Issue 15 | January 2022

The Circle of Life: Entering the new year

The Glittery Gloom of New Years

Fleeting Phases

UPCOMING HAIR TRENDS IN 2022 F E A T U R I N G

s r e n n Wi

CONTENTS

04 07

The Circle of Life

Wokal's Photography Competition Winner

08 Epoch's Shutter Up

13 Epoch's Reverie

21 Epoch's Eureka

27 Fleeting Phases

WOKAL

CONTENTS

31 36

2022 Upcoming Hair Trends

The Glittery Gloom of New Years

46 Zanzibar- Stone Town

43 Lessons Learnt From A Pandemic Filled Year

49 Almanac

53 Credits

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The Circle of Life – by an Optimist

by Samiah Anjum

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No, I am not going to be lifting a lion cub on a cliff side for this article.

Bummer, I know, because who doesn’t like cuddly baby animals? Obviously ignoring the fact that the same baby can grow up to maul us to death.

You ever think Mother Nature feels the same with us?

The Circle of Life philosophically means that we start at the end and end at the beginning. Or, at the risk of going fully metaphorical on you, life is a race that has the same starting and finishing line.

Or something.

I don’t know, I am 19 and not athletic. I don’t know how any of this works.

What I do know is that I am an optimist, maybe even almost to a fault. I have a lot of faith: in God, in people, in the otherwise empty worded philosophy of "everything will be alright" and "everything happens for a reason". So I may be naïve and I may be annoying to be around when all you want and need is to feel sad for a little while, but what I can do, for sure, is show you the silver lining in a cloud brimming sky.

Maybe. It depends on how pessimistic you are.

Anyway.

These past 2 years have been awful. We have spent them cooped up, missing out on important social experiences, weighed down by the loss of our loved ones. The entire world has been going through a shared experience of trauma and fatigue. Normally, in fairy tales and optimism land, this would bring people together. But because this is real life and smooth sailings are clichéd, people kept being horrible.

But let’s not recap that because anti-vaxxers hurt my sensitive pharmacist heart.

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Let’s focus on how we survived despite the odds. Let’s focus on how us being cooped up gave nature the time to heal. Not nearly enough, no, but at least we did realize the damage we are capable of. Let’s focus on how this poster is from 1918, more than a century ago, and the people living then were yet to see a second world war followed by countless other wars that affected the entire world. But here we are now, their descendants, their proof of survival.

History repeats itself, life comes a full circle etc. etc. Yes, maybe these things are depressing in the sense that they could mean that we repeat all the same mistakes we have already made. But from the eyes of an optimist, it just seems like an assurance that we will survive and thrive year after year after year.

Or, one day humanity will run out of its luck and we will all be doomed.

It’s crazy, the whole Omicron thing.

Happy New Year!

WOKAL'S

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

About Picture : Oldest Tigress from Satpura Tiger Reserve

@isowalechacha

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In Collaboration With Epoch's

FEATURING WINNERS OF

p U r e t t u h S

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SAFIYA BARI

1

(@aimanbarii) B.Sc. - M.Sc. (Integrated), Jamia Hamdard University

ASTUTI GOGIA

2

(@_astuti_12) BFA, Dayalbagh Education Institute

ARADHYA SHARMA

3

(@aru.jk16) Electronic Media, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan

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In Collaboration With Epoch's

FEATURING WINNERS OF

REVERIE

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E I R E V E R

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WHAT IF BRUTUS HAD VALUED HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH CAESAR ABOVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE MIGHT TURN OUT BE A TYRANT?

celebrating Julius Caesar's triumphant return from defeating the sons of his military rival, Pompey. During the feast of Lupercal, Caesar holds a victory parade and a soothsayer warns him to "Beware the ides of March," which he ignores. Meanwhile, Cassius attempts to convince Brutus to join his conspiracy to kill Caesar. Although Brutus, friendly towards Caesar, is hesitant to kill him, agrees that Caesar may be abusing his power. They then hear from Casca that Mark Antony has offered Caesar the crown of Rome three times. Casca tells them that each time Caesar refused it with increasing reluctance, hoping that the crowd watching would insist that he accept the crown. He describes how the crowd applauded Caesar for denying the crown, and how this upset Caesar.

