of having a healthy environment when I participated in a beach clean-up drive at Prabhadevi Beach with Beach Warriors India. During the drive, I helped collect plastic waste, wrappers, and other litter from the beach. This experience showed me that even simple efforts can create a positive change. By participating in the clean-up drive, I helped remove waste that could have harmed marine life and polluted the beach further. It also helped make the beach cleaner and safer for people to enjoy. Most importantly, the experience taught me that every small action matters when it comes to protecting the environment. After this experience, I became more aware of how our everyday actions affect the environment. In today’s world, protecting the environment has become more important than ever. One environmental issue that everyone should understand is the carbon footprint and carbon emissions. Although these terms may sound complicated, they are actually quite simple to understand. A carbon footprint is the amount of pollution created through our daily activities. For example, when we use vehicles, consume electricity, or waste resources, harmful gases are released into the atmosphere. These gases are known as carbon emissions. Carbon emissions can have a harmful effect on the environment. They contribute to global warming, affect weather patterns, and harm plants and animals, including birds, fish, marine life, and many other living creatures that depend on healthy ecosystems to survive. Pollution can also damage natural habitats, making it difficult for these creatures to live safely. This is why reducing carbon emissions and taking better care of the environment is so important. I follow the activities below regularly because I believe that small actions can make a big difference: I switch off lights and fans when I leave a room or when they are not needed to save electricity. If possible, I use the stairs instead of the elevator. I encourage carpooling with friends and family whenever possible to reduce vehicle emissions. I avoid wasting food and water. I help care for plants and trees, which improve air quality. I make sure waste is thrown into the correct bins so that segregation and recycling become easier. These actions may seem small, but when many people work together, they create a positive impact on the environment. Fewer carbon emissions mean cleaner air, healthier ecosystems, and safer environments for animals. Most importantly, they help protect our planet for future generations. The Earth is our shared home, and protecting it is everyone’s responsibility. By understanding carbon footprints and making thoughtful decisions in our daily lives, we can reduce pollution and create a cleaner, healthier future for ourselves and everyone around us.

Dr. Devyani Rozario Website “You’re on the verge of making a significant move – applying for a dream job, starting a creative project, or even just initiating a difficult conversation. Then, the whispers start. “But what if I’m not qualified enough?” “What if I fail? I’ll look like a fool.” “But what if the timing isn’t right?” In the world of psychology and decision science, these “ifs” and “buts” are the building blocks of Analysis Paralysis. While a healthy degree of caution is a survival mechanism, letting these conjunctions dominate your internal monologue can effectively ruin your ability to move forward. We mistake stillness for safety. In truth, the “if only” mindset is the most expensive luxury because it consumes the only currency you can’t earn back – which is time. You may treat ‘what if’ like a safety net. However, in reality it is a spider’s web. Make sure the “If/But” Distinction is clear: “If” is a fear of the future “But” is an excuse in the present. Here is how the “ifs and buts” cycle erodes your decision-making: 1. The Mirage of Certainty The primary reason we incline on “ifs” is our innate desire for certainty. We believe that if we can simulate every possible negative outcome, we can prevent them. However, this is a cognitive illusion. When you say, “If X happens, then Y will go wrong,” you are treating a hypothetical future as a present reality. This creates a feedback loop of anxiety. Instead of weighing actual risks, you end up battling ghosts. Decision-making requires a level of comfort with ambiguity; “ifs” are a desperate attempt to eliminate that ambiguity, usually resulting in total stagnation. 2. "But" as a Barrier to Growth “But” acts as a conversation eraser. “I want to start a business, but I don’t have enough capital.” “I know I should leave this situation, but it’s complicated.” The word “but” dismisses the preceding positive intention and highlights the obstacle as an immovable mountain. It shifts your focus from resourcefulness (how do I get the capital?) to restriction (I can’t do this). In essence, “buts” are the bricks we use to build walls around our comfort zones. 3. The Cognitive Load of Overthinking Every “if” and “but” you entertain consumes “mental bandwidth.” Human beings have a finite amount of cognitive energy to spend each day – a concept known as Decision Fatigue. When you spend hours contemplating on “What if they say no?” or “But I’ve never done this before,” you are draining the battery you need to actually execute the decision. By the time you have to choose, your brain is too exhausted to think clearly, often leading to “deciding by not deciding” – which is, in itself, a choice that usually yields the worst results. 