horizontaly parked in diagonal world

  I have never believed in ghost stories. I studied science. I believe in reason, probability, and cause and effect. Yet once in my life I witnessed something so strange that even today I struggle to explain it. It began with an inexplicable journey across half of India—and ended with a moment in my own house that felt deeply supernatural. It happened during Diwali in my third year at IIT. Diwali was usually not a holiday for us, but that year our exams had just finished and there was a short break. Many students were leaving for home. I had no such plan. My home was on the other side of the country, and traveling that far as a student with little money was not easy. Then my friend Kailash from Kanpur casually asked me, “Why don’t you come with me to Kanpur? From there you can go to Patna.” I had never attempted something like that—cutting across half of India just to reach home for Diwali. But for reasons I could not explain, I agreed almost immediately. Looking back, it felt less...

 It was just another day in my IIM classroom—or so I thought. Accounting lectures usually had a reputation for being dry, and I had a tendency to get a little… distracted. That day, my behavior apparently crossed a line. To my shock, the professor—a lady with a sharp eye for detail—asked me to leave the classroom. Leave. The whole class went silent for a moment. Being asked out of an IIM classroom is almost unheard of. Postgraduate students are supposed to be adults, responsible for their own learning, and professors generally focus more on teaching than disciplining. But here I was, sitting outside the door, realizing this was serious. The punishment didn’t end there. I was given a case study to solve—something that felt more like a challenge than an assignment. That evening, I was asked to meet her. She didn’t scold me loudly, she didn’t raise her voice—but her disappointment was clear. Her subtle disapproval hit harder than any lecture could. It made me reflect: Was I really t...

Five years isn’t a long time on paper. But in terms of inner shifts? It’s an entire era. If I could go back and sit with the version of me from 2019-2020, I wouldn’t give him advice on business plans, gym routines, or market trends. I’d talk about himself . About what he was ignoring, resisting, or misunderstanding about his own wiring. Here’s what I wish I truly understood about myself back then: 1. I’m Not “Falling Behind” — My Timeline is Mine Back then, I used to believe success had a ticking clock. If a venture failed, if a relationship didn’t progress, if others seemed “ahead” — it felt like personal failure. But life isn’t a race. It’s not even a straight line. Some people sprint, some wander, some restart from zero multiple times. What I’ve learned? My pace is not slow. It’s deliberate. And that’s okay. 2. I Crave Depth, Not Noise While others chased fast wins, trends, or shallow validation, I often found myself overthinking — about people, decisions, even s...

There was a time when heartbreak ended with silence. A letter never replied to. A phone call left unanswered. A physical presence gone. The pain was sharp — but final. Now, heartbreak lingers in pixels . It lives in “Seen 4:32 PM.” In profile pictures that still smile. In Spotify playlists updated with cryptic intent. In stories watched, but texts ignored. We are breaking up while still being watched. We grieve under surveillance — mutual, silent, haunting. 👻 The New Ghosts The modern ghost doesn’t vanish — they hover . They check your story. They like your post a week later. They follow your every move without ever speaking again. You’re not blocked. You’re not chosen. You exist in their peripheral awareness — and they in yours. This isn’t closure. It’s exposure. 🧠 Our Brains Aren’t Wired for “Seen” Evolution didn’t prepare us for this kind of ambiguity. What does it mean? Were they busy? Were they hurt? Was it on purpose? We spiral because the loop...

 In the summer of 1998, just after our intermediate exams, seven of us — wide-eyed, full of dreams, and hungry for adventure — set off on what was supposed to be a simple exam trip from Patna to Allahabad . It was supposed to be about engineering entrance tests, staying focused, and chasing our career dreams. But honestly? It turned into one of the most unforgettable trips of our lives . 🚆 The Train Ride That Had It All We boarded the train with exam stress in one hand and wild energy in the other. The squad: Dharmbir Singh , Shah Ali Adnan , Shwetank Chandra , Anubhav Jha , Tashfeen Khan , and me — all of us just 15–16 years old, with a head full of hope and hearts full of mischief. Squad goals, 1998 edition – on the way to Allahabad with big dreams and bigger jokes . A couple of beers may or may not have made their way into our hands (you know how "cool" we felt back then). Somewhere near Buxar, our laughter got a bit too loud — and boom, enter the RPF . That moment when...

Introduction At first glance, a Jain monk walking barefoot with a bowl in hand and a fitness enthusiast lifting weights in an air-conditioned gym might seem like they live on different planets. One avoids worldly pleasures; the other embraces body sculpting and physical prowess. But beneath the surface, both lifestyles are built on intent, control, and self-mastery . This surprising overlap offers a refreshing perspective on what it really means to live with purpose. 1. Discipline is Everything Gym-goer : Wakes up early, follows a strict workout routine, resists junk food, tracks progress, and avoids distractions. Jain : Follows vratas (vows), wakes up before sunrise, fasts regularly, meditates, and practices absolute discipline in action and thought. 🧠 Both understand that growth — physical or spiritual — demands routine and repetition. 2. Control Over Desires Gym-goer : Controls cravings to reach fitness goals — skipping dessert, saying no to weekend binges, etc....