On the eve of the ides of March, the conspirators meet and reveal that they have forged letters of support from the Roman people to tempt Brutus into joining. Brutus reads The play opens with two tribunes the letters and, after much moral discovering the commoners of Rome debate, decides to join the “Et tu, Brute?”, a famed phrase which most of us would have come across at least once in our lives was uttered from the mouth of Julius Caesar, a Roman General when he was murdered by his long-time intimates Brutus and Cassius. Many of us recognize this name from the great works of Shakespeare but before this he was famous in his Roman City. Julius Caesar was born in an aristocratic family in around 100 BC but till now people everywhere mention his name and legacy. Caesar’s life events are portrayed through a notable play, “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” written by Shakespeare and was performed for the first time in the year 1599. Though the play is named as Julius Caesar, it mostly centres around Brutus upholding the truth of two moral statements: First, that monarchy is tyrannical; and secondly, that killing Caesar, as-yetinnocent man, is morally acceptable if it prevents Rome from becoming a monarchy.

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conspiracy, thinking that Caesar should be killed to prevent him from doing anything against the people of Rome if he were ever to be crowned.

Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, terrified by horrible nightmares, persuades Caesar not to go to the Capitol, convinced that her dreams are portents of disaster.

By prearrangement, Brutus and the other conspirators arrive to accompany Caesar, hoping to fend off any possible warnings until they have him totally in their power at the Senate. Unaware that he is surrounded by assassins and shrugging off Calpurnia’s and soothsayer’s exhortations, Caesar goes with them. Later, the senators approach Caesar with a fake petition regarding an issue involving Metellus Cimber’s banished brother. As Caesar rejects the plea, he is stabbed by the others, the last stab being of Brutus. At this point, Caesar utters the famous line "Et tu, Brute?" (i.e., "You too, Brutus?"), concluding with "Then fall, Caesar!".

If Brutus had cherished his brotherhood with Caesar above all the evidences that Caesar might turn out to be tyrant the conclusion would have been all the way different. The characters of Caesar and Brutus are quite identical. Both of them are driven by passion and intuition. They have high philosophical knowledge that makes them respectable. However, Caesar is a man driven by virtue, while Brutus is driven mostly by impulsive passion. Throughout, William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, the theme of friendship develops into a very delicate and manipulative element. Brutus along with other conspirators make use of friendship to their advantage, and to Caesar’s weakness. It was used as a facade to blind Caesar from the truth. Caesar’s trust was dishonoured and malformed into betrayal. He was exposed to the influence of friendship and was blinded by the cunning and crafty ways of Brutus and all the other conspirators.

Perhaps the most unexpected betrayal in the play occurs when Brutus, one of Caesar’s closest friends, stabs him in the back. When Caesar realizes that even Brutus has betrayed him, he accepts his death. Brutus’ actions, however, do not go unpunished. He is haunted by Caesar’s ghost, the physical manifestation of his betrayal to the man, until his own tragic death. In the pre-Christian world of Julius Caesar, Brutus action is the ultimate betrayal of friendship. Brutus could have challenged Caesar openly, and the picture would not have been so. If Brutus had retired from Rome and informed Caesar that he could no longer take part in the destruction of the roman polity, he would have been considered

By Khushi Bagga (@khushibagga.31) Bachelor's of Occupational Therapy, Jamia Hamdard

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nobler than by being part of the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. Neither his bond with Caesar would have been shattered nor a noble man would have lost his life which left everyone in a state of despair.