4. Fear vs. Calculation There is a profound difference between Calculated Risk and Fear-Based Hesitation. Calculated Risk: “If the market drops 10%, I have a buffer to survive.” (Proactive/Strategic) Fear-Based Hesitation: “But what if the market drops and I lose everything?” (Reactive/Emotional) The “ifs and buts” habit forces us into a reactive state. It replaces objective data with emotional projections. This ruins decision-making because it prioritizes loss aversion -the tendency to prefer avoiding losses over acquiring equivalent gains – to an irrational degree. How to Break the Cycle To improve your decision-making, you don’t need to stop thinking; you need to change the structure of your thoughts. Replace “But” with “And”: Instead of saying “I want to go back to school, but it’s expensive,” try “I want to go back to school, and I need to find a way to finance it.” This simple linguistic shift turns a barrier into a problem to be solved. The 70% Rule: Borrow a page from Jeff Bezos’s playbook. Most decisions should probably be made with somewhere around 70% of the information you wish you had. If you wait for 90%, you’re likely to be a person who is too slow or takes no decision at all. Time-Box Your Rumination: Give yourself 15 minutes to list all the “ifs” and “buts.” Once the timer is up, you are no longer allowed to entertain hypotheticals. You must move to the “How” phase. This will allow you to be solution oriented and decide. Practice Micro-Decisions: Build your “decisive muscle” by making small choices quickly. Decide what to order from a restaurant in under 30 seconds. Choose what you will wear for an event instantly. This trains your brain to trust its intuition over its anxieties. In Essence: “Ifs” and “buts” are comfortable. They keep you safe from failure, but they also keep you away from success. Live life in the “ands” and the “dos.” The next time you feel an “If” or a “But” rising in your mind, recognize it for what it means, do not hesitate – just decide. Remember – a “wrong” decision often teaches us more than no decision at all. Your decisions should reflect your hopes rather than your fears, often requiring you to take bold action over perfection! What is one decision you’ve been ‘butting’ away this week? Challenge yourself to take a decision today!

Namya Aggarwal A runner, Writer and student (12th Class) LinkedIn A shortage of canned Diet Coke across major Indian cities has unexpectedly highlighted how global events affect everyday life. Geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted shipping routes, increased freight costs, and raised aluminium prices, creating supply shortages. Despite available substitutes, young consumers remain attached to the unique experience of drinking Diet Coke from a can. The crisis has even inspired themed events, while reminding people that distant wars can have surprisingly local consequences. A couple days prior to writing this piece I found myself hopping from shop to shop, disappointed, by the perpetual rejections and head nods of shopkeepers when i asked, “Bhaiya, diet coke hai?” And now I’m writing this because I finally got an explanation as to why the entirety of Mumbai seems to be going through a diet coke famine. And as it turns out, geopolitical tensions and wars actually do have an impact on the economies and do cause demand-supply issues. Who would have thought that?? So, there’s a very apparant and a very ubiquotous shortage of what the kids nowdays are calling a “fridge ciggarette” i.e. diet coke. And this is primarily occuring in metropolies like Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, etc. Oh, but however does the drama between US/Israel and Iran affect my daily beverage, my indulgence, my very lifeline?! Yes, So firstly, the Strait of Hormuz is blocked due to geopolitical reasons and the whole war thingy. This means freight ships and import ships have to either take extremely long routes or they just sit pretty and don’t send their cokes to us. Additionally, the prices to ship stuff to India is so much more expensive now because if you’re using longer routes you’re using more fuel and lo and behold! Even fuel prices are higher than Snoop Dog! So you see how its almost a no-win situation, right? And thus, there’s a consequent deficiency in supply. Secondly, People are actually significantly crazier about the canned diet cokes rather than just sugarless cokes in general. Canned diet cokes are made of aluminium, the prices of which have, increased by 14–20%. Strait of Hormuz control 9% of aluminium production. At the same time, production of cans in India is operating nearly 20% below demand. Coke zero can be found in abundance, but canned one’s can’t. This emphasises what a staple canned diet cokes really are. Its not just coke, its an experience. Its the invigorating journey of pulling out a chilled can adorned with condensed droplets of water. Its the excitement ones feels from the top of their head till the end of their pinky-toe when they’re about to click open the lid. Its the euphoria one feels when they get to experience the otherworldly feeling of connecting one’s lips to the sharp