 It’s been 20 years, but I still remember every rep from that first day at the gym. Not because I was excited… But because it hurt — in ways I didn't even know were possible. I walked in unsure, already a bit apprehensive about the whole “gym life.” I wasn’t confident, wasn’t fit, and honestly wasn’t sure if this was something I was built for. But I showed up. My trainer didn’t believe in “easing into it.” No gentle welcome, no warm-up stretches, no prep talk. Just a cold, printed body chart that looked innocent… until it started hurting. The lineup: Chin-ups – 10×4 Shoulder Dumbbell Press – 10×4 Lat Pulldown (Multigym) – 10×4 Indian Dips – 10×4 Bench Press (Machine) – 10×4 Dips – 10×4 Dumbell Biceps – 10×4 Bicep Curls – 10×4 That’s 32 sets of pain. By the time I was halfway through, my arms felt like lead. My chest burned, my shoulders were trembling, and every drop of sweat felt like it was carrying away my will to continue. There were no break...

Women in the video taught at an Allahabad school. We, too, had our share of gorgeous teachers at Don Bosco—clearly reflected in my top-ranking report card! Beautiful women aren’t just inspiring; they make this planet worth staying on.  

 As quantum computing advances, it poses a significant challenge to current encryption methods. Traditional cryptographic algorithms like RSA, ECC, and AES-256 rely on mathematical problems that classical computers struggle to solve efficiently. However, quantum computers, leveraging principles of superposition and entanglement, have the potential to break these encryption standards, necessitating the development of post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The Quantum Threat to Cybersecurity Breaking Public-Key Cryptography: Algorithms like RSA and ECC depend on the difficulty of factoring large prime numbers or solving discrete logarithm problems. Shor’s algorithm, designed for quantum computers, can solve these problems exponentially faster, rendering current encryption obsolete. Impact on Secure Communications: Quantum attacks could compromise HTTPS, VPNs, and encrypted messaging, putting sensitive financial, governmental, and personal data at risk. The Need for Post-Quantum Solutions...

 The workplace as we know it is undergoing a seismic shift. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are no longer futuristic concepts; they are actively reshaping industries, redefining job roles, and altering how we approach work-life balance. As businesses integrate AI-driven solutions to streamline operations, the question arises: what does the future hold for workers? A Paradigm Shift, Not Just an Incremental Change AI and automation are not merely a delta shift—small, incremental changes in the job market. Instead, they represent a paradigm shift, fundamentally redefining the structure of work itself. Unlike previous industrial advancements that primarily replaced manual labor, AI is impacting knowledge-based jobs, requiring workers to rethink their skill sets and professional trajectories. Upskilling: The Key to Thriving in the AI Era To remain competitive in the evolving job landscape, workers must proactively adapt by acquiring new skills and embracing continuous learni...

  लगता है लिखना ज्यादा जरूरी है: अभिव्यक्ति की ताकत और डिजिटल युग में इसकी भूमिका लेखन सिर्फ शब्दों को कागज पर उतारने की कला नहीं, बल्कि यह एक सशक्त माध्यम है जो विचारों, भावनाओं और अनुभवों को व्यक्त करने में अहम भूमिका निभाता है। चाहे वह साहित्य हो, ब्लॉग हो, सोशल मीडिया पोस्ट हो या व्यक्तिगत डायरी, लेखन का महत्व आज के समय में और भी बढ़ गया है। और अगर आपको इस पर यकीन नहीं हो रहा, तो जरा सोचिए – आपकी दादी-नानी की कहानियाँ भी तो कभी न कभी लिखी गई थीं, वरना हमें पंचतंत्र और विक्रम-बेताल कहां से मिलते? 1. अभिव्यक्ति का सबसे प्रभावी माध्यम जब हम अपने विचारों को लिखते हैं, तो वे अधिक स्पष्ट और प्रभावशाली बनते हैं। मौखिक संचार में अक्सर भावनाएँ बह जाती हैं, लेकिन लिखे हुए शब्द हमेशा के लिए संचित रहते हैं। यही वजह है कि जब आप किसी से नाराज़ होते हैं, तो व्हाट्सएप पर लंबा-चौड़ा मैसेज टाइप कर देते हैं, और फिर डिलीट करने के बजाय भेज भी देते हैं – लेकिन कम से कम आपके इमोशन्स तो निकल गए! 2. डिजिटल युग में लेखन का बढ़ता महत्व आज के समय में डिजिटल मीडिया, ब्लॉगिंग और सोशल मीडिया ने लेखन को और भी...

  Pregnant with Possibilities: How Quantum Computing Is Shaping the Future The world stands on the brink of a technological revolution—one that promises to reshape industries, solve problems beyond classical computing’s reach, and redefine the very fabric of reality. Quantum computing , long a subject of theoretical fascination, is now transitioning from lab curiosity to commercial viability. In doing so, it’s birthing possibilities once confined to the realm of science fiction. From Theory to Real-World Momentum Unlike classical computers that process data using binary bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers harness qubits —units of information that exist in multiple states simultaneously thanks to the principles of superposition and entanglement . This allows quantum systems to process exponentially more data and solve problems that would take classical machines millennia to crack. But this isn’t just a theoretical leap—it’s a paradigm shift already materializing in the real wo...