Friendship is at the centre in an ordered and harmonious world. Disloyalty and distrust cause this world to disintegrate. Relationships deteriorate when people position their principles ahead of their affections, and when they allow their positions as interfere with their personal lives. This incident is a classic example of such a situation. Serving the nation is of utmost importance but it should not be done by undermining one’s relationships that might yield bitter endings.

2. Anoushka Basu

B. Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard

WHAT IF BRUTUS HAD VALUED HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH CAESAR ABOVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE MIGHT TURN OUT BE A TYRANT? Dear Julius,

I ardently hope that you are reading this letter after my demise.

I'm certain that the untimely end I've inflicted on my life feels like a betrayal to you. But trust me - this is the lesser of the betrayals plotted against you.

Gaius still refers to you as the tyrant who'll destroy Rome. If it weren't mine, it would be your heartbeat that stopped.

Daggers were supposed to pierce your flesh and heart. Poor Calpurnia was supposed to become a widow.

Your pedestal rose too high too fast. You no longer cared for the Senate. It's sickening to live in your shadow Julius but that was not my motivation. You must not crown yourself King. I love my country, my romans more than I envy your magnanimity. Do not mistake me brother but your ambition has infected your mind and as you finally see, it has led to the downfall of your people, our people.

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I was provoked to any action against you to save Rome, to preserve it's purity and sanctity. The oracle told you to beware the Ides. You should have heeded the prophecy. It was my gratitude for your love that prevented what was perhaps a beautiful day in the great history of Rome. I know the love you showed me came from a pure and noble heart. It was my fondest hope that my words of caution would change your course and amend the wrongs, change cruel fate's design but alas! You pompous fool! I trusted you. I trusted you to safeguard our country. I strayed from my own better judgement. I held your life higher than every ideal I have devoted my life to.

You've already killed me brother. I should have slayed your body before you slayed my soul.

I couldn't bring myself to kill you. And hence was the conspiracy of no less than sixty senators foiled, now my enemies in addition to being yours.

Julius, you should not have waged war on Parthia. You could not have had I killed you. You won- but you did not conquer. You learnt your lesson too late - that Parthia is too large, to inhospitable, and too far away from Rome to be annexed. We lost so much more than we set out to acquire. And your insistence on making Octavian your heir apparent, forgetting that you are referring to a republic not monarchy.

I can't live with the burden of this guilt. The guilt of a missed opportunity.

The guilt of letting Rome fall in your beautiful but wicked hands. It's too painful to take your life. But I must go on now. I had one purpose and I failed -That I help return good to the people And restore greatness to Rome. Watch your back dear friend.

Your loving brother,

Brute

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WHAT IF HARRY POTTER WAS RAISED BY HAGRID INSTEAD OF THE DURSLEYS?/ WHAT IF HARRY POTTER WAS SENT TO DURMSTRANG OR ILVERMORNY INSTEAD OF HOGWARTS TO BE PROTECTED BETTER?

HARRY JAMES POTTER

"Our wounds are often openings into the best and the most beautiful part of us" they say; raised by a half giant Harry Potter would have had spent his childhood with love and friends, something which was always the bitter part of his childhood in the Rowling's version of story (not forgetting the mindboggling incidents with the dursleys). But living with a kind and loving Hagrid had he been the brave and empathic person he was? Of course being aware of magic and quidditch earlier...what a child prodigy he would have been! (As if he wasn't rocking the whole of Hogwarts already!) And would've learnt better techniques to be expelled from Hogwarts, as by himself he failed at that many times in the story.

Life would've been easier and gentler to him with his big friend. Away from the cruel abusings of the Dursley's, it could be more like little tea sessions and some gossip and secret exchanging moments, among the gardens of massive pumpkins maybe? Not bad, right? In vacation, he would've had a home to go; Hagrid's tumbledown cottage.As much as our Gentle Giant relates to Harry losing his beloved parents as well and loved his parents too, with him Harry would've never missed his parents or their love.

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Being Hagrid's fella would've made him as bizarre as him if not more?

