It was a rainy afternoon. I was enjoying the drizzles when Ma said, “I’m going to the market. Take care of your grandma. And please don’t give her the leftover chocolates in the fridge even if she asks. You know, right, why I’m saying?”

“Yes, Ma.”

I sat down and recalled my childhood when Grandma took me from school and bought me cotton candies. And who forgets the lip-smacking Chilli Pickle, Kheer, Chicken Qorma, and what not! She is a magician when it comes to food!

Sigh. Now she doesn’t even remember my name. Recipes are far away. Alzheimer and diabetes ruined my adulthood.

But what if I try to reminisce her about the lovely times we had by chocolate? After all, that was her favorite!

I slowly crept into her room. She was sitting by the window ledge. I called her and gave her a packet of chocolate and asked, “Grandma, can you recall anything about how we had chocolates like a thief last month?”

“No, not at all.”

“And the cotton candies you bought me when we were returning from school?”

“Mishti, can you tell me more about what else we did together?”

I paused and wondered, did she call me by my name? Or was it my hallucination? I was lost in deep thought when she called me again.

“Mishtiiii, why did you stop? Tell me more. “

I smiled, knowing it was a temporary remembrance.

Chocolates are the touchwood!

Submitted by Swarnali Dutta

Living in the 21st century, young Indians are still worried about their parents finding out about the love affair. Dating in India isn’t as easy as it seems. Issues such as family estrangement, being torn apart from your partner if your family finds out, the constant demand for arranged marriages and a big ‘No’ to premarital sex, is a major cause behind dating in secret. Their personal choice is not valued enough. It is not considered to be of utmost importance. And, their love lives are overcomplicated due to this. Here’re reasons why Indians are dating in secret, even in 2021 –

Killing to Safeguard Honor

Honor killing in the name of love is rampant. Murdering youngsters if they fall in love with someone who doesn’t belong to the same caste, creed, etc., has been observed for decades. Family members usually justify honor killings by stating that these were committed to safeguarding the family’s image and caste. Sadly, most cases of honor killing go unreported. 

Conforming to Religious Norms and a Social Ban on Inter-Faith Dating 

For instance, if lovers belong to different faiths, a Hindu woman dating a Muslim man or vice versa, it is termed notoriously as ‘Love Jihad’. Conforming to religious practices, norms makes life difficult for adults to date beyond faith. Families disapprove of such relationships and force the couple to break up. The emotional trauma that the couple goes through is untold, unsaid in Indian society. 

Being Physical before Marriage is Looked Down upon

In Indian society, virginity is such a vast concept that they make a fuss out of it. Those who have premarital sex are considered to be loose. They are considered to be under the bad influence of others.

Marriage is a certificate to have sex, and young Indians protest silently against the same. Basically, no marriage, no sex!

Parents disapprove of the Concept of Virtual Dating

Although online dating apps like Bumble, Tinder, OK Cupid! Aisle have captured the Indian market, and parents fail to believe that teenagers and youngsters look for partners online these days. Virtual dating has become popular, especially during the pandemic. May it be a companion, a cuddle partner, a Netflix and Chill mate, love through the screen is relevant, and we look for it virtually.

Age is Considered a Barrier

Physical attraction may be a part of relationships and dating. Helping each other grow, supporting through thick and thin, respecting choices is the ultimate goal. People are happier with a snuggle partner who loves them to the fullest. In the end, age is just a number, and relationships surpass it. Age is not a barrier and doesn’t share proof of successful relationships.

Love is beautiful in itself. It’s a magical feeling that makes life a happier place. Once in a lifetime, date someone, love someone with all your heart. Don’t judge anyone for loving someone, don’t be judged for being loved by someone. Love is pure and let it be that way. Elders and parents need to understand that if not for love, humans wouldn’t have cohabited harmoniously. Love goes beyond race, caste, class, faith.

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How to Stop the Comparison Game 

Apple Arcade consists of over 200 premium games to enjoy on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. The curated subscription service has something for everyone. But the sheer volume of options that Apple Arcade offers might get confusing. 

Here’s a list of a few Apple arcade games that are worth a shot.

Creaks

Image: Creaks/Amanita Design

Amanita Design, a developer known for the quality of its artwork, brings you an eye-catching and addictive game. Creaks sets in a surreal world hiding behind the protagonist’s bedroom wallpaper. The world is inhabited by bizarre creatures. In Creaks, you get to solve puzzles by observing and interacting with the world; you manipulate machines and befriend monsters as you pass each stage. 

Sayonara Wild Hearts 

Image: Sayonara Wild Hearts/Simogo

Sayonara Wild Hearts, a pop album video game, is more like an interactive music video. This captivating video game is filled with stylish high-octane races and dance-battle action. The Fool, the protagonist of the game, is charged with bringing back balance to the universe. You tag along with her as she journeys through the bewitching visuals and scoops up collectibles. 

Little Orpheus

Image: Little Orpheus/The Chinese Room

This game is inspired by timeless classical movies like Flash Gordon and Sinbad. Little Orpheus tells a gripping story unraveling across eight bit-size episodes. This side-scrolling adventure game lets you explore lost civilizations, undersea kingdoms, prehistoric jungles, and much more. The Hollywood-quality sound design makes this game even more engrossing. 

Oceanhorn 2

Image: Oceanhorn 2/Cornfox & Bros.

Knights of the Lost Realm: Oceanhorn 2 is a stunning RPG quest spanning over 20 hours of gameplay. The game sets a thousand years before the events of the first chapter. Beautifully handcrafted graphics paint an intriguing world where you get to solve odd puzzles, comb varied locations, scrap with plentiful enemies, and complete missions. 

Assemble With Care

Image: Assemble With Care/Ustwo Games

This game tells the story of Maria, a restorer on a continental journey. She pays for the journey by fixing things for customers. Your job is to restore precious items spanning from old gadgets to items of sentimental value. Its bright visuals, smartly conceived interface, and chill soundtrack will certainly offer you a wholesome experience. 

Grindstone

Image: Grindstone/Capybara Games

Grindstone boasts 200+ levels, daily challenges, and leaderboards. The game sets on Grindstone Mountain which is littered with creeps. Your job is to get rid of them with a massive sword. But this game isn’t typical brutal-battle action, but a surprisingly thinky puzzle. 

What the Golf?

Image: What the Golf?/Triband

This game aims to reinterpret the likeness of golf. The sport depicted in this game isn’t tedious or monotonous. The familiarity of knocking the golf ball into the hole vanishes as you play the game. The apparatus itself is replaced by some of the most bizarre and outlandish levels of design. The game blends humor, absurdism, and visual gags to give you a unique experience. 

Mutazione

Image: Mutazione/Die Gute Fabrik

A meteor strikes a holiday resort situated on an island. Only a few survive but develop strange mutations. Now, one hundred years after the event, you visit the island as a teenager named Kai to look after a dying relative. This story-heavy adventure paces slowly. It’s filled with wholesome characters that you’ll be desperate to get to know. 

Which apple arcade games are you currently obsessed with? Tell us in the comments below!

Cover image: Little Orpheus/The Chinese Room