Vaibhav Kochar

You know what’s wild? Being the most “liked” person in the room and still feeling like a fraud. Not because you’re faking things… but because the version of you everyone claps for isn’t the one you recognize in the mirror. The “charming” one. The “all-rounder.” The one who always has good advice, doesn’t mess up, and posts life updates like motivational posters. Everyone loves that guy. But sometimes, I just wanted to shut up, wear a crumpled kurta, and say, “I don’t want to be wise today, yaar. I want to be weird. Or quiet. Or real.” The Popular Mask That Pinches I was once told by a teacher, “You’re the kind of student that makes our job easier.” And I smiled. But deep inside? I wanted to say: “Ma’am, I didn’t sleep last night. My head’s a mess. I don’t even know who this ‘good student’ is anymore.” The mask is addictive. It brings applause. It gets you opportunities. But it also makes you feel like a product. Perfect from the outside, hollow on the inside. And when you try to step o...

There are some mysteries of Indian households that even Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t dare to investigate. Like the way the TV remote mysteriously vanishes just when India is about to lose a wicket, how the geyser is always off when you are going to be late, and just how one plastic bag in the house is treated like a family heritage. You see, in India, plastic bags are not trash. They are assets. Throwing away a wonderful bag after one use? That’s a crime bigger than leaking the family’s Wi-Fi password to the neighbours. And let’s be honest, every Indian family has that one particular bag, usually hanging behind a kitchen door or stuffed on a stand, overflowing like it’s auditioning for Jumanji. The Plastic Bag Economy At Home Inside that one bag-of-bags, there’s an entire economic system at work. Large ones are kept for “special” groceries, medium ones for tiffins, and the tiny ones for… well, no one really knows, but they’re still there, just in case. And if you dare ask your mom, “Why ar...

You know what the real tragedy in India is? Not potholes, not traffic, not even the price of onions. It’s owning white shoes. At the shop, they look heavenly! shining like they’ve been sent directly from the gates of heaven, whispering, “Bro, buy me. You’ll look classy. Girls will notice. Boys will envy.” And then you actually buy them. That’s where the horror movie begins. The First Rain Is Always Their Funeral India has two seasons: “Summer” and “Oh No, It Rained.” And the first rain is always a funeral for white shoes. You step outside, one drop hits the road, and suddenly there’s mud, puddles, mystery liquids, and roads that look like they’ve been crying since 1947. No matter how carefully you try to tiptoe, your shoes will find that one pothole. Even if you walk like you’re crossing a minefield, destiny has other plans. The sole becomes brown, the sides black, and the laces! well, let’s not even talk about the laces. At that point, you don’t own white shoes anymore. You own “shoes...

  You know what’s harder than working? Looking like you’re working. Because when you’re actually working, at least you know what you’re doing. But when you’re pretending, oh boy… You need Oscar-level acting skills, ninja reflexes, and the ability to fake a frown that screams, “I’m in the middle of changing the world!” while you’re actually just refreshing Instagram for the 57th time. In India, we’ve taken this to an art form. Whether it’s students in class, employees in offices, or even uncles in government offices, acting busy has become a survival skill. It’s like a social shield. If you look busy, people won’t disturb you. And if they don’t disturb you, you can continue doing absolutely… nothing. The Science of Looking Busy The trick is to never look too relaxed. Relaxation screams “free time,” and free time means someone might give you work. That’s the real enemy. You need to create an aura of engagement without the actual engagement. For example: In class, open your notebook, ...

Being a topper is like wearing a crown made of expectations that looks shiny from far, but it hurts the head when you wear it too long. People think being a topper means we know everything. As if we came into this world holding a textbook and reciting the definitions of Newton's laws. The truth? We’re just normal students who studied... and sometimes over-studied (with a glass of black coffee in panic mode the night before). But here’s the catch! Once you become a topper, you're no longer allowed to be “normal.” Society upgrades you to an unrealistic version of yourself. Let’s unpack that. Topper ≠ Nerd Let me tell you something nobody says out loud: not all toppers have their life figured out. We also stare blankly at the ceiling, wondering what we’ll do after college. We also scroll through job listings and feel like frauds. The only difference? We’re good at remembering things at the right time, usually right before the exam. And that’s not talent, that’s trauma. Also, can w...

  You know what’s exhausting? Being yourself and still being misunderstood. Like, imagine waking up, being your usual dramatic, fun, expressive, sarcastic self, not hurting anyone, not even trying to prove anything, and still someone goes: “He does all this for attention.” Bro… I just said good morning with energy. Relax. And the funniest part? You don't even have to do anything extraordinary. Just have a presence- some natural charisma, humor, opinions, or unapologetic energy- and boom! It offends someone whose personality has been discomforted. The Problem Isn’t Attention. It’s Comfort Zones. Let’s face it. In every classroom, friend circle, or social group, people subconsciously prefer predictable personalities.  The quiet ones should stay quiet.  The funny one should not be too deep.  The smart one should act humbly.  The charming one? Definitely not enjoy the attention they naturally get. And if you happen to be a mix of these expressive, passionate, g...