We are a group of seven friends: Trisha, Simran, Gunjan, Rashit, Deepan, Ankita and I. I am close to all of them for the last year now. We used to hang out with each other every day. But lately, I am not sure if they like my presence.

Something happened

I was scrolling through my social media feed, where Trisha posted a picture of our group, excluding me. Soon I realised that they went out without me to celebrate Ankita’s birthday.

I was flustered with anger, I wanted to yell at them. I couldn’t come up with any explanation for them to have done that to me.

I tried calling them, but no one picked up my calls. I felt anxious. I kept blaming myself. Is it because I am now close to this new girl Kuhika?

Am I not a good friend?

I assumed that it’s my fault because I was different. I did not enjoy what Simran and Deepan or others enjoyed.

So, I thought perhaps I should be more like them — maybe dress up a bit like Simran or pretend how I like their favorite Korean band, so I could blend in and be of more importance to them.

Next day, Kuhika called me to sit with her during the lunch break but I chose to ignore her. Instead, I approached my friends. I decided I would not ask them any questions but try to blend in by behaving more like them.

I talked about their favorite things and wore the same type of bracelet that Simran had. Even after trying to be like them for a few days, I still didn’t see any change. I was still a bystander in my own group.

Rather they kept quiet in my company. It made me upset.

Not afraid to be myself

That night I vented out my feelings to my mother after it became too much for me to handle. I began to sob as she hugged me.

“Sneha, just like you told me about your feelings, tell them how bad they made you feel. Hear them out. Maybe it works out between all of you and you can sort out differences. If it does not, you will have an opportunity to find yourself some friends who don’t treat you like that and like you the way you are. Like Kuhika. She called me yesterday to check on you,” she counseled.

The next day, during lunch time, I decided to confront my friends. I asked them why they had been cold towards me.

Trisha sighed and said, “We know you try hard but you are just not like us at all!” “Try hard? It’s more like she pretends”, Gunjan snapped.

“Yeah we know you don’t like BTS!” she added.

I don’t know who said after that but the words “simple, boring and not adventurous enough” fell upon my ears.

It really hurt to hear all that. My immediate impulse was to retort with things I did not like about them. But I held back.

But I chose to keep quiet. I did not want to be a part of their group now. Instead, I felt relieved that I told them what was on my mind and heard how they felt about me.

I picked up my tiffin box and went and sat next to Kuhika and her friends. She offered me the pasta her mom had made. As I took a bite, I felt as if somebody had taken a huge burden off my head.

Have you ever been in Sneha’s situation? How did you feel? Did you do anything about it? Share with us in the comment box below. Remember, not to put any personal information in the comment box. 

A for Adventure

Avanti was eating her lunch during the break when she heard Tia and her other friends laugh out loud. She joined them and realised that they were talking about an ‘A’ movie that Tia had seen on Netflix using her parent’s account. As Tia went on to share the details of the movie, Avant found herself both getting curious and excited. 

She thought to herself, “Manali wouldn’t be home from 4 to 6 pm. I could have watched the movie on her laptop while she was in her coaching class. Mom and Dad too won’t be home before six. The film does sound super exciting!” 

With curiosity getting the better, Avanti went home and sneaked out her sister’s laptop out of her room. She got comfortable in her blanket and logged into her sister’s laptop and began to play the film. The movie had an 18+ only tag on the top left. It made Avanti uncomfortable but decided to watch on. 

Just as the opening credits ended, her elder sister Manali barged into the room. “Avanti, have you seen my laptop!I forgot to print out an assignment we were to discuss at the coaching class. Do you know… ?” Manali stopped mid sentence. 

But…why not?

“Avanti, what’s going on? Why are you in the blanket in the middle of the day and what are you doing with my laptop”, she asked.

“Nothing, Didi”,Avanti panicked and tried to shut the window as Manali closed in on her. 

Manali snatched the laptop out of Avanti’s hand and got a glimpse of the movie Avanti had just started playing. 

Manali raised her eyebrows and voice. “Avanti! This is an A rated movie. It even has an 18+ sign on it. Why are you watching it then!” 

Avanti was now looking down at her toe. “Didi, today in school Tia and my other friends were talking about it. I was just curious. But I don’t understand why we need to be 18+ to watch it? My friends are not 18 and they watched it. Can’t I too?” Avanti was curious now as she said, her voice tailing off. 

“Well your friend may have watched it from her parent’s account. I am not sure she knew she was not supposed to watch it. But I didn’t expect it from you”, Manali said to Avanti in a disappointed tone.  

Avanti replied, “I am sorry Didi. I broke your trust. I was just very curious…Why can’t we watch 18+ or A movies. What’s so bad in them!”

Confused, upset and uneasy 

Watching the regret in Avanti’s eyes, Manali softened and said, “Well different movies are A (18+) rated for different reasons. For example, some movies may have some violent or inappropriate scenes, which may scare or upset you”, replied Manali. 

“Many A rated films may have dialogues with strong abusive language. Blood, war, nudity or sexual scenes, which might make you uncomfortable”, Manali added. 

