Abhishek's Musings

  THE BEST OF BUDDIES   God and justice have always shared a close, unique bond that transcends the boundaries of time and human comprehension. While Justice slogs hard in the earthly realm, methodically analysing facts and weighing the right and the wrong, God observes the show from a higher plane with wisdom that sees beyond the immediate, the tangible and the obvious. In many ways, both are complementary forces, working in unison and harmony, each necessary for maintaining the delicate balance of the universe.   Justice personified is hardworking and meticulous. With scales in hand and an unwavering gaze, he goes through life ensuring fairness, equality, and righting the wrongs. However, as sincere as he is, justice has to work within the system and the boundaries of human laws. Often, facts are unclear, corruption and dishonesty colour the truth, or the blurring lines of fairness when time fades. In these moments, Justice falls short, and their well-intentioned effort...

  ANALYSIS OF AI’s ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT   “The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do, "  observed B.F. Skinner.   Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undoubtedly transformed the universe, entwining its way into every facet of modern life. From voice assistants like Siri and Alexa to elaborate algorithms that power self-driving cars, AI gives a new snapshot of industries, economies, and the environment. To understand AI’s soul, imagine it is the brain behind everyday marvels- just like Iron Man’s loyal household butler, Edwin Jarvis, AI is not only a tool but a partner in our crusade to solve complex problems.   So, what is AI?   At its core, AI imitates human intelligence, enabling machines to learn from experience and carry out tasks previously exclusive to human comprehension. It’s like the auto-correct function on your smartphone but supercharged. It is like Google Maps, which uses real-time data to adjust and plan your travel route;...

  DELHI’S WASTE CRISIS: A SILENT THREAT TO THE CITY’S FUTURE   “Waste isn’t waste until we waste it,” said Will.i.am, highlighting a pressing truth the world can no longer overlook. Nowhere is this reality more graphic than in Delhi, India’s sprawling, metropolitan capital city, home to over 20 million people. Delhi produces an alarming 11,000 tonnes of municipal waste daily, the highest among all the Indian cities. Despite efforts by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), over half of this waste is in the city’s three lofty landfills: Bhalswa, Ghazipur, and Okhla- turning them into deadly environmental hazards.   The ramifications of improper waste management are mind-boggling. When rubbish is indiscriminately dumped in landfills, it leads to soil, air and water contamination. Leachate, a toxic liquid from waste, seeps into the ground, acting like venom on the soil and groundwater. Delhi’s landfills are infamous for emitting methane, a potent greenhouse gas that speed...

  JUSTICE PERSONIFIED   If epitomised as a person, justice would have a commanding yet calm, serene presence, average height, dignified, decent, neat, sharp, clear eyes that reflect the depth of the soul. The eyes can penetrate the surface and see the truth hidden under the contours of layers.  He dresses in spotless and stain-free whites, symbolising purity and impartiality. The trousers are generally of a dark colour: a balance between light and dark. The hair is short-cropped and neatly parted to the side, which shows that he cares for order without vanity. Sometimes, he sports a bespectacled look that gives him a serious persona.   His job is not glamorous but extremely important. Every day, Justice measures the actions of others on an elaborate ancient scale, always striving for fairness and balance. His work is exhausting and demanding, for he must sift through the emotions, lies, evil intentions, dishonesty, hypocrisy, fakeness, deceit, betrayal, and trut...

  SPANISH TANGO UNCOUPLED   SCENE: (A buzzing café in the heart of Barcelona, just a walking distance from La Sagrada Familia. The late afternoon sun beats down, casting long shadows, and the streets are abuzz with life. Dongmei and Hudson sit at a small table sipping sangria.)   HUDSON: (Nonchalantly with a hint of distance) “Barcelona’s superb. Every corner of the city feels as if Leonardo da Vinci or Pablo Picasso, for that matter, has painted it into a masterpiece work of art.”   DONGMEI: (Smiling softly, resting her hand on her belly.) “It is. Something is captivating about this place… maybe it’s how everything feels on the cusp of some remarkable transformation.”   (Hudson glances at her, the weight of her words hanging uncomfortably in the air.)   HUDSON’S INNER THOUGHTS: “Transformation…change. Yeah, that’s exactly what I desire. God, I need to end this before it gets even more messier. She deserves to be told the truth, but how do you tell someone ...

  THE EXTRA MILE   “Drive the extra mile.” These words flashed across the billboard as Liam walked through the crowded city streets. It was a vague inspirational slogan to an ordinary observer, but to Liam, it felt like God was giving him a sign; it felt like a beacon of hope. His life had become a struggle, a monotonous grind, working round the clock on a job that seemed to suck every ounce of enthusiasm he had. Despite his sincere efforts, his bosses found joy and immense satisfaction in pointing out every tiny flaw in a packed conference room every morning, their criticisms echoing like a constant drumbeat in his ears.   Liam’s apartment was cramped, barely large enough to move around in, and his finances were always stretched thin. He often contemplated quitting his job, a decision he knew would only plunge him into more profound uncertainty and instability. But something about the billboard ignited some emotions in him: a promise of potential beyond the stark frustra...