The itch to write

  ​Losing a childhood friend feels like losing a piece of your own history. Our journey began in Baroda, Gujarat, where for three years we played together and our families grew close. Those years created a bond that time could never erase. I still vividly remember how my sister and I, along with Ansu and her little sister, Anju, would play together. We spent so much of our time trying to entertain Anju since she was the smallest among us. ​While life eventually took us on different paths, social media allowed us to find each other again. We exchanged messages and caught glimpses of each other’s lives, always assuming there would be more time to truly catch up. ​The sudden news of Ansu’s passing on December 31st has brought my world to a standstill. It was a heavy, silent shock to lose someone like her. Watching the funeral online broke my heart, especially seeing her parents, her sister Anju, and of course, her husband and child. ​I am holding onto those three years of laughter...

 As much as the holiday season can be beautiful, it can also feel incredibly complex for many people.  These days often arrive as quiet reminders of time moving forward, catching us off guard and stirring emotions we didn’t expect. Sitting at the table and noticing who is missing. Thinking back to last year, when life looked so different.  What begins as simple remembrance can easily drift into deep sadness, right in the middle of a season that’s supposed to feel cheerful and light. If this is something you’re feeling this year, I want you to know there is room for you here—and that you are far from alone. It’s completely natural for happiness and grief to exist side by side. Feeling joy doesn’t erase the sadness, and feeling sad doesn’t take away from the joy. Both can be true at once. And perhaps that’s one of the most important truths to hold onto during this season: it’s okay to feel both joy and sorrow together.  Welcome the moments of happiness without guilt, a...

My father’s brother — our dearest Lalu Uncle — went to be with the Lord in October 2025. He had travelled to Delhi to deliver this TEDx talk, but sadly, he never got the chance. He passed away before he could step onto that stage. If he had delivered this speech, it would have been one of the most inspiring and viral talks of all time. Take just 2 minutes to read through his incredible testimony — a journey of failure, faith, resilience, and destiny. The last speech Abraham Zachariah prepared – to deliver at TEDx I didn’t go to school. I was sent to school. Hence, for 10th standard, marks were very low and I could get admission only for Commerce group, as no one wanted (is 55 years ago) in my home state Kerala. My mother was very upset as my cousins and friends got into Science groups and she pushed me into Commerce Group. I was used to tell everyone that “Useless fellow, useless fellow, useless fellow are in Commerce Group and all the useless ones are in commerce group.” She was...

 "Not Lazy, Just Lost" — A poem for every parent wondering why their brilliant child struggles at school. They say: “My child is clever, sharp, and bright, A spark that glows with inner light. So why do grades not match the flame? Why does school feel more like shame?” It isn’t sloth, it isn’t pride, It’s a quiet storm they hold inside. The world applauds the neat and still— But not the child with thoughts that spill. We breathe relief when school begins, Uniforms on, routine kicks in. Yet many minds feel left behind, Their rhythm different, undefined. School asks for silence, rows, and rules, Suppressing hearts in crowded schools. Where feelings loud and minds that roam, Are told to "focus" or "go home." But look beneath what’s judged as slack, You’ll find a child under attack— By doubts, by noise, by social fear, By never quite belonging here. The day is long, the smiles are few, They mask, they shrink, they push on through. They come back home with wear...

This poem is a small gift for our son who is celebrating his 8th birthday tommorow.  In your eyes, we see the stars, A world of wonder, near and far. Your smile—a spark that lights our day, Your laugh—a song that melts the gray. You walk a path that’s all your own, With quiet strength you’ve always shown. You’re unique in every single way, A shining light that leads the way. Empathy flows from your gentle heart, You feel so deeply, set apart. You care, you love, and always try— A tender soul that lifts us high. And oh, the way you sing so true, Each note you hum, each tune you do— Your voice, like music from above, Fills our hearts with joy and love. We pray you grow as a child of God, Doing what is just and right always Though we sometimes scolded you  We hope you know that it's for your own good Just as you love lights and every wire, Circuits, switches, sparks of fire— Your soul, too, glows electric-bright; You are our ever-glowing light. The world may not see the way you s...

Photo credit:  versionweekly.com Once, the world was wild and free, Laughter echoed through the trees. Scraped-up knees and secret quests, Adventures spun from life's unrest. Evenings filled with cricket’s song, Chasing winds that blew so strong. Hide-and-seek in sunlit lanes, No two days were quite the same. Now, the world is cold and still, Silent screens have bent our will. Eyes are locked in glowing trance, Fingers swipe but do not dance. Once, we played in dirt and sand, Now, they clutch a phone in hand. Lost in pixels, lost in scrolls, Drifting further from their souls. Dopamine, a master’s chain, Tricks the mind, rewires the brain. Children fed on fleeting highs, Trapped beneath the algorithm’s ties. Playgrounds empty, swings don’t creak, Voices fade, no shouts, no shrieks. Imagination bought and sold, Replaced by trends, both fast and cold. Not a question of screen or no, But how to make real life grow. To spark a fire, to light a dream, To break away from the machine. For ...