The HETU way 🤷

When you think of dictators, the usual suspects—Hitler, Stalin, Mao—steal the spotlight, twirling their mustaches (or not) and hogging all the infamy. But what about the underdogs of despotism? The guys who didn’t quite make the A-list of authoritarianism but still managed to ruin a few lives with their own brand of megalomaniacal flair? Thanks to a delightfully obscure YouTube video (shoutout to Top 10 Lesser-Known Dictators), we’re diving into three lesser-known tyrants who deserve a sarcastic slow clap for their efforts. Buckle up for a wild ride through the B-grade dictatorship. 1. Enver Hoxha: Albania’s Paranoid Bunker King First up, meet Enver Hoxha, the guy who turned Albania into a fortress of fear and concrete. Ruling from 1944 to 1985, Hoxha was the dictator equivalent of that friend who cancels plans because “someone’s probably out to get me.” His paranoia was legendary—he built 750,000 bunkers across Albania, one for every four citizens, because apparently, you can never ha...

 If you’ve ever been to an Indian market, you’ve probably witnessed (or participated in) the age-old ritual of bargaining. Whether it’s haggling with an auto-rickshaw driver over ₹10, negotiating with a street vendor for an extra lemon, or convincing the shopkeeper to round down the price of bangles, we Indians love a good deal. It’s in our DNA—we take pride in securing the best price possible. But sometimes, just sometimes, it’s okay to pay a little extra for something you truly like. That ₹5, ₹10, or even ₹20 extra isn’t just about money; it’s about the value of joy. Because It Feels Right Imagine this: You’re at your favorite chai tapri, the kind that serves tea in earthen kulhads. You can get chai for ₹10 at the next stall, but this stall makes it just right—kadak (strong), with the perfect balance of adrak and elaichi. The shopkeeper tells you it’s ₹15. Do you bargain, or do you simply hand over the extra ₹5 because this is the chai your heart wants ? Sometimes, that extr...

Imagine being torn between everything you've been taught and everything you've experienced. That’s exactly where Huck Finn finds himself in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . Society tells him that helping Jim, a runaway slave, is wrong—sinful, even. Yet, every moment spent with Jim reveals a different truth: kindness, loyalty, and friendship that transcends race and social norms. Picture Huck holding a letter he’s written to Miss Watson, ready to betray Jim. But then he remembers—the laughter they shared, the times Jim protected him, the genuine care in Jim’s eyes. And in that moment, Huck does something extraordinary. He tears up the letter and declares, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell!” This isn’t just a rebellious act; it's Huck’s way of saying, “I trust my heart more than the world around me.” It’s a moment we all can relate to—when we realize that what everyone else believes might not be what we believe. Think about it: How often do we find ourselves ...

In the magical world of Harry Potter, horcruxes are objects in which a dark wizard, Voldemort, concealed fragments of his soul to achieve immortality. These objects were his lifeline, allowing him to return even after his physical form was destroyed. But what if I told you that our friendships might just operate similarly? Picture this: You're a walking, talking, living horcrux! Sounds a bit odd, right? But think about it—our lives are a collection of experiences, memories, and emotions, and when we bond with others, we share a part of ourselves with them. Each person in your life, whether family or friend, holds a distinct piece of your essence. Your mom might carry the piece that's your unbridled laughter, while your best friend holds the part that resonates with your passion for adventure. That one cousin might harbor your deepest secrets, and your sibling might carry the memories of your mischievous childhood escapades. It's fascinating how each relationship houses a un...

In the garden of dreams, a bloom unclaimed, A story untold, a heart softly named. Her presence, a melody, in the heart's quiet song, Yet love's path diverged, and I walked alone. Eyes like constellations, a universe untamed, A soul like a fire, forever unnamed. In secret glances, our worlds intertwined, Yet destiny whispered, and love was confined. Her laughter, a symphony, in the chambers of air, A fragrance of roses, delicate and rare. But fate's hand was gentle, in its gentle reprise, Two ships passing by, under separate skies. Yet still, in the echoes, her memory remains, A spark that ignites, a bittersweet pain. For love's not defined by the paths we don't take, But the beauty it brings, in each heartbeat's ache. - 28th June 2023 Thank you for reading, From, Hetansh Shah

I have lived with a fantasy You were my fairy tale. Half a love story remains With love that has gone stale. Angels told me you weren't worth it And maybe that fact is true. But I can't help feeling this way May be I was made for you. So if this tale is to be incomplete  If its not meant to be told. At least give me the crumpled pages And a day I can behold. You belong with him now Tonight I still walk your way. I will loose you to him, tomorrow  Let me give you my love today. I can't have you for a life time But a day I have surely earned. So many things I know of you  And so much I have yet to learn.  Let me have some moments   So I can tell my heart it's true.  That you were not my imagination  That grew out of the blue. I'll treasure the tale on the pages And all the feelings left unsaid. With all the truths I hid from you  And all the lies I told instead. The lies that said I'm over you The lies that said I love you no more. When here I ...