but inviting edges of the can. Additionally, diet coke’s offer an overall elevated consumer experience. Their packaging is sleek, minimalistic and chic, which resonates with current aesthetic trends. The classic, silver contained with its elegant red writing is the most recognizable and wanted of all. On the other hand, Diet Pepsi, Thums-Up, and other similar beverages are sold in PET bottles. PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) are the transparent bottles mostly used to back soft drinks. And these bottles just don’t have the same feel that the aluminium cans do. They offer a cheaper, ordinary, sub-par experience compared to what a diet coke does. And thus, even though there are several substitutes, the Indian youth remains visibly crazy about their diet cokes. However, this crisis, rather than downing spirits, is prompting the emergence of new concepts. In a Reuter’s article, Ninecamp CEO Chaitanya Mathur said “For the young people it’s about scarcity being a premise of the entire event. That’s where the fun is — the less there ​is of something is when they want more of it” This is further emphasised by Diet Coke themed parties that are being organised by GenZ’s as well as several ticketed events being offered by restaurants. To add to this, Coca-Cola has started packaging its beverage in 200 ml glass bottles. These are available on Indian quick commerce sites such as Zepto, Blinkit, etc at Rs. 100 or (1.05 USD). With lower cost and cheap plastic utilised in packaging, beverages in glass bottles are almost a thing of the past. This pivot by the company not only brought back nostalgic times but prevented shortage of stock as well. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DX_7dooThIR/ I feel that the Diet Coke crisis enabled the youth to truly comprehend the gravity of the situation. The effects of a war are being felt by us in real time and that has definitely sparked a sense of relatability. We all share collective frustration and angst. And that makes this war feel all too real.

Komal Singh HR & People Development Consultant | Mindfulness & Emotional Intelligence Facilitator | POSH Trainer | NLP Practitioner | Visiting Faculty | Research Scholar | Lifelong Learner & Spiritual Seeker Linkedin Incorporating mindfulness into an employee's daily routine can reduce cognitive dissonance, resulting in a more productive and fulfilling work-life. With the emergence of hybrid or complete work-from-home culture due to the pandemic, self-leadership has become a crucial factor in work performance. Meanwhile, cognitive dissonance can pose a significant obstacle to work productivity. In simple words, we can explain cognitive dissonance as the discrepancy in knowing and doing (behaviour). In 1957, Leon Festinger published his theory related to Cognitive Dissonance. Ever since its inception, countless studies have been conducted on his theory, uncovering the determinants of attitudes, beliefs, and values internalisation, as well as shedding light on the consequences of decisions, the effects of disagreement among persons, and other significant psychological processes. In his studies, he has given an example of a smoker who is aware of the harmful effects of smoking but still continues to do so. Smokers may address cognitive dissonance through two key approaches: behavioural modification or cognitive restructuring. The former involves reducing smoking frequency, while the latter involves adopting positive beliefs about smoking. Specifically, smokers may perceive smoking as less harmful than other common causes of death, such as automobile accidents. Alternatively, they may also view smoking as a means of reducing stress and promoting relaxation. By adopting these positive beliefs and attitudes, smokers may begin to feel more in control of their smoking habits and promote a healthier lifestyle. Similar to Leon Festinger’s illustrated example, employees who work from home may have a good understanding of the importance of maintaining discipline and staying focused towards work goals. However, they may still struggle to actually put this knowledge into practice. This can lead to procrastination and a decrease in overall productivity. Working from home can present a unique set of challenges, such as distractions from family members or household chores, which can be hard to resist. Additionally, without the structure and routine of a traditional office environment, it can be difficult for some employees to establish a work-life balance and maintain a consistent schedule. So, the overall result will be despite being aware that the work schedule needs to be maintained, still, employee gets into the habit of delaying it. Several studies suggest that practising mindfulness can increase self-discipline and self-esteem, which is important for changing behaviour and reducing dissonance. Famous Author and Founder of MBSR has defined mindfulness as “Awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Awareness and Attention are building blocks in mindfulness. Self-awareness helps us in identifying the patterns which leads to undisciplined behaviour, and attention will keep us motivated to stay on course. Thus, with the practice of mindfulness both of these skills can be cultivated and performance can be enhanced along with balanced wellbeing.

