Clock By Mridula Murugan

 Clock

By Mridula Murugan

On the wall,

it waits without resting,

hands moving

whether anyone looks or not.

A clock is patient

with no hurry,

yet it never stops.

It simply keeps going,

minute after minute,

carrying mornings into afternoons,

afternoons into night.

Sometimes it feels gentle,

like in a quiet classroom

when the light falls across the desks

and the second hand circles

as if nothing in the world

could break the calm.

Other times it feels louder,

a sharper pressure,

when someone is waiting

for an answer,

a decision,

a door to open,

a moment to end.

Cherry Blossoms By Mridula Murugan

 Cherry Blossoms

By Mridula Murugan

Spring arrives

without much noise,

just a softer wind,

a little more light.

Cherry blossoms open

like soft light,

spreading through branches

in shades of pale pink.

The breeze moves through 

with a simple ease,

and petals drift down

slow as quiet thoughts.

The world is gentler,

touched by their color.

They do not stay long,

and their beauty feels deeper

because it will pass.

Still, while they bloom,

they make spring feel visible,

like the season itself

has taken a shape.

Basic Economics Every Teen Should Know By: Sujal Mirchandani

  Basic Economics Every Teen Should Know

By: Sujal Mirchandani

Economics might sound like a boring subject area which only grown ups might be interested in. But, after taking Microeconomics in school, I have realized that some of the concepts in the class apply to all of our lives and it is important that we learn them. Knowing the fundamentals of economics can help us be more educated and make smarter choices with our money. Economics is especially important to teenagers since they are most likely to be wasteful and inconsiderate with money. 

The most important concept in economics is supply and demand. It basically implies that when there is a large number of goods or services, people demand it less and are willing to pay a lower price. But, when there’s only a small number of goods or services, this makes the product more appealing to consumers and forces people to pay a premium price. Basically, whenever the supply is low, the demand is high, and whenever the supply is high, the demand is low. This is important for teenagers because they are inclined towards paying high prices for things such as shoes, video games, clothes, etc. since there is a low supply. Teenagers need to understand how they are being influenced to purchase something just because it is rare. 

Another economics concept is opportunity cost. It deals with the next best thing you could have done with your resources once you have used them. For example, if I spend my time studying for a math test I have tomorrow, my opportunity cost is the time I could have spent playing basketball outside with my friends. There is opportunity cost involved each time you make a decision, which is why you must make smart decisions with your limited resources. Knowing about this concept will make teenagers be less wasteful with their time and money. If they understand different ways they can utilize their resources, they will be more likely to make smarter decisions. 

Lastly, teenagers need to understand the concept of marginal utility, which represents the additional satisfaction a person receives with one additional unit of good. For example, if I am craving donuts, my marginal utility for the first donut would be 500 since it will give me high satisfaction. But, as I consume more donuts, I would start to enjoy it less and less, dropping my marginal utility with each additional donut. Therefore, the smartest choice would be to consume until my marginal utility is proportional to the marginal cost of donuts. Understanding this will help teens be more mindful of what they are purchasing and if it's worth the price they are paying for it. 

I believe that everyone can greatly benefit from learning some economics because it makes us more informed as individuals and consumers. Knowing the basics of economics will make you more mindful of what’s going on in the economy, such as inflation, unemployment, etc, which is important because it affects you as an individual. 

Pressure To Be the Best By: Sujal Mirchandani

 Pressure To Be the Best

By: Sujal Mirchandani

In today’s world, teenagers often feel the pressure to stay productive all the time. They are expected to study hard, play sports, work out, learn new skills, do internships, and more. A lot of these expectations come from seeing what others are doing, both online and in school, which makes teens feel like they always need to do more. Although being productive is a good thing, constantly comparing yourself to others can be harmful.

Seeing what your friends or classmates have achieved can make you feel like you are falling behind. Because of this, many teens try to involve themselves in as many activities as possible just to keep up. However, this often leads to feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, leaving little to no time for themselves. Sometimes, they even take part in activities they are not interested in, just to prove something to others. This creates the idea that they always need to be working to be considered productive, even if it means not giving themselves enough rest. As a result, it becomes difficult to balance everything, and their schoolwork or grades may start to suffer. I believe that teenagers should focus on spending their time on things they genuinely care about instead of doing random activities just to get attention from others.

It is also important for teens to understand that resting is not a bad thing. Getting enough sleep and taking breaks can actually help them feel more energized and focused. They should not feel like they have to sacrifice their rest just to keep working, as this can negatively affect their health. Ultimately, teenagers need to find a balance between staying productive and getting time to rest to be successful in the long run. 

Clockwork by Fatima Azeem

Clockwork by Fatima Azeem

The world isn’t real. Fate, as we know it, was created by an algorithm of zeros and ones coded into a system that shapes our lives. And this isn’t the first Earth to be made. After much trial and error, the higher-ups of reality finally, finally made the perfect simulation to observe humans: their emotions, their morality, their struggle to live—humanity now is a result of thousands of experiments conducted by bored, envious researchers. Envious why? Because human beings have the privilege of ignorance that many others don’t have. 

Humans didn’t know the world was fake, but one man, ONE MAN, was all it took to ruin the millions of years of work I put into this study: his name was John Doe. How did he do it? I don’t know either, because I took a 5-year power nap, and now everyone on Earth is rebelling against the rules I created… and the worst part? I have to make another world all over again. Why can’t they just stay oblivious?

 I’ll start with the sky. I’ll break up the blue ceiling, and maybe I can create a green one next time. It’ll work, it has to, because I can’t keep doing this research over and over again! Now I just need to wipe most of humanity out for the billionth time. John Doe is at the top of my list, but my body will probably end up at the bottom of a cliff before him because my boss is really mad. 

The world may not be real, but neither is my sanity. 

Prayers by Fatima Azeem

 Prayers by Fatima Azeem

“Down with the witch!” The crowd sang, banging their pots and pans together in celebration. The townspeople gathered around to watch another person suffocate, with their body suspended in air, their neck snapping against tight rope, and their weight fighting against gravity’s pull. The said person, a woman who met her demise, was none other than the Devil’s servant, according to rumors. A widow, a badmouth, and a gossiper—her neighbors finally pointed their fingers at the woman when one of their cows died overnight. A cow for a life, the Church agreed. 

The now trembling witch cried out as the platform beneath her feet gave out, and the hoard of Salem laughed as she squirmed to death. Unite the people, create an enemy, perhaps now the villagers were closer to God. Every man gets his wish through the death of another. 

Yes, today was a happy day. Gloria cheered among the people, feeling the sun against her skin. It was fun to occasionally watch events like this, to scream and exhaust yourself, to forget about hunger and chores and the rough calluses on her palms. The hair trapped beneath her head covering started to crawl out among the chaos. Perhaps she was too enthusiastic today, but whatever the Church did was the will of God. How could a faithful woman like Gloria not support killing the damned? 

“You ought to keep that veil on your head, young girl, unless Father sees you.” A man from her side said. Gloria avoided his gaze and quickly fixed the strands of hair that escaped from her bun. 

“Thank you for the reminder.” She quietly said, her joy from a few moments ago waning. 

“For the sake of the Angels.” He replied, still his eyes remained on her. Gloria glanced at his face, for once imagining him hanging in the air instead of the widow. 

“And the Lord.” She added on, a devout Christian indeed. Uneasily—though now was her chance—she walked away in silence from the man and traveled her way through the people. Gloria needed to go home, back to her mother and father, to her young siblings. There was a problem, however. She misjudged the position of the sun. Since when did it get so late? 

“For my sanity,” she whispered. “Why does my house need to be so far from town square?” 

And yet, her legs moved onward, through the alleyways and past shops, all while she greeted nosy women and friends of friends. Everyone knows each other here, and everyone is always watching. That’s the basis of this village, after all. Gloria glanced back from time to time, wanting to keep her back safe. She was on edge, and thankfully, smart enough to trust her gut. Her mission: get home quickly. 