“But didi, last Friday, during our movie night we watched ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ – a film about war and romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so how are these movies different from each other?” a confused Avanti asked. 

“Good question Avanti. So Jodha Akbar was a “U/A” (Unrestricted/Adult Guidance) rated film. This means the movie is safe for anyone to watch. There were war scenes but they were shot in a way that wouldn’t make the younger audience uncomfortable?” Manali asked. 

“Yes, I rather enjoyed them. But how do we come to know what movie we should or should not watch?” Avanti asked. 

“It’s easy. All movies, documentaries or series etc have a rating. These ratings are generally seen before the movie starts or sometimes even displayed on the top right/left corner of the screen, now especially on Netflix or other such platforms”, replied Manali. 

“So we have kinds of films – for those below 18 and above 18?” Avanti asked. 

Mr. Potter to the rescue

“Well there are several age ratings. You remember the Harry Potter movies? So “Half-Blood Prince”, “HP & the Prisoner of Azkaban”, “HP & the Chamber of Secrets”, “HP & the Philosopher’s Stone” are all rated PG (Parental Guidance) as they only have some scary imagery, little violence, bad language and some amount of sensuality”, replied Manali. 

“While other parts – “HP & the Goblet of Fire”, “HP & the Order of the Phoenix”, HP & the Deathly Hallows (Part 1 and 2) are all “PG-13” rated films, which strongly caution an adult to be with a young viewer during the film. These movies had moderate fantasy, violence and threat or even some injury details”, Manali added. 

“You are right, I did find the last two movies rather dark especially the use of death and torture curses. It helped that we watched these together”, Avanti recalled. 

“Yeah they were a bit dark. But still these can be watched by teenagers. But 18+/ or ‘A’ films are completely unsuitable for anyone under the age of 18. Most of your horror movies like “Scream 2”, “Anabelle” or “Paranormal Activity” too fall under this category”, replied Manali. 

But my friends…

“Di, what exactly will happen if I watch an ‘A’ movie? My friends seemed to have enjoyed it”, Avanti asked. 

“Your friends may have found it exciting to watch it because they know they were not allowed to watch it. It is the same excitement that you get when you have ice cream on a winter night when you are not supposed to”, Manali explained. 

“Haha, you won’t ever forget my ice-cream story! But tell me, what if I just watch it to see what’s there”, Avanti asked. 

“Avanti, your time will come. Trust me. For now these movies won’t entertain you as they should, because at this age you would lack an understanding of the context and the reasons for portraying what they do. Do you think when you were 5-7 years old you would have been able to enjoy and appreciate Jodha Akbar?” asked Manali. 

“Lol di! I was too invested in “Chota Bheem” and “Princess Sofia” to even watch such films!” laughed Avanti. 

“Exactly! As you get older, you develop an understanding which allows you to enjoy the film plots. ‘A’ rated films have content that might be difficult for younger people to comprehend. They may expose you to certain topics in a wrong and inappropriate way. At your age, you also won’t be able to differentiate between what is real and what is fantasy and it may leave you confused or upset”, Manali replied. 

Better late than sorry

“Hmmm… I remember Tia being very depressed for days after watching a suicide scene on a series she had been watching”, a thoughtful Avanti said. 

 “That’s the point. If instead of entertaining you, a movie or a TV series leaves you upset, uncomfortable or confused, then maybe it is worth waiting for the right age to watch such films, don’t you think so?” Manali replied. 

“Yeah, I remember not being able to go to the bathroom alone for weeks after watching “Anabelle”, Avanti recalled with a shudder. 

“Similarly, the movie you were about to watch may have portrayed relationships in a way that might leave you confused or upset. It is better to first understand these things better (usually comes with age and experience), and then you are free to watch whatever seems fit. Is that ok?” Manali asked.

“Absolutely! Thanks Didi for explaining in such detail. I am sorry for sneaking out your laptop”, Avanti replied. 

“Oh yes, my laptop! I am late for my class. Now for that, I won’t forgive you!”, Manali shouted as she ran out of the room. 

Do you have anything on your mind? Share with us in the comment box below. Remember not to put any personal information in the comment box.

Why is junk food so addictive?

• One aspect that makes junk food so tasty is the sensation of eating it. It is the taste, the smell and the feel of the foods also known as ‘orosensation’ that makes it so appetising. Junk food is designed by scientists (mostly employed by food companies) that spend hours to find that perfect crunch of the potato chips, the right amount of sweet and fizz in your soda and just enough cheese on your pizzas to make you go mmm! 
• Most junk food has a high amount of salt, sugar and trans and saturated fats that foods cause the release of neurotransmitters called dopamine and oxytocin from our brains. These neurotransmitters then transmit the feeling of relaxation, joy and pleasure, that makes us want to come back for more. Even though they have zilch nutritional value!
• The presentation of the food also matters! Have you noticed how red the sauce/ketchup is, and how vibrant the vegetables look? Companies achieve this by adding artificial colours to the food. They do this because our brains associate bright foods with them being healthier. What would you like — a nice big bright orange or a small dull one with spots on it? 
• