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  Title: The Cost of Cashback: A Reflection on Greed Disguised as Gain By Sugyan Nanda In a world increasingly driven by digital payments and marketing gimmicks, cashback offers have emerged as a new temptation. The idea is simple and catchy: spend a certain amount, and you’ll get a small percentage back. It seems like a win-win — but lately, I’ve realized that this so-called "gain" is silently draining my wallet, and more importantly, my sense of control. I started using cashback schemes with the mindset of saving money. After all, if I was going to spend anyway, why not earn something back? But over time, I found myself spending just to get cashback, not because I needed to. I was transferring money unnecessarily, making purchases I didn't need, all in the hope of earning a small reward. The worst part? Often, the cashback amount I received didn’t even match the hype that pulled me in. It became a habit — one that seemed harmless but was financially and psychologically ...

" What It Feels to Be Second: A Margin That Meant Everything " By Sugyan Nanda Dreams don’t always die with a loud crash. Sometimes, they dissolve quietly—by 0.34 marks . At one point of my life, I have envisioned a moment. Standing tall at the convocation, wearing that medal of honour, hearing my name announced as the Gold Medalist in M.A. Political Science, and watching my parents’ eyes gleam with pride. It was more than just a medal. It was for every sacrifice, every late night, every rejection faced, and every time I told myself, “One day, this will be worth it.” But that day… didn’t come as I imagined. I missed it. By 0.34 marks. Being second is a strange place to be. You are celebrated, but not remembered. You are praised, but not rewarded. And what hurts more is not that I failed—I didn’t—but that I came so close to the dream I built for years, only to watch it slip through my fingers. This isn’t the first time. In matric, in +2, and now in postgraduation, I have seen ...

  A New Beginning at 22: My Promise to Change At the age of 22, I have come to a deep realization—I've made many mistakes in life. Some small, some big. Mistakes in different areas—studies, behavior, relationships, emotions, and decisions. And yes, they have hurt me. They made me feel ashamed, guilty, and sad. Sometimes I would sit alone and think, “Why did I do this? Why wasn’t I better?” That burden used to stay in my mind like a heavy weight. But today, I’ve had enough. I don't want to carry that weight anymore. I don't want to live in regret. The past has already happened, and I can’t change it. But what I can change is myself—my present and my future. From now on, I am promising myself something very serious: I will not repeat the same mistakes again. I will take every lesson from the past and use it to grow. I want to become the best version of myself—no matter how hard it gets, no matter how long it takes. I want to become a good human being, a responsible student, a...