Disclaimer: The opinions shared here are not intended to offend anyone. They reflect my personal perspective on current issues. Everyone is entitled to their own viewpoint.

DELHI - The Capital City or the Capital Crisis?

What can be said about our capital city? There's so much to discuss. I feel overwhelmed even writing this because Delhi is not just the capital of India anymore sadly, it’s also known as the crime capital of the country, consistently recording the highest number of criminal cases. And that's not all we’ve “achieved.” As per the World Air Quality Report 2024, New Delhi was ranked the most polluted capital city in the world.

Now, let’s look at some star-studded figures that highlight the reality of Delhi:

• Delhi ranks #1 in total crime cases among 19 metropolitan cities.

• It ranks 8th globally among world capitals for murder rate (1.49 per 100,000 residents).

• In just the first six months of 2025, over 118,000 criminal cases were registered.

• Around 932 rape and POCSO cases were reported in the first half of 2025-approximately 5 rape cases daily.

• Roads in Delhi continue to be dangerous: 190 people died in hit-and-run cases in the first four months of 2025.

And this is just the surface; there’s a lot more I could mention. But either you’d get bored reading, or worse, start hating our capital city.

Now, let’s shift focus to the stardom of our judicial system.

(Trust me, by the end of this, you'll either start loving our system for its uniqueness, or lose the remaining trust you had in it.)

India’s judicial system is one of the most complex and overburdened in the world.

Here are some shocking facts:

• 52 million+ cases pending in Indian courts, [this backlog represents nearly 4% of India's entire population waiting for justice.]

• 180,000+ cases pending for 30+ years.

• Nearly 5 million cases pending for over a decade.

• 21 judges per million people, compared to 150/million in the US. Even the 1987 Law Commission recommendation of 50 judges per million is still unmet.

Human cost of judicial delay:

• 574,000+ people in Indian prisons - 75% are undertrials still waiting for justice.

• Prison occupancy rate: 131.4% - inhumane and unsustainable.

• Some undertrials have spent 5+ years in jail without trial completion.

Recent Cases That Raised Eyebrows:

1.Pune Porsche Case (2024)

A minor driving a Porsche killed two tech professionals. He was granted bail, and even more shockingly, was initially asked to write an essay as punishment.

2.Delhi Rape & Stabbing Case (2025)

An accused r@pist, released on bail, stalked and stabbed the same victim. The system failed - again.

3.RG Kar Medical College Case (2024)

A junior doctor was r@ped and murdered. The main accused received life imprisonment, not the death penalty, leaving the public and the victim’s family devastated.

INDIA: A Country with Serious, Long-Ignored Issues

Our nation is already battling major issues, many of which are either politically ignored or judicially delayed:

• Corruption (top to bottom)

• The population explosion, which fuels every other crisis

• Unemployment is crippling growth

• Income inequality

• Exam scandals that destroy the trust of youth, recent SSC exam failures are just one example

Amid these mounting issues, our Supreme Court often seems more focused on irrelevant or tone-deaf verdicts, instead of the mountain of serious pending cases that await attention. Which brings me to the core reason I started writing this article in the first place…

Now let’s talk about the latest Supreme Court ruling: removal of stray dogs from Delhi’s streets.

Let’s look at facts first:

Estimated 1 million stray dogs in Delhi (2025)

26,000 dog bite cases reported as of August 2025

49 rabies cases (Jan–July 2025)

Highlighting corruption and ineffectiveness in Delhi's shelter homes and sterilization drives:-

• Sterilization & Vaccination: Only 65,000 dogs were sterilized in the first half of 2025. We still fall short of the required 70-80% sterilization rate.

• Shelter Reality: Delhi has 20 Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers, handling just 2,500 dogs at a time. Even if each center became a full shelter (500 dogs each), they’d serve just 5,000 dogs, less than 5% of the total population.

• On-ground corruption: Investigations show that many sterilization centers lack basic infrastructure, proper staff, and CCTV monitoring. Whistleblowers claim centers often falsely bill for surgeries that never happened.

So yes, dog attacks are a serious issue and must be addressed, but ordering their removal from the streets? That feels barbaric. Why punish the dogs when the real failure lies in the system's negligence in providing proper shelter, proper sterilization, and basic care?

Dogs don’t choose to live on the street. They don’t choose to go hungry or get sick. And yet, they get blamed for it all.

Humans can at least earn, or try to secure food, shelter, and safety. Animals cannot. They’re helpless, entirely dependent on us, the very people who failed them.

