Guess what? I finally overcame art block after so long that it almost felt like eternity. Yesterday night, I was scrolling mindlessly on Pinterest when I actually found a good inspiration. I saw the most beautiful picture of an Easter Lily- one of my favourite species of flowers, and decided to paint them on my shorts today. I gathered my vast array of paints and brushes that only get to come outside and see my face once in a blue moon. I also grabbed the perfect pair of shorts to paint on that was quite new, knowing my mother would have told me to use an old one. I started painting late morning, and once I got into the flow, it felt so calming. The brushstrokes came easier than I expected, and slowly, those petals started to look like actual lilies. The shorts look kind of amazing now, if I do say so myself. I’m honestly proud I didn’t mess them up.

In the evening, I took my cycle out for a ride. The weather was nice, just breezy enough, and I needed that time outside after being indoors all day. No music, no distractions, just me and the road. It cleared my head a little.

And for dinner, I made myself chili oil ramen, and for a moment, all was right in the world. If bliss had a flavor, it would be this. You might be thinking, "Her mom lets her have ramen for dinner? Wow!" Well, the truth is that i get scolded every second for eating a junk food for dinner. Along with this meal comes a free package in which you are lectured about the health problems that ramen may cause.

Nothing big happened today, but it felt full. The kind of day I'd like to bottle up and keep.

Woke up in a dystopia today- well, kind of. I started my day by reading 1984, a book banned for its social and political themes, yet so highly addictive. I'm not much of a bibliophile, but this book is so gripping it makes you want to keep flipping the pages just to see how much worse things can get.

By noon, my cousins from Jalandhar had arrived. We went to a restaurant with them in the evening, and it was anything but boring. The food was great, the table was packed, and the conversation was a loud, overlapping mess- as always. My sister even ended up accidentally breaking a plate of the dining place. We all just stared, and then burst out laughing while she looked absolutely mortified, like a kid caught stealing from the cookie jar on CCTV.

After we came back home, none of us were ready to sleep. We played everything from Uno to dumb made-up challenges that had no rules and even less logic. There was yelling, fake betrayals, dramatic gasps, and wild accusations of cheating. Nights like these don’t come around often, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Some people dream of fame. Others of fortune. I dream of forests, mountains, oceans, and skies, of exploring every corner of the flora and fauna of the world, one breathtaking place at a time. I spent the whole day packing for Switzerland, and somehow I’m not even tired. The floor was covered in clothes, chargers, half-zipped bags, and a bunch of things I may or may not actually need, but it felt good. I wasn’t just throwing things into a suitcase. I was planning: matching outfits with places, checking the weather for cities I’ve never been to, making sure I had the right jacket for that one train ride I saw in a reel. I've always loved the kind of travel where you’re not just ticking off spots for the sake of it, but actually standing there, taking it in. But let’s be honest, I do like checking countries off too. There's something satisfying about it, marking a place and knowing, yup, I was there. I was on Pinterest half the day looking at lakes, trails, and mountain towns that barely look real. The more I scrolled, the more I wanted to be there already. Switzerland is just the starting point. There's so much more I want to see, to feel, to breathe in.

My mom, meanwhile, is the ultimate stress packer. She's the type who’ll ask me if I’ve packed something right after watching me pack it. Every five minutes it’s: “Did you pack this? Where are your socks? That’s not enough clothes!” She’s also the kind of person who brings her entire wardrobe for a one-night trip- just in case, of course. Watching her pack is like watching a tornado in slow motion- loud, intense, but weirdly precise.

Anyway, I think we’re finally almost ready. I can't wait to go to Switzerland!

Although there was one place that I had been ecstatic about going to ever since the trip was being planned- CERN (European Council for Nuclear Research) in Geneva. It was truly an experience to learn about particle physics and to see THE control room of one the experiments of the Large Hadron Collider! That one visit made all the difference, it reminded me why I’ve always been curious about how the universe works, and how small we really are in the grand scheme of things. Despite everything, I’m glad I went. Every trip teaches you something, even if it’s not what you expected to learn.

I made 16 large cookies, and each one looked straight out of a Pinterest post (okay maybe not that perfect, but still impressive). The smell in the kitchen was heavenly, and I couldn’t resist sneaking a few while they were still warm. Totally worth the slightly burnt tongue.

Even my family was surprised and they’re not easy to impress when it comes to baked stuff. Maybe I should frame this moment before I mess up the next batch.

Anyway, it was a sweet little win today. Literally.