Entering now, was she in the rows of trees that would lead her exactly there. Screw her luck. And so, she walked faster, faster, listening to the shift of leaves, the crack of branches, the howl of wind. Tilting her head upwards, she watched birds fly above. This is quite exhilarating, but she glanced behind again. Gloria’s heart stopped. There- there– far away but quite so close, a shadow watched her. She felt cold all of a sudden, her brain running, and now her feet were too. 

Do not look back, do not look back—

The path in front of her was so clear. The image of the person behind her was so clear. She felt so clear. 

But Gloria was scared, her breath uneven, painful, the tears salty. 

The head covering fell, and her hair, so black, changed brown with the quiet sunlight beaming through. Her footsteps echoed through the looming trees, as if the Church bells rang with each crunch of dead leaves. Gloria refused to panic—she screamed instead, not to celebrate the death of another, but to run away from her own.

Someone should hear her, right? Someone would help her. Someone would bring her to justice. 

No. 

Her body was found the next day, in the river next to her house, with sins unforgiven. God did not save her. Maybe this was wrath. Of the widow’s? Only the Devil knows.

The townsfolk knew enough with the state of her corpse. About how she died, I mean.

Shared Meals by Fatima Azeem

 Shared Meals by Fatima Azeem

“Faisal, you left money on the table again. I’ll take it if you don’t!” echoed a voice from downstairs. Sighing, the boy put on his coat and ran downstairs, grabbing money left behind by customers and cramming it into his pocket. 

“It’s not like they have the courtesy to tip a good amount,” Faisal mumbled. “Besides, if you really wanted, the money would be in your pocket, not mine.” He added, stepping into the restaurant kitchen and taking some uneaten flatbread. “You don’t mind me taking some food, do you? I haven't had dinner yet.”

The older man, taking off his apron, grumbled, “Why don’t you ask the bread for its opinion while you’re at it? Just go home already.” And then he started to wash his hands near the sink. 

This only made Faisal laugh, and he walked over to his boss, putting a hand on his shoulder. “How come no woman has seen your kindness yet?” He said in an amused tone. “You should take a few days off, you know. No wife likes a workaholic.” Babr only smacked Faisal’s hand away, shooing him out of the kitchen while the younger man laughed. 

“Very funny, now leave before I make you go home crying,” the old man scolded. Faisal kept laughing out the door, taking a hard bite from the bread in his hand. He chewed the rough edges of his meal, hating how still and cold it had become. 

“Food like this isn’t enjoyable to eat,” he said to a street cat, crouching down to hand the rest of it to her. “But this bread answers your prayers, no?” The cat only dashed from his feet, the food in her mouth—she was starting to become bold now. The man and animal had become familiar with each other over the past few weeks, and the fear she held towards the towering human dwindled with each feeding. Imbalanced, Faisal stood up again and paved his way home in silence, forever spinning around with nothing but his own thoughts to refuge him from hunger. Another meal shared, yet again. He didn’t regret it. 

When his thoughts ended, so did Faisal’s journey. Perhaps it was muscle memory that brought him in front of this metal door, but his hands reached the familiar coldness, and he listened to the clanking of the lock as it shut before moving deeper into his house. He quietly stepped into the kitchen, warm air billowing through an open window, and Faisal did nothing to turn the light on. 

He looked in the darkness for the cabinet he would open, the bag of sugar he would hold, and the spoon he would scoop into the grains before letting it melt into his mouth. This part was the best part, when the chunky crystals would sit on his tongue and allow him a taste of energy before melting apart—sugar was valuable to hunger. Faisal enjoyed the lingering sweetness before putting his dose back into the cabinet. It would be enough for the night, and the morning hunger he knew well would be a problem for his future self. For now, he would get ready to sleep the night away. Maybe, with the leftover change in his coat, he could buy an egg or two, and then his prayers would be answered.