Dhruv Shah's blogs

On my birthday morning, I would like to get up in a large and grand mansion on the hillside around seven. I’d go out and admire the beautiful sunrise with my family and friends. I would inhale the fresh air of this place far away from the smog of the city. The air would be gently tingling my skin, tickling me. I’d love to eat a mesmerizing chocolate pastry along with a sweetened blue citrus lemonade. On this sunny morning, I’d love to go and climb the high, green hills with everyone to see the landscape around us, like the large green trees, noisy but wonderful waterfall, beautiful and colourful flowers of all kinds, hear the wind blowing in the trees and the melodious songs of the birds. At last, tired and exhausted, we’d return to our luxurious mansion. In the afternoon, for lunch, I’d eat a delectable, large American pizza along with a cold drink. After lunch, I would see some scary movies with my friends, such as Anabelle and conjuring. I’d also play a few video games like Fifa mob...

Henry’s safe house, as dirty as a garbage dumping area, was a rancid smelling and a rather confined area. He sneaked out every fortnight to steal supplies like a nocturnal creature. Local newspapers, which contained the advances on the murders he committed, were pinned to the demolished walls, originally white but turned yellow by local waste. He slept on a pile of grey, greasy cardboards covered in debris, which reeked of urine. A tiny fissure in the ceiling, right above his bed, beamed the first sun rays of the morning in his eyes, awaking him every single day. His meal consisted of raw onions, tinned beans, water, and food leftovers. The sound of police sirens resonated throughout the room. Around his neck, he donned a necklace made of the fingers of the innocent victims he killed. Various blood-stained body parts, kept as trophies, consumed the rest of the space. Credit: istockphoto.com By Dhruv Shah

A football, harmless at first sight, but when kicked with power, it can cause damage. Very few people know about the perils of playing football. It was a warm summer evening. The wind whistled, and the trees danced to their tune. I ran around the sports ground. I was carefree, one with nature. There were no bounds to my joy. Despite the warnings my mother had given me, I used to run around the football field where teenagers used to play like beasts. I was devoid of the knowledge of the dangers of running around the pack of feral juveniles playing football. I wandered around the field, drowning in my thoughts. Just when I thought that this was the best day of my life, the football kicked by one of the players proved otherwise. The ball hit me right in my gut. Searing pain rushed up and down my abdomen. I writhed in agony on the ground, my body infested by the ruthless pain. My ears were ringing with a buzzing sound, my eyelids felt heavy, and I passed out. The events that took place lat...

Given text: The day had been warm and sunny; and, in the cool of the evening, the whole family went out to drive. They did not return home till nine o'clock, when they had a light supper. The conversation in no way turned upon ghosts, so there were not even those primary conditions of receptive expectation which so often precede the presentation of psychical phenomena. No mention at all was made of the supernatural, nor was Sir Simon de Canterville alluded to in any way. At eleven o'clock the family retired, and by half-past all the lights were out. Sometime after, Mr Otis was awakened by a curious noise in the corridor, outside his room. It sounded like the clank of metal, and seemed to be coming nearer every moment. He got up at once, struck a match, and looked at the time. It was exactly one o'clock. He was quite calm, and felt his pulse, which was not at all feverish. The strange noise still continued, and with it he heard distinctly the sound of footsteps. He put on hi...

 Orange orangutans: primates in peril By Dhruv Shah Orangutans are great apes that belong to the family of primates containing gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos. They are native to the rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia. On 26 September 2021, The Orangutan Foundation (TOF) contacted the NIE with information regarding the declining population of orangutans inhabiting Sumatra and Borneo, the reasons behind it, and the measures taken to prevent it by them. The information was dismaying. Primarily arboreal, both Sumatran and Bornean orangutans are well adapted for their habitat, possessing long and powerful arms to aid them to climb and swing between trees, and elongated fingers and toes which help them grab tree branches. They are adroit, because, they use tools to help them, remember the entire forest, and construct a sleeping nest every night, made from branches and leaves. Orangutans constantly face threats due to a plethora of causes. Humans play a major role in destroying the...

A high-pitched beeping noise from a smooth, red, self-driving car caught my attention as my crew and I ventured ahead. I was leading my crew to investigate an artificial intelligence city. The wind whistled while the crimson red sun brought along a bloodred sky. The placid place seemed devoid of life and robots, replete with the reeking, astringent, pungent blood. I was shivering due to fear like a rattling cup of tea during an earthquake. To compound the mystery, a skyscraper that kissed the skies emitted a strange glow. We decided to explore the uncanny glow and entered the building. We found ourselves in a marble chamber. The smooth, polished, austere grey marble was cool to the touch. A damaged automaton who made cacophonous sounds, which resonated in the hollow hallway, stopped after a while; the eerie silence was deafening. The transparent glass lift was damaged beyond repair, so, we searched for stairs. Further along, an interminable flight of stairs beckoned to us, probably lea...

There is always that one holiday location that can soothe all your stress in problematic times. The ultimate solution for all of my difficulties is visiting the beach in Hawaii for an exotic vacation. The brown, coarse sand and the waves roaring, away from the pungent and reeking city, invigorate me. The waves splashed against the shore. They gushed past my fingers as my bare feet walked on the moist smelling sand which cushioned them. Raucous children scurried around, running amok around the tents, and incurring their parents’ fury. While scouring the extents of the gigantic beach, I came across pearl-white, smooth, soft, and slimy shells, forming a perfect contrast with the amber yellow sky.  After my saunter across the seashore, I visited the hawkers’ stalls. The hawkers took up a rhythm while shouting out combos, pulsating like the beats of a heart, lup-dup, lup-dup. Their cacophonous voices captivated swarms of people. I savored a tantalizing meal including a tangy salad accom...

Over the tannoy, much to my despair, a loud, booming voice announced the delay of all trains. To spend time in the huge train station, I decided to observe its flow. It was a theater come to life; people were bustling like an army of ants. Like the buzz of a thousand bees, tiny sounds resonated throughout the station. At the ticket counters, the long queue resembled a snake slithering in grass. The polished, austere grey marble flooring was lustrous despite being a non-metal. Even with the searing hot sun glooming above, it was cool at touch. The canicule necessitated a cup of freshly brewed cold coffee. Hence, I went to a Starbucks café. As I opened the door to enter, the welcoming, bitter aroma of coffee beans found its way to my nose. Condensation on the cup eased my hand as I sat on a wooden bench to drink it. It was as though I was in slumber until the intoxicating, aromatic coffee slipped down my throat. The bench was made from premium quality teak. I was astonished at how effort...