Imagine a toddler Harry bringing a baby dragon home; his mate. And cuddling to sleep with a massive Spider? Love is in the air. :) Eventually raising Harry would have been a dangerous and difficult task for Hagrid, who's super naive with human infants. He would've had to protect Harry from not just Voldemort and the death eaters but also from himself and his huge body, simultaneously.

He would've turned out to be a kid, a bit sensitive, a little more happier and known to all the coming troubles. (Ah-ahem!

Hagrid can't keep secrets, youknow-right.) Potter could have been a spoilt-brat even!

Knowing all about his inherited treasure and what a born richie-rich kid he was from childhood.

The values and strength of character which Rowling's Harry built in Dursley's cupboard under the staircase would've been missing. The kid would've never valued relations and friendship the way he did with that spirit to protect his loved ones with his life. "Being miserable builds character" , rightly said perhaps.

The-boy-who-lived, if had not lived the same way, without his struggle wouldn't have been "the boy", Harry Potter, at all actually. Pain carries stories...stories which might come up as the bestest seller ever!

But either way, Rubeus Hagrid!, the half-giant with a crazy beard would always be the first person to love Harry Potter in his entire life! …..ALWAYS.

Ojaswini Bahuguna (@0_0jaswini0_0)

Bachelor's of Elementary Education, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University

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FEATURING WINNERS OF

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TRANSFIXED

Prompt:

The room was soaked with light, But her eyes, they were blind.

So he found reign of her face And peered into her mind.

Yet, she was not surprised.

Been a while since she had known.

The soul-seeking slivers in His jaws, reached for her own.

And not fear but fascination Gripped her heed in the deep.

Arid affairs of teenage life Had nearly streeled her self to sleep.

“I am you, and I bring peace.”

She heard, his roots inside her core.

The light around her sought relief.

A lone soul once, lonely no more.

A black fog of inner demons Or a soul soother is he?

As the whirlpool in his eyes unfurled Her spellbound spirit was set free.

Mallika Mandal B.A Hons Economics, St. Stephens College, Delhi University

(@_x_x_awesome_sauce_x_x_)

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TO MY PERSONAL FRANKENSTEIN Yesterday I remembered Of the time I was eight How mum used to save me From the monster that I thought, lurked under my bed A creature of dark, a lover of gloom She used to save me from the impending doom “Mum, there’s a monster under my bed” “Relax honey, it’s all in your head”

Prompt:

Today, I look under my bed The beast has apparently, seeped into my head His presence I feel everyday Yearning for separation, I frequently pray My sight shows the world as an open stage This heart contradicts, and paints a gloomy page Anxiety has gripped the personal space Vanquished the confidence, hasn’t left a trace In my Garden of Eden, The Satan of anxiety has reaped seeds of fear “Shun the world”, it orders and I control my tears I pray for a day filled with light and hope But this monster makes sure that darkness is my only abode This little heart inside lusts for The feeling, from a hot cup of cocoa On a chilly winter evening Hearty smiles from that favourite episode of ‘The Office’ Or that sweet feeling from eating the ‘Alpenliebe’s Strawberry’ toffees A Frankenstein this mind has created From whom, the escape seems far-sighted He grips me in fear, shuts me in a room Today, I look inside my head in gloom A lingering heart, waiting for the news That it’s freed from the cruel muse Ready, to dance again on its toes.

Ritika Yachna

B.A Hons Economics, Delhi University

(@ritika.yachna)

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THE GOSPEL TRUTH

Prompt:

Time and tide wait for none Neither the river nor the sun Where are those tyrant pharaohs?

Where are those greedy Midas?

Where are those atrocious Vlad?

Where are those slaves of Satan?

Where are those mighty crowns?

Where are those titled names?

Aren’t they buried 6- feet down?

Aren’t they in their cemented graves?

Then what do this human - flesh and bone Think he has become?

Does he not know from where he came? and to where he shall return?

