The Drain Diaries.

Life is most unpredictable when you think you’ve cracked the code for a better one. One month later in Sandeep’s life... Sandeep: "Kanika, I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a long time… I can’t live without you anymore. I don’t feel right without you. I only see you, everywhere. I even divorced my wife for you… please, marry me, Kanika. I love you. I love you so much." Kanika: "But Sandeep ji, how can I marry you? This isn’t possible." Sandeep: "Why not, Kanika? I stood by you in your worst times. I gave you advice, I made you smile." Kanika: "Sandeep ji, I can’t marry you. Look at your age… and apart from that, we don’t even know each other. Honestly, we haven’t even seen each other properly." Sandeep: "So what? Let’s see each other now. Open the gate, Kanika. Open your cabin door. I want to see your face." Sandeep walks to her door and starts shaking it violently. Kanika: "No, Sandeep ji. I can’t marry you."...

When life slows you down, sometimes a little speed and a lot of courage is all you need. Once a Wise Man Said... " Jo dikhta hai vo hota nahi, aur jo hota hai vo dikhta nahi." (What we see isn't always the truth, and what’s true isn’t always visible.) One Month Later — Kanika's Life Karan, Kanika’s childhood friend, calls her. Karan (on call): "Oye hello! Come outside yaar, I’ve been standing outside your house forever!" Kanika: "Arrey! Speak softly! I'm coming. Mom and Prateek just fell asleep. One minute." She tiptoes out of the house and rushes to Karan, who is waiting on his scooty. Kanika: "Give me the helmet, fast! And without making any noise, let’s get out of here." Karan hands her the helmet and lets her take the wheel. Karan: "Abey! Drive slower! Are you trying to kill me?" Kanika (laughing): "Shhh! Let me drive yaar. Life has gotten so slow managing family all day. Let me feel a little speed at le...

When grief meets memory, and an old friend returns just to remind you — some bonds exist beyond definitions. --- Kanika’s Side “People leave, only memories remain… But why does a person always feel good only after they're gone?” Kanika sits in the bus, her eyes fixed on the passing cityscape, yet her mind lost in a blizzard of pain and unanswered questions. > “Where do people really go after death?” “If only Papa had listened to me then and started his heart medication…” “He gave the land to Bittu chacha just like that…” “Even bua only visits us when she needs something…” “How will we pay Prateek’s college fees now?” “I only treated acting as a pastime…” “If only I had completed my education…” “What will we do now?” “I can’t even send mummy to mama’s house…” “Nothing makes sense anymore…” The bus halts. Bus driver: “Madam, we’ve reached Delhi. You’re the only one left in the bus. Please get off now, I need to park it at the counter.” Kanika turns to him with lifeless...

--- A Month Later Kanika’s life had begun to shift—quietly, but powerfully. It had been a month since she had that odd, soul-shifting encounter in an old, dimly lit public restroom with Sandeep. His words still echoed in her ears: > "Always tell your parents about even your smallest achievements. And if something in your career isn’t working out, don’t waste time—shift your focus. Hard work is important, but luck doesn’t always stand by your side." Kanika had taken those words seriously. Every ad she appeared in, every small modeling gig—she shared it all with her father. Slowly, she noticed the change. Her father, who used to be distant and unsure, had begun showing interest. He started asking her questions about shoots and costumes, and for the first time, she felt supported. She looked forward to her nightly calls with him. She thought, What will I tell Papa tonight? What have I achieved today? This motivation led to greater passion, more effort, and genuine...

This is a story of two people: a 50-year-old man and a 21-year-old girl. The man is going through a midlife crisis and is constantly troubled. His children don’t listen to him, and he remains irritable. He is also bored with his job and is often angry or sad. The girl is a struggling actress who constantly auditions for roles but keeps facing rejection. She also attends acting workshops and tries to find work in different places. Occasionally, she lands small modeling or advertisement gigs. However, she is confused about her life and frustrated because of her ongoing relationship issues. She recently went through a breakup and is deeply depressed. On top of that, her parents are pressuring her. She moved to Mumbai from Delhi a year ago, and her parents now insist that she return to Delhi and continue her studies. One day, she gets a call from her father. He tells her that she has only two months to prove herself in the acting industry. If she fails, she must return home. He...