Five years changed everything—friendships, family, work, identity. This isn’t a polished list of life lessons, it’s just me trying to make sense of the quiet chaos. From feeling alone in crowded rooms to questioning what’s real within myself, this is a personal reflection on the parts of life that don’t always get spoken out loud. Not answers—just honest fragments I’m still piecing together.

In a world where dating apps and social media make casual encounters common, I find myself at odds with this trend. Indian youth are changing, and it’s hard to explain to our parents. While some find happiness in this, I believe in deeper connections. It’s okay to have choices and respect different perspectives, but personally, hookup culture just isn’t for me.