Our emotional intelligence didn’t come from podcasts; it came from dramatic zoom-ins, background violins, canned laughter, and monologues delivered with suspiciously perfect lighting.

Let’s be honest,  we weren’t just watching TV. We were being emotionally raised by it.

Friendships That Taught Us How To Feel,  Friends & Hip Hip Hurray

If adulthood had a manual, Friends was it. Six dysfunctional humans teaching us how to fight without ending friendships. How love is messy, confusing, and occasionally involves yelling “WE WERE ON A BREAK!” How a chosen family is sometimes stronger than biological chaos. Every awkward apology, every heartbreak, every ridiculous misunderstanding – emotional education disguised as comedy.

On the Indian side, Hip Hip Hurray quietly did the same. No over-the-top drama, just real teenage anxieties, peer pressure (before the words became clìched), first crushes, identity confusions, and friendship politics. It understood teenage emotions without treating them like a national emergency. 

Family Dynamics & Emotional Drama,  Full House & Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi

Full House gave us warm hugs wrapped in life lessons. Every episode was basically, ‘Kids mess up → gentle music → heart-to-heart talk → emotional growth.’ It taught patience, empathy, forgiveness, the OG soft skills syllabus, but on the TV. 

Meanwhile, Indian households were emotionally surviving Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Sure, it had dramatic rebirths and suspiciously immortal characters (of course, we still find it cringe), but beneath the theatrics, loyalty, betrayal, forgiveness, and complex family relationships shaped a big part of the sanskari millennials. Tulsi crying became our cardio. But it also taught us emotional endurance. No one processed grief like Indian serial characters.

Vulnerability & Growing Up, The Wonder Years & Shaktimaan

The Wonder Years was emotional introspection before journaling became trendy. Kevin Arnold’s narration taught us that feelings are confusing, growing up is weird, and nostalgia hurts in a strangely beautiful way. It gave us emotional reflection, a rare gift.

And then came Shaktimaan, India’s OG moral compass in spandex. Yes, superhero, but also some honesty, responsibility, consequences of choices, and a major “Galtiyaan insaan se hoti hain” wisdom. Shaktimaan didn’t just fight villains; he fought our poor decision-making skills (where we are still failing, I guess).

Handling Conflict & Chaos, Everybody Loves Raymond & Sarabhai vs Sarabhai

Everybody Loves Raymond taught us something vital: Conflict ≠ End of Love. Marriage, family irritation, and passive-aggressive warfare all stand as normal.

Emotional intelligence via sarcasm is what Indian Television brought. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai arrived like elite comedic therapy (and still serves the purpose for those who can buy 10 pizzas, but can’t afford therapy). Old TV Shows: Generational differences, ego clashes, insecurity, class satire, all delivered with wit sharp enough to slice family tension. Indravadan Sarabhai taught us emotional survival through humour. A national service (still performing better than your SIP)

Without saying ‘emotional intelligence’, these shows trained us in empathy, conflict resolution, vulnerability, patience, resilience, and the art of laughing at life’s absurdity

They didn’t preach. They performed emotions loudly until we understood them.

Today, we binge-watch content. Back then, content binge-watched us into better humans.

Because if the 90s taught us anything, it’s this:

Feel everything. Overreact occasionally. Forgive dramatically. And always respect the background music of your emotions.

The post Old TV Shows That Shaped Our Emotional Intelligence appeared first on .

Dear Delhi,

It’s that time of the year again, and I can’t help but fall in love with you all over. The streets shimmer with lights, little winter chills make me reach for my jacket, and somehow, everything feels cozy like the city is wrapping me in a warm, familiar hug. I’ve been here for three and a half years now, but my heart has been with you since I was a child visiting my masi on holidays. You were this thrilling, boundless city, full of tastes, noises, and options I had only heard of or seen on screen.

Having come from Agra, you always led the way – where else could I taste waffles, momos, and other trendy food for the first time? All new, all exciting, it all occurred here. And when I chose to move to this place for college, I had to battle tooth and nail with my parents, being an only child, leaving home wasn’t easy. But I knew I had to be here, because somewhere inside, I had always loved you.

Malviya Nagar, my little corner of you, has become my favourite place. My PG, the roads, the vibe, they all feel like home. And yes, my little ritual of sitting by myself with a cup of caramel coffee at NBC? That’s my favorite form of therapy. I haven’t seen everything of you yet and I don’t feel the rush, because I know I’m here for the long haul. Unlike a tourist counting sights, I am learning your soul slowly, bit by bit, day by day.

Delhi, you have transformed me. The reserved, unsure, introverted girl from Agra who didn’t know how to do things independently is no more. Now, I can dine alone, walk alone, stay alone, and truly have fun with myself. Yes, there are days that are quiet and a bit isolating, but I’ve never felt more alive, more like myself anywhere else. And truly, it’s because of you. You were my reason, my incentive to test limits, to venture into a life I never imagined could be mine.

You provided me with my first job, first paycheck, and most significantly, my own identity. The individuals I’ve encountered here, the discussions I’ve had, the sidewalks I’ve strolled, you’ve made me me. Even your polluted air feels like liberty, like potential. You’re a mess, wonderful, boisterous, noisy and beautiful all at the same time. You test me, you shock me, you soothe me. And in these small winter days, with lights flashing all around and the city buzzing with festive happiness, I simply want to inhale you, linger, and be here, fully.

Thank you, Delhi, for being everything I needed and more. For giving me space to grow, to stumble, to celebrate little victories, and to fall in love with life, with myself, and with you.

Forever your starry-eyed fan,
A girl hopelessly in love!

The post Dear Delhi, I Think I’m in Love appeared first on .

Remember when the biggest flex wasn’t your iPhone model but how many fidget spinners you could balance on one hand? Or when grown adults were sprinting through parks at 7am because a Pikachu had spawned? The internet may chew through trends faster than a pack of Mentos, but some viral internet toys didn’t just trend—they took over our lives. Let’s revisit the glorious chaos of internet-breaking toys that defined entire eras.

Fidget Spinners (2017)

For a short, shiny moment, fidget spinners were the currency of cool. Marketed as stress-busters, they actually turned classrooms into mini talent shows. Tricks, glow-in-the-dark versions, even diamond-studded spinners—everyone was spinning, whether they needed calming or not. They were less about therapy and more about status, proving how quickly a “focus tool” can become playground clout.

Pop-Its (2020–2021)

Lockdown boredom gave us banana bread, whipped coffee, and Pop-Its. Like infinite bubble wrap, they scratched the itch for mindless satisfaction when we were stuck at home. TikTok crowned them the fidget spinner’s cooler cousin, and suddenly every desk, classroom and handbag had at least one. Cheap, colourful, endlessly reusable—Pop-Its were the definition of “little joys.”

Slime (2016–2018)

Slime wasn’t just a toy; it was a lifestyle. People spent hours watching squishy, glittery ASMR slime videos on YouTube. DIY slime kits turned kids into mini entrepreneurs, and the internet became a giant lab of gooey experiments. Looking back, slime was less about play and more about sensory therapy disguised as sparkly chaos.

Hoverboards (2015)

They didn’t hover, but they did roll into every Instagram feed. Hoverboards were flashy, futuristic and—for about a year—the “it” gadget. Until they started, quite literally, exploding. But for those who mastered balancing without face-planting, hoverboards felt like gliding into the future.

Beyblades (2000s–2010s)

“Let it rip!” was the battle cry of an entire generation. School corridors turned into arenas, and owning a rare metal Beyblade meant instant playground respect. It wasn’t just a toy, it was warfare—with plastic tops.

Pokémon Go (2016)

That summer the world actually went outside. Pokémon Go blurred lines between reality and gaming, sending people of all ages hunting for Charmanders in supermarkets. For a brief time, parks were packed, strangers were friends, and we genuinely believed world peace might come through catching ‘em all.

