Personal

LIFE

So, this picture was clicked on my 25th birthday, and I was supposed to be having a quarter-life crisis, but guess what? Great food and awesome company (AND HANDMADE ICE CREAM) got me grinning from ear to ear and feeling like I’m on cloud nine!

Let’s talk about the good stuff – FOOD! With every delicious bite (Oh Thai food, I owe it all to you), my worries melt away faster than ice cream on a hot summer day. And speaking of ice cream, let’s just say it’s my ultimate happy pill!

But you know what really tickled my fancy? Taking a nighttime jaunt through the enchantingly lit streets of Washington D.C. with my pals. Vintage vibes and twinkling lights – it felt like stepping into a dream!

Life’s all about those little moments that bring a smile to your face, isn’t it? So, here’s to relishing the happiness in every scoop of ice cream and every cozy night stroll. Cheers to hitting 25 and fully embracing life’s incredible adventures!

BADMINTON

That’s me, in my element, soaring through the air for a good ol’ badminton smash, a regular occurrence every other evening (bless my knees and shins). Any form of sports keeps my spirits high, and Badminton happens to be at the top of my sports life right now. After all, ‘A sound mind in a sound body,’ right?

I am a doubles player for the UMCP collegiate badminton team (2023 - 2024). Still on a drought for medals, though. But hey, in my defense, it’s only been 4 years since I started playing the sport, and I have only played one proper tournament (hard coping, I know 😔)

TRACK & FIELD

If someone tries to take a jab at me by saying that I look like I’m sprinting towards some hot momos at the end of the race’s finishing line in the photo, I probably would agree. I wasn’t the most photogenic track and field athlete, clearly, especially when I was intensely focused on my events.

I served as a sprinter and long jumper for BITS Pilani’s Track & Field team during 2016-2020. I made my way up from nearly fainting after completing just one 400-meter warm-up lap in 2016 to becoming one of my college’s fastest sprinters by 2020, a fact I’m a little proud of. Sprinting truly instilled discipline in me, and its lessons are ones I carry with me to this day.

Over the course of four years, I earned several medals in events including the 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m, and long jump across various inter-collegiate meets. And interestingly, this photo is from the last ever track & field event I competed in.

GYM

I realized that the various sports I engage in primarily focus on cardio, which prompted me to consider adding some gym sessions to my routine. So here’s me going strong with my 2024 resolution to be a regular at the gym, and it’s been a game-changer. Not only has it helped me build muscle, but it has also brought a much-needed structure to my life. Won’t say no to a bit of structure in my life now, will I?

PHOTOGRAPHY

Behold, an unedited gem I captured of a breathtaking evening sky whilst waiting for a metro train. I am very passionate about photography, and I find beauty in everything – from people and skies to birds, insects, and water bodies. With a knack for capturing captivating views and symmetry (not self proclaimed, believe me please), I’ve become the go-to photographer among my friends and family, by choice, of course. Perhaps it’s time I start charging them for my skills! 😤

DANCE

That’s a very short part of a video of my last ever dance performance as an Undergrad. My dance journey started casually, attempting to mimic popping moves from dance TV shows with friends. My body randomly grooving to some music playing in my brain has been quite a common occurence over the years.

Though I lack formal training, I bravely attempted to join competitive dance teams twice. The first time, nerves turned me into a stiff statue (cue brain popping instead of my body 🤯). The second time, I had to learn a one minute choreo as a part of the induction process, and I realized that I was amidst seasoned pros, who picked it up within 5 minutes. Then there was poor me, still figuring where my left leg should go at the 31st second of the choreo, after 30 minutes of practicing.

Despite the comical mishaps, I love dancing and the way it makes me feel. I have had a quirky relationship with it as well. Way too shy to dance in front of friends, but absolutely fearless on a stage in front of a crowd. Understanding myself in these moments? Well, let’s just say it’s a work in progress.

ART

As a child, my mother was my go-to for art projects in school, and she is so creative and skilled at it. I always looked up to her and wanted to be good at art just like her (key note - ‘wanted to be’ 😮‍💨). I loved pencil sketches while I was still in middle school, and would always draw some fighter plane (inspired from some film), fish (from my own aquarium) or ship (inspired from Pirates of the Carribean) on my notebooks. But over the years, as life took its course, this interest of mine sort of died down.

Fast forward, I’m surrounded by close friends who are passionate about and are very skilled at art. I did my first artwork in almost 10 years (and first ever painting, I think), because these blessed souls decided to organize a ‘Paint Nite’ with me. The theme was ‘Halloween’ and I decided to paint a cat (I’m surrounded by cat enthusiasts, and the influence has kinda rubbed off) sitting on a Halloween pumpkin with the help of an image from the internet. Absolutely 10/10 tranquil and immersive experience, thoroughly loved it, and definitely something I’d love to put in some time as a hobby in the future.

AQUARIUMS

Hey don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of dogs and cats (at least the less scary ones) and would stop to pet them any day, but fish in aquariums have always held a very special place in my heart and still do. One of my fondest childhood memories is rushing home from school every day just to sit by our fish tank and watch those adorable little fish swim around for hours on end.

This fascination has stuck with me well into adulthood as you’ll often find me completely entranced by aquariums or pausing at every water body that I come across and spending a solid minute or two looking for fish swimming around.

GAMING

I was first introduced to the world of gaming as a young kid by my elder brother, who enlisted me as his trusty sidekick in absolutely evergreen classic games like Road Rash and Contra. Gaming quickly became a cherished pastime for me, serving as a way to socialize with my brother and friends, or simply as a form of relaxation during ‘me time.’

However, my interest in gaming reached new heights during 2019-2021 when I delved into competitive gaming. I discovered the adrenaline rush of competitive FPS gaming and even clinched victories in city-level tournaments in Valorant and Apex Legends. I still try to sneak in some play time whenever I’m free, which is more of a rarity nowadays. Ah, the lockdown days – the abundance of free time is the only thing I miss about it.

MOVIES

Ah, if you recognized the movie scene, you’re a legend in my book! And if not, well, it’s time to rectify that immediately. Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece, ‘Interstellar’, stands as one of the finest films ever crafted, a timeless classic that transcends the boundaries of cinema.

As a self-proclaimed movie buff, inspired by my fellow movie enthusiast dad, I’m constantly awestruck by the power of cinema. It’s more than just entertainment – it’s a medium that allows us to experience a range of emotions, from exhilaration to contemplation. Movies have the incredible ability to transport me to different worlds mentally, challenge my perspectives, and evoke profound emotions within me.