Dubious is his future Decisive is his death Yet designed is his future Yet desultory is his death Forgotten is the fact: On his neck hovers an axe

Peeling of days around the dates of his death Shallow are the chapters of life laws of death are written in-depth

Only if we would have known We get what we had sown All souls would have been loved for we are one of a kind and the quiet would have spoken their tongue-tied All bodies would have been safe from our hands and the cowards would have dared their “Cants “ All hearts would have been safe from our tongues and the old would have done much more while he was young

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Only if we knew bitter truth is death, life - a honey-dipped lie and at the end rich or poor we die beneath the same sky We would have blurred the borders To skin, we would have been colour-blind We would have narrowed spaces and thought broader and Caste, creed, status would have been books-confined Live your ephemeral life leave an eternal legacy behind Race the time till it runs out Face the waves till it gives you clout Dive in air till you hear tales from wind Run the road till you blood your skin Smile the kids till you witness they are creath Live your life …live your life …for death … death…

Death: screaming for its appetite, life serving breaths as its diet Death: bud of the afterlife, the gate of purgatory or paradise Death: chaotic life's poetic end, Says the wise

“Turn the hourglass upside down bow your head on this gospel’s ground Pain and suffering to life are bound and so Frowning corpse none has been found so, go 360 degrees round yet None can be found …None can be found “

Ruqaiyya Aslam Malik BCA, Jamia Hamdard University

(@nocturnal._.vison)

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F L E E T I N G

ISSUE 15

P H A S E S

by Sara Jamshed Siddiqui

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Fleeting Phases

After traveling for ten days recently, I realized how much we experience and learn in a short span of time, simply because of a change in environment. I learnt patience, after forgetting an extra set of clothes. I learnt gratitude after struggling to find a quiet place to myself in a house filled with people. But most importantly, I gained respect for people, of all ages and genders. I wouldn’t have learnt these exact things without traveling, and I came home as a new version of myself because of going away.

Even though returning home is a sigh of relief, I always come back to an alien atmosphere and my comfort zone all at once. I know it’s my home that I adore dearly, but the situation is new and it marks the beginning of a new phase (a little New Year’s reference for you). Bittersweet, if you may.

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This led me to realize that our lives exist in phases.

Rigid or flexible, long or short, phases are inevitable to notice. We may look at it from the traditional viewpoint of age and growing up, or we see it from the perspective of feelings.

We feel a certain way for a special amount of time. I say special because, for instance, you will never feel this same feeling of reading this for the first time ever again.

Before we go somewhere, we plan it and look forward to it.

We (or maybe this is just me) imagine all the things we’ll do, all the feelings and emotions we’ll experience and all the new things that we’ll see. When we go to said place and come back, we lose that part of us in time. That specific phase of thinking and fantasizing about this particular trip is gone and we only remember how it felt.

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You feel happy so many times, but they’re all different types of happiness.

Climbing a mountain, seeing your sibling get married, watching a baby take its first steps, falling in love – all of these scenarios spark different kinds of feelings for the same emotion – reaching a milestone.

I’ve often wondered how this very moment is so momentary, pun intended. It doesn’t last for long and will never come back. If you think about this for too long, you may feel a sense of urgency to do something and make this moment count. It may also be perceived as how time is just fleeting and running out of our hands.

However, with the commencement of the new year, we can take inspiration from phases by understanding that this trying time is simply a phase, which, like all others, will not last for long. Let’s take this opportunity to start a new phase of positive thinking and making the best of what we have.

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2022 Upcoming Hair Trends Since things are getting a little better as compared to what we all faced in 2020 which means we’ll get to meet our friends and family and for that you’d obviously want to look your best and to help you with that I’ve listed down 5 “hot girl” hair trends that’ll be a hit in 2022.

I’ve divided this list into three categories i.e., Color, cuts & hairstyle. So, take your hair out of that bun and get ready!

