Aaloo de paranthe -Punjabi Special - ma ki yaad -My sister

 Mavan Thandiyan Chavaan

 Te bhena naal mithiyan hawawa   

When someone's mother is no longer there, one often wonders where that love, affection, and warmth will come from. Perhaps that is why God created siblings.

My sister, though four years younger than me, often steps into that role. In many moments of confusion or difficulty, she guides me just like my mother once did, ten years ago when she was still with us.

This summer, I went to visit my sister, who lives far away in Mohali. She was overjoyed to hear that I was coming—just like my mother used to be. With the same eagerness, she asked me, “What should I make for you?”
I smiled and replied, “Aloo de paranthe.”

After a long and tiring journey, I finally reached her home. We met, hugged, and in that moment, distance and time disappeared. Soon, she served me hot, delicious paranthas—filled with love. With every bite, I was reminded of our mother.

Truly, blessed are those who have siblings who stand by them through every phase of life—offering comfort, care, and a piece of home when it is needed the most. Love you Dipti. 

💕💕

Rajaji National Park , Haridwar- Unforgettable Safari Ride

Our visit to Rajaji National Park in April was truly unforgettable. Located near Haridwar, in the vicinity of Shivalik Nagar, this destination is a paradise for nature lovers. Surrounded by lush greenery and the serene beauty of the forest, it offers a rare opportunity to witness wildlife living freely in its natural habitat.

As we ventured deeper into the jungle, we spotted deer, stags, and graceful peacocks performing mesmerizing dances in groups. We also came across neel gai and herds of elephants. One of the most heartwarming sights was a family of elephants—father, mother, and a little baby—quietly feeding in the sugarcane fields.

Our safari was in a sturdy seven-seater open jeep, driven by a gentle and knowledgeable guide who knew exactly where animals were likely to be found. Interestingly, photography was not allowed, and our phones were collected at the beginning of the tour. This helped us stay fully present and soak in every moment without distractions. The memories we carried back are far more vivid and meaningful than any photograph could capture.

We witnessed a group of elephants drinking water from a river flowing through the jungle. The forest was alive with birds—some soaring in the clear blue sky, others perched on trees, and many filling the air with melodious songs that created a natural symphony.

At one point, we saw wild jungle fowls moving together like a disciplined parade across the open ground. Near the riverbank, we noticed fresh claw marks, possibly of a leopard, reminding us of the untamed wilderness around us. Suddenly, a large Nilgiri langoor leaped from one tree to another with incredible agility—it was a thrilling moment that gave us goosebumps.

As the weather shifted, light rain began to fall and the sun slowly disappeared behind the clouds. Sensing the change, we requested our driver—an ex-army officer who now works with the park out of his passion for wildlife—to head back. His stories and experience added a special touch to our journey.

It was truly a memorable trip. Anyone visiting Haridwar or Rishikesh should definitely explore this dense forest, rich with exquisite flora and diverse fauna.

Cost of the trip:

• Jeep safari: ₹2400
• Entry fee per person: ₹150
• Jeep entry fee: ₹200

For a group of six, the total cost came to around ₹3500. Children below 9 years of age can enter free.

Gen Z - Generation with zeal - Intelligent , talented and fearless

 Gen Z children are highly talented and seem to know how to balance their academics , sports and social life. Let's take an example of a young sportsperson in cricket, teenager  Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He is a rising superstar with immense determination to achieve his goals and has already made a mark for himself by playing in the IPL matches in 2026. His parents must be extremely proud of his achievements. Not only that, the entire nation admires him  and this youth icon is an inspiration to many around the world. This is about the cricket world and sports , in which this little super boy has become the apple of eyes of many in the country. 

Secondly , I am quite impressed by the kind of results that are being depicted by the Gen Z students these days. Lately, when we read the newspapers, we often notice students scoring 99.99 percentile in the competitive exams like JEE Mains and Advanced . In some cases, a single rank  is shared by more than thousand student. This level of caliber and hard working spirit was not commonly seen a  couple of decades ago.

Even when the level of exams is high, such as  in certain CBSE exams , for instance in 2026 Mathematics Set II exam ,which was a little on the tougher, still many students in India managed to get more than 99 %  in Class 10 board exams. When the results for tenth board were declared ,I happened to be  in Hardwar , I was astonished to check the full length advertisements of different CBSE schools, proudly claiming  their students' achievements. And that is the sweet fact. 

Gen Z children, if they are determined , are truly unstoppable. With access to vast resources and a clear understanding that hard work pays off, they are setting new benchmarks of excellence.

Woman Empowerment

 

“When women support each other, incredible things happen” – By Serena Williams

Woman Empowerment in a patriarchal world can largely flourish when women begin to lead in the major and primary spheres of society. According to me, women should gracefully assist, admire, and appreciate even the smallest achievements of other women, both in the workplace and at home. Such inspirational gestures can pave a remarkable path for women to work collaboratively for greater success and to create a niche for themselves, without any hinderance. When women uplift one another, they build stronger communities and open doors for generations, Unfortunately, the irony is of our times is that precious time and energy are often spent pulling others down, when they could instead be used to elevate, encourage, and empower one another- both in the workplace and at home. True progress will come when women celebrate each other’s victories and grow together.

 

Anunidhi Sharma

 

 

My journey with plants

 My journey with plants

Coming from a quaint, small town, border area, Gurdaspur, Punjab, I grew up in the company of lush, vibrant plants and towering trees. Both my grandmother and mother had special and soulful affection towards plants. We had a beautiful, green, thriving kitchen garden that was a source of many vegetables like tender bitter gourds, bottle gourd, lady finger, fragrant curry leaves and medicinal giloy, and the elders of the house took care of them as their children. They were nurtured with unwavering love, adding rich, organic manure from time to time.

 I came to the bustling, fast–paced city of Hyderabad, where space is a crunch for one who wants to pursue gardening as a hobby. Still, the memory of green, serene surroundings around me had a profound impact on my mind, and it lingered on for years until recently, when I dared to think of growing small, little, delicate living creatures- plants in the only tiny balcony that is part of our modern flat. 

Initially, the idea felt flat when it was resisted by the other members of the family as it was the only place in the entire house where they could sit in the open, cool air and look at the colourful, vast, ever changing sky and gossip in the evening and wanted that their needs should be prioritized and preferred that place to not to be occupied by what they saw as intruding living creatures. But, I somehow convinced them and promised them their space would not be encroached by the tiny plants that they thought to be their counterparts. 

Soon, I got a green flag from everyone in the family and started a new journey, a rather beautiful, amazing journey with the plants. I began with the seeds from my kitchen, and a few precious varieties from my neighbour, Ms Geeta, who is very close to my heart, and was happier than I for my prospects, interests and sense of duty towards nature. 

In a few weeks, the plants began to thrive, and now I have a beautiful garden on my balcony. It has given a rhythmic heartbeat to my once concrete home. The plants sway and dance when I pour water on them. I sometimes sing to my plants, and they respond by growing in leaps and bounds. My small garden, a corner, no less than heavenly bliss, is admired by one and all who visit our home.

 Plants are a divine blessing of God. After my long, tiring day’s work, I spend some peaceful time with my plants. They rejuvenate my life and help me uplift my emotions, helping me prepare for the next day’s work. I have now red hibiscus, healing giloy, a few ornamental plants, graceful palm, holy tulsi, evergreen money plant and many more.     

By – 

Ms Anunidhi Sharma