Rather than improving shelter conditions or fixing the corrupt sterilization system, the court decides to wipe the dogs off the streets? It’s like, instead of fixing the legal system for r@pe cases, we remove all men from the country to avoid it.

In Conclusion

Yes, dog attacks need attention. But we also have so many other major crises in our country that are being ignored or delayed, and the longer we wait, the worse they’ll get.

And as for the Supreme Court’s verdict: relocating dogs to properly managed shelters could have been acceptable. But we all know the truth-our system is broken.

Did you know?

From 2019 to 2021, 224 million Indians suffered from malnutrition.

Over 4,500 children under five die every day from hunger.

About 70-74% of Indians can’t afford a healthy diet.

And how can we expect the government to care for animals when it can’t even properly feed its people?

Lastly, Read this somewhere, and I couldn’t agree more

To those who say, “If you love dogs so much, take them all home,” just one question:

When you donate to an orphanage, do you adopt all the kids?

When you help an old man cross the road, do you bring him home?

No. Helping doesn’t always mean adopting.

It simply means doing your part to make their life better where they are.

Feeding, sterilizing, and vaccinating stray dogs helps them.

It matters. It truly does.

So, instead of guilt-tripping those who care, try caring a little yourself.

Whether it’s humans or animals, helping the helpless is always meaningful.

It brings peace to your heart and meaning to your life.❤️

"Thanks for coming along for the read. If this sparked a thought or a feeling, I’d love to hear about it."

Until next time - truly sans : )

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Have you ever felt bad for living in a tier-2 or tier-3 city where there are no good colleges, no good job opportunities, and hardly anything to explore?

Well, I belong to a tier-3 city. And honestly, I hate it for all those reasons.

But there’s one and enough reason to love this place: it’s where my home is. It’s where I was born and brought up. And most importantly, it’s where my parents live. That’s reason enough to stay a little longer, to still love my hometown despite everything else.

However, living in a tier-3 city comes with its price; most of us eventually have to leave our hometowns for better education, better job opportunities, or simply better lives. And with that comes the guilt of leaving your parents all alone.

I still remember the day I left for another city in 2021 to start my undergrad. I knew my mom would cry while seeing me off, but what I didn’t expect was my dad quietly sitting on the sofa, crying the night before as I packed my bags. I had never seen him cry before, and that memory still breaks my heart. It still makes me feel selfish for leaving them alone to chase my dreams.

And honestly, no matter how many times you leave, whether it’s the first time or the fourth, whether for a few months or a few years, the thought of leaving your parents and your home never gets easier, especially if you're from a nuclear family.

In my house. I keep everyone entertained, yell at dad for not eating fruits, help mom pick out her sarees and jewelry for her events, annoy my dog all day, and just do random, silly things that fill the house with noise and life.

And I can’t help but wonder:

• Will the house feel quieter after I leave?

• Will my parents feel bored and lonely?

• Will my dog enjoy life less in the same house?

The answer is: yes - at least to some extent.

But does that mean the people we leave behind, or the home we left behind, will never be lively again?

Not exactly.

Everyone eventually finds their way to live fully, even without you. For a while, things may not be the same, but with time, they learn to live that same life again, just differently.

Do you remember how we cried on our first day of school, clinging to our parents, not wanting to leave them? And they would console us, saying it’s just a matter of a few hours, that they’d be there to take us home later?

Now it’s the reverse.

Now our parents are the ones crying when we move to a different city or country, and we’re the ones consoling them, saying, “I’ll be back in a few months,” even if we know it may be just for festivals, and that too only if we get leave.

Just a few days back, I came across a post on LinkedIn that tried to calculate the average time a child spends with their parents if they live away from home for studies or work. And that calculation hit me hard. The guilt it brought was overwhelming.

My elder sister hardly visits home - maybe twice a year. Earlier, it was her master’s degree, and now it's her job. It’s usually Diwali, or only when mom emotionally blackmails her like, “Apne boss se meri baat karwa… Do din ki chhutti to de hi sakte hain.”

I used to complain to her: “Didi, don’t you love your family? You’re home for just 20/25 days out of 365. Am I the only one who cares about mom and dad?”

But honestly, no child wants to stay away from their parents. It’s never by choice; it’s the compulsion of college deadlines or corporate targets that tie them down.

In my case, things have been a little different (at least for now). I live just 250+ km away from home, and I’m one of those who visit frequently. I come back during almost every festival, and in between too.

I still remember how, in my first year of college, I’d plan trips home even for a two-day break because I was so homesick. My friends used to joke about me coming home every month.

But who knew that once we moved even farther away, visiting our parents would become a dream? We’ll crave those short visits, those warm meals, those noisy homes.