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Hair Colors Ginger The best part about ginger hair is that it goes well with women of all ethnicities and skin tones unlike the deep burgundies and reds that were very in few years ago.

Ginger is a warm color hence it brings out the warmth from your face and the warm looks flattering on literally everyone!

Ashy Hair with Blonde Highlights This hair color is very in because it’s not a super bright yellow blonde that doesn’t go well with every skin tone.

It’s also a great option for all my ladies and gentlemen that have salt and pepper hair (grey hair on roots) and are learning to embrace their natural hair tone!

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Hair Cuts French Girl Bob I think the queen of this look is Taylor LaShae!

This bob is a bit shorter than your regular bob cuts with a fringe in front which looks absolutely gorgeous on women with petite faces. Not only that, this look is something you’d want to do if you want to look trendy with zero efforts!

Air Bangs This trend came from Korea and you can see most Korean women and K-pop stars rocking this hair cut.

The reason air bangs are so in because they’re super thin and doesn’t cover our forehead and hence suits literally every woman. It also works as a great frame for your eyes!

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Hair Styles Middle – Part Sleek Back Hair This hair trend was brought by supermodels like Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner because it’s very effortless but also looks sophisticated!

Perfect for winter days when your hair hasn’t been washed for a couple of days and have that natural oil build up on the roots. You can carry this look with a bun, a pony tail and also with open hair. It’s my personal favorite out of the list!

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Lessons learnt from a pandemic-filled year

The Glittery Gloom of New Years Hiba Ahmed

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Here are a few stories on what we do best - forgiving and fading. My cat, Huraira, died from parvovirus about two months ago. It is the most painful thing that has ever happened to me and this is the first time I have been able to write about it. Getting sad over anything pet related is hilarious for most people. Those who haven't experienced it, despite having empathy, just cannot understand. I didn't either before.

My Phuppo tells me that some people don't feel this way even after a similar loss. They don't see the point of shedding tears over someone who doesn't share the same blood. I can't look at Huraira's pictures and I can't take her name anymore without my voice getting strained with tears. But I didn't cry once. I felt so much that I felt nothing but numbness, from the absence of her tenderness.

Some people say that animals aren't evolved enough to remember things, others say that they remember for a long, long time. I like to believe that touch has a memory. They remember smells, get alert on unheard footsteps, discern tones of love. Huraira always came running to sit in my lap every time she heard me saying "Aao".

Papa lost his mother when I was three years old. I was too tiny to know grief or to understand the immense loss of losing Dadi. My brother tells me this was the first and last time he saw Papa cry.

Amma's best friend was murdered in the early 2000s. Her second best friend died in a gas explosion a couple years ago. I remember the landline ringing, her trembling and screaming as she heard it and then breaking down into cosmic sobs. We weren't raised on very expressive affection, my hand was burning with reluctance as I reached out to her shoulder, an inadequate act of comfort.

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This list of colossally tragic things isn't something unusual. Life hands us tiny brutalities on regular days and unrelenting ruthlessness on exceptionally cruel ones - these days hurt in this very particular way only for you, they might be just another day of brutalities for others. Only your heart wrenches looking at that date in the consecutive years. If others do, it's for a different ache altogether.

This is how the passing years with their bombshell of losses make most people bitter with age. They lose their temper over delivery boys and forget how to apologize. At our age, just like us, they too swore to never be this way after growing up. But the days slip by, we continue losing people and visions. If we didn't have the ability to forget or at least the ability to pretend that we have forgotten, we wouldn't be able to continue living.

2021 made me feel everything. There were days of impenetrable monotony where it felt like nothing was happening for weeks. There were days when I felt like my heart was feeling everything at once, it was wrenching in painful terror one moment and floating in divine golden beauty the next.

Another perk of wisdom with age is the excitement that fades away.