These toys remind us that virality isn’t just about likes and shares—it’s about creating shared memories. Whether you were swapping Beyblades under a desk or proudly showing off your Pop-It on Zoom, these fads weren’t just passing trends. They were cultural moments. And let’s be honest — if someone handed you a fidget spinner right now, you’d still give it a whirl, because some viral internet toys never really lose their charm.

The post From Fidget Spinners to Pop-Its: A Hall of Fame for Viral Internet Toys appeared first on .

There was a time, not too long ago, when walking into school with a United Colors of Benetton bag slung over your shoulder and Converse All Stars on your feet meant one thing  you had arrived. For a generation growing up in the early 2000s, these weren’t just accessories. They were status symbols. Identity statements. Icons that defined cool. Today, they stand tall among the most loved old fashion trends styles that weren’t just about looks but about belonging, expression, and growing up in a different era.

Welcome to the throwback memories of every urban Indian millennial’s teen wardrobe.

The Benetton Bag: A Badge of Belonging

Let’s be honest United Colors of Benetton bags didn’t come cheap. But they were everywhere. You’d spot them in classrooms, at birthday parties, in metro trains, and in every second Archies Gallery shopping bag. If you owned one, you flaunted it like a badge of honor.

The appeal wasn’t just in its function. The bright colors, chunky zippers, and bold branding made the Benetton bag feel international. At a time when most of us still waited for relatives to return from abroad with “branded stuff“, this bag was everything.

It came in classic red-and-blue combos, neons, pastels, and even checkered patterns. You chose a bag based on your vibe. You color-coordinated it with your pens, your stationery, and maybe even your mood that month. And somehow, these bags became a quiet marker of teenage identity.

If you had a Benetton backpack, chances are, you were the kid with the best pencil pouch, the slam book everyone wanted to sign, and the best collection of To Be Continued love notes folded into origami triangles. Now it has become an old Fashion trends.

Converse: The Shoes That Spoke Louder Than Words

Then there were the Converse All-Stars, especially the classic black and white Chuck Taylors. These weren’t just shoes. They were personality types. You didn’t wear Converse. You were Converse.

Artists, musicians, rebels, and those who wanted to stand out everyone gravitated towards them. You wore them with skinny jeans, cargo pants, or even under your school uniform (if your school let it slide). You drew on them with gel pens. You mismatched the laces. You scuffed them up on purpose because they looked better that way.

In a crowd full of school-issued Bata shoes and knockoff Reeboks, Converse was an identity marker. You didn’t need to explain why you wore them. They spoke volumes for you.

For many, owning Converse was less about fashion and more about belonging to an unspoken club of people who were just a little different or, at least, wanted to be.

A Simpler Time, A Stronger Feeling

The Benetton bag and Converse shoes were from a less-saturated era. An era before online shopping apps flooded our screens. Before trends changed weekly based on who posted what on Instagram. Back then, if you wanted something stylish, you had to wait. You had to save up. Or beg your cousin from Delhi to lend it for just one day.

And once you finally got that bag or those shoes, you didn’t just consume what you cherished. You wore them until the logo faded, the soles wore out, and the zip broke. These weren’t fast-fashion purchases. They were companions through exams, birthday parties, school trips, and crushes.

Just thinking about them brings a flood of throwback memories and moments that live rent-free in the corners of our nostalgic hearts.

The Nostalgia Hits Different Now

Today, you can still buy a Benetton bag. Converse is trending again, thanks to collaborations and Gen Z’s love for retro. But somehow, it’s not the same. Because we’ve changed. The world has changed and Old fashion Trends also. 

What hasn’t changed is how these two items made us feel. Back then, they gave us confidence. A sense of belonging. A little boost on days we needed to feel like the main character.

And that’s why these simple accessories just a bag and a pair of sneakers are still unforgettable. Because they weren’t just products. They were stories. They were identity. They were us.

The post Why We All Wanted a Benetton Bag & Converse Shoes appeared first on .