Who knew that the food we once complained about would become the food we crave over bland hostel food?

Who knew that the background chaos of our homes would feel like peace once we’re stuck between four hostel walls?

Most of us take all this for granted: our parents, our homes, the love we receive every day. We don’t spend enough time with our loved ones while we’re still around them, and that often turns into regret when they’re no longer close.

So, whatever time you have with your loved ones, spend it wisely.

• Record your parents

• Create happy memories

• Go shopping with them

• Have lunch and dinner together

• Ask them questions

• Show your love

• Tell them how much they mean to you

And most importantly, live happily.

It’s not your city’s fault. It’s not your parents’ fault. It’s not even your fault.

It’s just that to achieve something in life, we have to step outside our comfort zone. Just like a tree branch can’t grow in the shade forever, it needs sunlight to grow. Similarly, if we want to achieve something big, if we want to provide a better life for our parents, if we want to be independent, then we have to step out of our comfort zone.

It may feel difficult at first, but eventually, we adapt. We learn. We grow.

And that’s what life is.

"Thanks for coming along for the read. If this sparked a thought or a feeling, I’d love to hear about it."

Until next time - truly sans : )

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Have you ever felt like you expect too much from a single life?

Well, if I talk about myself, I too want a lot from life all at once. I want to do a government job, bring about reforms in society. At the same time, I dream of working in the private sector too, earning a handsome salary and working in an aesthetic, dreamlike workplace (sounds dreamy, right? I know).

Then there's a part of me that wants to study abroad just me, my books, and my wandering soul exploring new places. But at the same time, I also want to study in top institutes here in my own country, staying close to my roots and loved ones.

And this is just the beginning. Many things keep floating around in my mind. I guess I can name it - a wandering mind.

A mind that wants it all

A lot of thoughts keep floating in my head, and sometimes I feel like I want to do everything - all in a single day. Wake up early, exercise, have a healthy breakfast, finish multiple lectures, learn a new language, pick up technical skills, read novels, write articles, do embroidery, and maybe even try doodling or illustration. All of it. In one go.

And to be honest, some of these things weren’t even in my mind earlier , they got added after scrolling through reels for two or three hours straight.

Social media: the hidden influence

This brings me to something very real, the influence of social media. Many times, I’ve noticed that new things on my Wishlist didn’t come from my heart but I just saw them 2 minutes ago in a reel or an ad. Influencers present products, lifestyles, and routines in such a tempting and polished way that we start believing we want the same.

But social media often shows only the highlights, not the full picture.

An influencer might be promoting a dating app while being single themselves. A famous actress might be promoting sweets while she’s actually on a strict sugar free diet. An actor might warn you about smoking in a public ad while doing it in real life. So, expecting too much from yourself under the influence of others can lead you nowhere.

So, Is It Wrong to Expect So Much from Life?

Maybe not.

Because who knows? This might be our only life , our only birth, to chase all those dreams, fulfill our bucket lists, and become the version of ourselves we imagine in our heads. Wanting more out of life is not wrong. But here's the thing: there's a huge difference between thinking about doing everything and working toward it.

Some days will be unproductive. You might not be able to focus, or even get anything done. And that’s completely okay. We’re human. But when we expect so much from life, we also have to put in that much effort. That’s the rule. No shortcuts here.

A Life Plan Doesn’t Have to Be All at Once

Here’s something I’ve come to realize - you don’t have to do everything at once.

You can divide your life into phases. Maybe now you focus on gaining skills or getting a job. Once you’ve achieved that, you can move on to your next goal. Life is long enough if we use it wisely. You can study abroad and study at home. You can work in public service and the private sector , just not all in the same season.

It’s like train stations, you can’t stop at all of them at the same time, but you can reach each one if you travel with patience.

Final Thought 🎯

Expecting a lot from life is not the problem. But expecting things just because they look good on someone else, can lead us down the wrong path.

Let your mind wander that’s where the spark begins. You don’t have to silence your big dreams, organize them, prioritize them, and start walking toward them, one by one.

In the end, it's not about doing everything at once.

It's about doing the right things at the right time - with your whole heart.

"Thanks for coming along for the read. If this sparked a thought or a feeling, I’d love to hear about it."

Until next time - truly sans : )

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Have you ever accidentally left the water tap open-today, yesterday, or maybe a few days ago?

Maybe while watering plants, filling cooler tanks, or during some household chore?

Well… it happens to me too (yes, only by mistake).

Some of us have access to clean water 24/7, without giving it a second thought.