Nothing is as intriguing as it was from the nostalgic tint of innocence in childhood. The cartoons are lame and the chocolates are too sugary. It was that feeling of experiencing everything for the first few times. Beginnings were more exciting before - 2022 feels like just another year now. We've already lived the year slipping away in a blink and the days dragging endlessly.

We know that our time here, in each other's company, is limited. We will eventually have a last conversation, one last embrace. So, we do what we can by living to our fullest in these eternally fading hours. The solace seems to be in doing things that will make you feel what you've never felt before, a feeble attempt to live everything.

Like dreaming of sitting on rooftops, looking at the citylights, kissing under the stars. We smother the longing to read all of Russian literature and watch every French movie ever made to tranquilize the melancholy of never truly being able to do all of it. We exert our frail capacity to dim the people lost, to forget the lives unlived and learn that tuning out everyone's impending doom is the secret recipe for sanity.

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We sing the ballads of heartbreak and fall in love anyway. You forgive him for flirting with that girl because eventually we all have to be without each other, sooner sounds worse than later. You forget your parents' well intentioned cruelty. You forgive yourself for forgiving everybody because love is stronger than pain and we should let it be. We pacify ourselves with the fact that everyone has their reasons. We try to be good and hold on to the dream of heaven, where we'll intertwine arms with everybody we lost on the way, through life or death, and savour the touch of God's lips.

A boy I was in love with lived by an exact opposite philosophy. He believed that none of it really counts or amounts to anything at all in the long run, so might as well live life according to your chaos and fudge all shit up, (they don't allow me to curse in the magazine smh censorship of passion), instead of playing by the rules and being terrified of not gathering all possible glory in our endless numbered days.

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We start our journey on the path made simpler for us by those before us - going to school, holding hands with other children, losing them to other cities with promises of staying in touch, and eventually realising that life is just an endless cycle of this childhood wisdom.

Nevertheless, when we can find the time for it, we kiss and we make our art and write our poems in the hope of not being forgotten after we're gone, to leave something behind that will be worth holding on to, make a tiny scratch which will delay our second death in the grand scheme of our transient blue planet in this endless universe. Maybe we don't really die till there's nobody left to remember us, love is what keeps us alive during and after this life. We're all doomed and everything is beautiful.

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Lessons learnt from a pandemic-filled year

Mitula Sai

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2021 did not even come to an end when the news of Omicron first sprouted; just when everyone thought things were finally going back to normal, the existence of a new variant was brought upon everyone. It has been two years since COVID-19 so kindly appeared before us, and two years since multiple variants have come up and plunged us all in despair about when this might come to an end. Ironically, despite every year turning out to be as depressing as the year before, we all wished for a happy new year. Our happiness lies in the socially full lives we held before, the markets we could visit without fear, meeting people and going to far-off places unplanned! Whether we like it or not, COVID-19 would never completely go away. As years go by, its manifestations would reduce but just like other diseases, it would never cease to exist. And this is something we all need to accept. Embracing this uncertainness is imperative so as to lessen our anxieties about what the new year holds in store for us. One thing we have all learnt this year is the importance of mental health.

The last two years saw us experiencing heavy burnout from the sudden change and toxic positivity that had infested all around us. If we want to lead the same efficient lives that we held before, we need to be mentally robust. Just like how there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, if one thing ends, there will definitely be a new beginning somewhere.

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My paralysed social life gave me time to explore learning new hobbies like learning languages, coding, and even digital art.

Similarly, every one of us have gained something during this time. It is important to acknowledge these and take them as is.

Lastly, time won't stop for anyone. 2021 ended in a flash; it is quite cruel when you think how the clock kept running when everything was at a standstill. So, this new year, do not suppress your ambitions- take that driving test, book those tickets for the trip you have always dreamt of, go meet your friends you have not met in years.

There is no saying on what the future might be like, and time will keep running, so its best to enjoy what we can within our capabilities.

