One thing at a time and then all of it together. Things moved quick, just ask a 90's kid. From watching the romance on screen and hoping for love to swiping left and right on an app, hoping the same. We all thought we had friends, right until we had none. Families stayed, just moved stages, from parents to in-laws and then to the kids. And while it all happened, we forgot a lot. We missed a lot. We evolved a lot. That evolution itself is a loss. Why? Because, today, we all stand in a pandemic and we are calling it 'the new normal'. But seriously though, is this all normal? Remind me again, what 'Life is beautiful' means? I am asking because I was told this over and over again back in school and I am not exactly old if you are going to smirk. Lets face it, its really not. On this day, show of hands, how many of you are self aware enough to know what they are going to tell their kids on a positive note? What happened? I see only two hands, where are the rests? Probably, not caring enough. See? The irony is, we were all betrayed in one way or the other, long before the pandemic. How else are we so experienced to face it? All the bright shiny thoughts on positivity are trying real hard to get inside of the brains but you see, dark always stays longer and stronger than the rest. Why though? Because we let it. 

Tonight, I have nothing encouraging to tell you guys, just hold on. Maybe, it will all work out and then maybe, just maybe, we will all have a story to tell our kids. Until then, don't go gentle into this good night. 

Depression, I swear, It chalks the best out of you, also the worst yeah, but the best, too. 

- Antara

 2021.

I assume, When a title of almost anything starts with this, It instantly gives us a cold shiver down our spines into our hearts and through our guts. But of course, It has been a scare. Each one of us remembers this year as the worst thing they had imagined, coming true, one after the other. A card fell in 2020 and by 2021 all of them were down. Nothing so far has been as traumatic as this, I reckon. We have had countless sleepless nights and we prayed harder even though we had been an atheist before this. In 2020, we hoped it would all end soon and it somewhere did but then again, It rose. It punished us for our carelessness, woke us up and we never slept again the same way. For some, the wounds will last a lifetime. For some, They will never believe. For most, They don't ever want to be in the same year again and for all of us, We stood closer together than ever before, The lesson taught was learnt and how! Oh man, As we will sit down to tell the coming generation about this, We will be gasping for breath, sighing a lot and probably stop telling the story in the middle of everything just because, It won't be that easy, ever. I wonder, are we glad this is over? Or are we more scared of what more could be in the store ahead? Maybe both? A loss is a loss, no matter how small, someone said and all my senses came afloat bleeding and aching and yearning. For many, it's the same and for many, it's even harder. Has this softened us? Or made us stronger? Or doubtful? Or full of hope? Hard to guess. I really dont say, bring it on! I say, Oh! Come on, give me a break! Maybe you do too? The tears have been so often shed that the eyes have dried, They no longer ache the way it would. Nothing hurts! Nothing! Is it scary or what? Fortunate, So fortunate are those who can still feel but also, fortunate are those who don't. Luckily, somehow, we are all fortunate to have survived this year. This 2021. I say, We smile just as hard as we have cried. For the last time as it very well ends, I say, BRING IT ON! With this, I pray hope, This is a Happy New Year. God bless you all! :) 

Love and Love and Courage and Light and some more LOVE.

• Antara