But at the same time, there's Deepika from Chennai, forced to drink polluted water because she can't afford to buy clean drinking water every time. There's Kusum from Rajasthan, who migrated to another place just hoping to find better access to water. Rajesh, a farmer from Tamil Nadu, took his own life last summer due to a failed crop because there wasn’t enough water. Krishna from Latur struggles with several health issues caused by a lack of clean drinking water.

So what’s the common link between all of them?

Are they all poor? No.

Do they all live in rural areas? No.

They all suffer from water scarcity.

They all find it difficult to access clean, safe water.

While we might be lucky to have a regular water supply at home, in our buildings, or in our city, many places in India face severe water scarcity-especially during summer.

A Video That Shook Me

By the way, have you seen that viral video of a woman in Borichivari, Nashik, climbing down into a deep well just to get a few drops of water?

If not, here’s the link:

👉Watch it here

Honestly, that video is what made me write this article. It hit hard.

Some Facts You Should Know 💡

Let’s look at some hard facts that show how serious this crisis is:

• India has 4% of the world’s freshwater but needs to serve 17% of the world’s population.

• According to NITI Aayog’s 2019 report (Composite Water Management Index), India is going through the worst water crisis in its history, with nearly 600 million people facing high to extreme water stress.

World Bank numbers add more to the picture:

• 163 million Indians lack access to safe drinking water.

• 210 million don’t have access to proper sanitation due to water scarcity.

• 21% of communicable diseases in India are linked to unsafe water.

• 500 children under 5 die every day from diarrhea caused by dirty water.

  ---

Abundant Rivers, Yet Scarce Drops

You might wonder: Don't we have so many rivers?

Yes, we do.

We’ve got the Ganga, the pride of India-running 2,525 kilometers across the country. The Ganges basin alone supports more than 400 million people. Then there's the Godavari (1,464 km), Krishna (1,400 km), Yamuna (1,376 km), Narmada (1,312 km), Indus (1,114 km in India), Brahmaputra (916 km in India)… the list goes on.

So why the scarcity?

Because despite having rivers, we’re polluting them beyond imagination.

Many rivers in India are heavily polluted, with the Yamuna, Ganga, and Sabarmati ranking among the dirtiest. These rivers are contaminated with a dangerous mix of industrial waste, sewage, and even household garbage. People still bathe, wash clothes, and even defecate near or in these rivers.

Our actions are turning lifelines into poison streams.

So... Who’s Responsible?

Who caused this crisis?

Who’s facing the consequences?

Who can fix this?

The answer is just one word: Humans.

That means you, me, all of us.

It starts with the simple things. Turning off the tap. Fixing leaks. Using water wisely. Supporting clean water initiatives. Holding industries and governments accountable. Educating others.

And before we run completely dry, we still have a chance to change.

Because every drop matters.💧

"Thanks for coming along for the read. If this sparked a thought or a feeling, I’d love to hear about it."

Until next time - truly sans : )

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Sometimes, things get tough. They don’t go the way we planned them to be…

To achieve your goal, you worked hard. You gave it your 100%. You were confident, everything was going smoothly and then - BOOM… surprise, surprise. Suddenly, the tables turned on you.

Shattered hope. A boggling mind. Teary eyes. That’s all you're left with.

No doubt, it feels sad , heartbreaking even when you don’t get what you had clearly conceived in your mind and truly believed in your heart.

But it’s completely fine… because we’re not magicians, not wizards, and we don’t carry any superhero like powers with us. We are simply humans - humans who make mistakes, fall down, and slowly learn how to stand up again.

Things are unpredictable. Sometimes we’re not able to give our full potential. Other times, it’s just bad luck that works against us.

But it’s fine… this is life. Everything happens here. Everything flows , good days, bad phases, wins, losses.

Life is actually like a roller coaster , sometimes we enjoy the ride, we laugh, we scream with joy. But on the next turn, that same ride can give us anxiety, fear, and discomfort. And yet, we stay seated. Because deep down, we know it’s just a phase, a part of the ride.

In the end, it’s all about how you choose to perceive it.

When things don’t go right, maybe it’s a sign. Maybe the thing you were chasing wasn’t meant for you. Or maybe, just maybe, the Almighty wants to give you something even bigger , something beyond what you ever dared to dream. After all, He does care for His children.

I know… whatever I’ve penned down might feel like “easier said than done.”
(Trust me, even I feel that way sometimes.)

But truly what else can we do, except trust Him and believe in His plans?

Do your part. Give your best. Let go of what’s not in your hands. Surrender the rest to Him…
Because only He knows what’s better for us.

Isn’t it?

xoxo

until next time

-truly sans : )

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