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Zanzibar - Stone Town VANSHIKA SETH

ISSUE 15

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ISSUE 15

Zanzibar is a small, quiet and lesser visited/known place, very close by from Tanzania. Takes just 30 minutes by flight from mainland Tanzania through Dar es Salaam airport. Zanzibar has a history, a rich Swahili coastal culture and an indescribable atmosphere which attracts tourists year after year. It has everything for a traveler that too at a lesser cost and a lot lesser hassle. It is said that the best time of year to visit Zanzibar is in Tanzania’s dry season which comes in two waves; the first is from December to March, and the second from July to October.

There are great places to stay almost everywhere around Zanzibar’s coast, except for in the west, which is mostly rocky with little beaches. The north and the east coast have good hotels near the beaches for a relaxing and peaceful stay.

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Starting from the north, the main areas are Kenwda and Nungwi, a hive of pleasant bustle and phenomenal beaches. Next in the east coast is Pongwe beach. A fabulous little boutique hotel on its shores, Pongwe is a favourite for inexpensive yet wonderful stay options. Next are Dongwe and Paje. The two are exceptional beach spots with a huge array of characterful intimate hotels. Options span from luxurious private villas, to cheap and cheerful family hotels with a splash of luxury.

All in all, the best beaches are in the north and the east. However, whilst a lovely seaside spot is necessary, selecting the right hotel could be even more so. There are many options in Zanzibar which can feel overwhelming, but there are some exceptional hotels if you know where to look.

There are lots of underwater activities for those who are so inclined. Diving and snorkelling around Mnemba Island is an unforgettable experience. Swim amongst a colourful array of fish and marine life, marvelling at the exotic world beneath Zanzibar’s turquoise shores. The Indian Ocean has its fair share of dolphins, and taking a boat trip out to find them is always memorable. Apart from underwater activities, it offers fantastic parasailing. There is nothing like a bird’s eye view of the vibrant shoreline. Another activity, waterskiing, which is also a fabulous option.

Most travellers visit Zanzibar to simply relax on a beautiful white beach. If you are looking for a relaxed and chilling-vacation, plan your next trip to Zanzibar!

January

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SCIENCE FICTION DAY

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REPUBLIC DAY

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WORLD BRAILLE DAY

10 VISHWA HINDI DIWAS

Happy New Year! The first day of the year is always full of hope, joy and expectations. This is the first of the set of 5 days where New Year’s resolutions are actually followed meticulously. A lot of pressure is put on January 1st as it’s said to set the tone for the whole year. If the last two years were any indication, let’s not do that anymore.

2 SCIENCE FICTION DAY

1 NEW YEAR’S DAY

Celebrated in the US by science fiction fans, this day commemorates the birth of one if the most famous writers of the genre: Isaac Asimov. While it’s not an official holiday, some organizations do recognize it. As a nerd, I adore the fact that there is a whole day dedicated to a genre that is not everyone’s cup of tea. *insert nerdy catchphrase*.

Celebrated on the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, this day aims to spread awareness about braille and other accessible forms of communication. It is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence of the visually impaired. It is important to highlight this day as many places that should be accessible (such as hospitals) are still not to people with visual impairments.

4 WORLD BRAILLE DAY

10 VISHWA HINDI DIWAS

Celebrated world wide, this day came to be when a need for recognition of Hindi as an international language was recognised. It is commemorated in embassies all over the world with talks and school competitions conducted in Hindi. The date chosen is the same as the first World Hindi Conference conducted in 1975.

India’s Republic Day is celebrated every year on 26th January.

The Constitution of India came into effect on 26, January 1950, replacing the Government of India Act as the governing document of India and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic. While Independence Day celebrates the country becoming independent, Republic Day honours the adoption of the constitution as well as the first day of India’s first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

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C R E D I T S WOKAL DIGITAL MAGAZINE

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Hitashi

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JANUARY 2022 • ISSUE 15

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W O KA L M A G A Z IN E ISSUE 15 | JANUARY 2022

ISSUE 15 | JANUARY 2022

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