SELF REALISATION

Today, when I reflect on myself, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and happiness From the schoolgirl Vishu who was once naive, confused, an emotional fool dreamer, scared to express her thoughts and fragile to the 21-year-old version of Vish who is strong headed, stubborn, straightforward, who knows what she wants, full of self love and still sucks at making life decisions. The journey has been one of self growth, resilience, and self-discovery, and I embrace every step of it. While I may not be the nicest person to everyone, but to some, I will always be unwaveringly biased and supportive, no matter what.

Lets start from the start , I’ve always been surrounded by friends—I was never alone. You could say I was afraid of being left out, and, in some ways, I still am. As a child, relationships were simple; emotions didn’t complicate things. You played, laughed, and bonded effortlessly, and the more time you spent together, the closer you became.

Growing up, I considered someone very close to me. We had been friends since we were eight years old. I was always kind and generous to her, but she often treated me poorly. She would act differently in front of others at school—sometimes even insulted me. There were moments when she acted like my best friend, but other times, she didn’t want to see my face. This pattern went on for years.

Back then, I had no self-respect. I was easily manipulated and would do anything to maintain what I thought was ‘friendship.’ I believed that was how friendships were supposed to be.

But then, I met a friend who changed my perspective entirely. This friend stood up for me, never looked down on me, respected me, and always guided me in the right direction. That’s when I realized what real friendship looks like—mutual respect, kindness, and genuine care. Today, we’ve been friends for more than seven years and counting, and it feels good to have beautiful friendship that stayed.

That phase of my life eventually came to an end, and with it, I learned valuable lessons. I became more self-aware and embraced change. I started focusing on appreciating myself and prioritizing self-love. Some mistook this for self-obsession, but they simply dumb enough to understand the difference. Self-obsession carries a negative connotation—the belief that the world revolves around you. That’s never been my mindset. For me, self-love is about recognizing my worth and celebrating myself. I’ve realized I don’t need validation from anyone. If I can appreciate myself, that’s more than enough. They always taunts me by saying self obsessed individual . I’ll take it as a pleasure .

Despite everything, I’ve learned to stand up for myself. However, there’s one thing about myself I struggle with—when I care deeply about a bond, no matter how many times the person hurts me, I find myself holding on. The weight of the beautiful memories we’ve shared often outweighs the pain they’ve caused me. I focus on preserving the bond, overlooking the hurt, often minimizing the impact of their actions. It’s a part of me I’m still working on, learning to balance forgiveness with self-respect.

I’ve learned to embrace everything with pride, even the curses and criticisms others have thrown my way. One of the curses I’ve heard is, ‘You’ll lose all your relationships with this attitude.’ But frankly, I’m determined to hold onto this mindset. I’ll carry this attitude to new heights. Many tried to manipulate me into believing it’s my fault for being the way I am, but no more. I will no longer be easily manipulated or guilted into apologies unless I’ve truly made a mistake. I won’t hold back just to save a bond that isn’t genuine. I’ll make sure I’m not taken for granted, simply because I listen to my emotions I care deeply. I will prioritize myself more, choose myself first. It’s time to protect my peace and ensure that I’m valued for who I am, not for what I give.

The girl with the curls

The best of you in my mind

-By Vishakha Pakhale

In the fall of winter we started as friends 
can’t believe today we have come to this end

You are the cold breeze of wind 
And I’m the autumn spring

Under the shade of dark sky, 
I’m always trying to figure out why, 
who is this mysterious guy, whose secrets hidden,
making the time fly.

The silliness in me didn’t see how you held me so close , so tenderly

Through laughter and tears , we wandered free ,
not knowing your company was my remedy.

We roam around the city ,crafting memories like fine whiskey.

Throwing tantrums and irritating you was the favorite thing i do

Despite all the troubles i had You bring out the best in me that’s the matter of flex you have

I cried and you became my shoulder
You came into light when i least desired

Always jumping to the conclusion is what i do
Our fights make our bond deeper is that true

I never knew attachment, my heart was free to roam, 
But then you came along, and hit the rock called home

We help each other to grow, maybe toxic, or may be wild
but surely making each other a better person in this process of flow

Like leaves that fall with the changing breeze, 
I drift through life, unbound, at ease.

I can’t digest the fear of losing you
That’s why i always come back to you.

When we’re drifting apart, I wonder if we’ll stay friends now and then, or after all?

The hope i create suddenly shatters away
and the distance in between can’t bring us close, making us betray.

We’re lost in confusion, misunderstandings keep us apart, 
And now, I can’t call you home, though it breaks my heart.

What happened to us, what’s pushing us away, 
We used to be so close, now we’re drifting apart each day.

What’s keeping you stay so far away .

I miss each day of us, the laughter we shared ,
the hug we shared can’t be brought back to life ,
do you still don’t have that drive ?

Though we are not friends anymore
I still want to know your whereabouts
so that i can’t keep any fear or any doubts

I waited till the day when all hopes slipped away
and then realized our bond went into the ashtray

I always wanted the best for you and still do. Hope your dreams and desires always come true, my cherished kind.
That’s why I’m keeping the best of you in my mind.