Simar Bedi Founder, Ekattva Beauty & Wellness Fitness Enthusiast Website; Ekattva Instagram; Personal Instagram; LinkedIn Growing up, the world inside my home wasn’t built from store-bought luxuries but from the hidden treasures others had overlooked. This shaped my inner world by a unique magic; seeing beauty and potential in things the world had cast aside. Lacking a school best friend, my childhood solitude became my studio. I found sanctuary in the quiet alchemy of creating "best out of waste”- crafting photo frames from discarded cardboard and trees from ordinary stones, weaving yarns & making vases from coal tar. In those days, if you ran out of a material, you couldn't simply order it online with a click. You waited for days. That anticipation taught me the true anatomy of dedication and focus. To my parents, this seemed like a worthless waste of time. "It’s not worth it," they would say, unintentionally planting limiting beliefs about value. But our inner nature knows what we need before we do. That childhood loneliness, once a heavy void, became the foundation for a fierce, unshakeable independence. It taught me focus, dedication, and how to stand alone. It also taught me that ‘some beautiful pieces’ takes time, determination, a lot of passion and patience. For years, life took over, and I thought I had left that creative girl behind. But this past May, everything came full circle. Life gave me the opportunity to teach children the very “Art & Craft’ that saved my own childhood. I seized it with all my heart. I planned each & everything that gave me joy when I was a kid. For a recent Summer Camp, I spent four months excitedly curating twenty-five distinct art and craft activities from scratch. I proudly, lovingly, and very passionately designed each one around mindfulness and emotional intelligence. I wanted everything built from scratch. Most importantly, I insisted on "take-home crafts." Remembering how my own childhood creations were dismissed, I wanted every child to carry their tangible pieces of joy home, feeling entirely validated and proud; like once I did after creating my own, unique pieces. The ultimate plot twist? The very passion I was once told was "worthless" became profoundly rewarding. By honoring my inner nature, this project earned me more this month than I imagined possible. Parents love us, but their fears can create boundaries we aren’t meant to keep. The girl who sat alone, meticulously gluing broken pieces together around the world, accidentally built an adult who doesn't need a crowd to feel complete. She didn’t realize that while she was fixing those discarded scraps, she was quietly fortifying her own spirit, sealing the cracks of her isolation with gold. My message to the world is simple: Follow what brings you joy from the inside out, even when others call it a waste. The house we carry within isn't built on the approval of others; it is built on the things that make our souls feel alive.

Aarv Jain 11 years My dream vacation is to visit Dubai in winter. I want to see the Burj Khalifa, enjoy Ferrari World, ride the tram, and experience the city's famous sports car culture. My Dream Vacation My dream vacation is to go to Dubai. The most suitable period for this trip are the winters. The reason to go to this specific place is because of the theme parks in Dubai like Ferrari world. I also wish to see the world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa . I would like to travel in a tram. I will travel here because Dubai is known as the 'city of very fond of cars since I was two Sports cars I am To Travel to Dubai, we would be paying in the UAE currency, Dirham-unsafe place because of the current east Right now Dubai is a asian war. Aarv Jain

Siddhant Desai 13 years, Grade 9 Every year, Mumbai's summers seem hotter than the last. As a teenager, I can clearly feel the difference. The heat and humidity have become so intense that people eagerly wait for the monsoon to bring relief. Even a short bus ride without air conditioning can leave someone exhausted and drenched in sweat. Playing outdoors in the afternoon has become difficult, and school sports and Physical Education classes are often affected. I have seen friends return from football practice completely drained. Some complain of headaches and dizziness, while others suffer from dehydration, heat rashes, nosebleeds, and exhaustion. In some cases, children even faint after spending too much time in the sun. What worries me most is that not everyone can escape the heat. While many of us have fans or air conditioners, millions do not. Construction workers, street vendors, delivery personnel, and traffic police spend hours outdoors in extreme temperatures. Many families struggle to sleep at night because their homes become unbearably hot. This is not a problem of the future—it is happening right now. Rising temperatures are affecting our health, daily routines, and quality of life. Parks remain empty during the hottest hours, water demand increases, and even birds and stray animals suffer as they search for shade and water. Global warming is no longer something we only read about in textbooks. The extreme heat we experience every summer is a warning that cannot be ignored. While planting trees is important, we also need immediate action. Schools, housing societies, citizens, and governments must work together to make our cities cooler and safer. This is my SOS to everyone. Climate change is already affecting our lives today. If we do not act now, future generations will face even greater challenges. Act now, before it is too late.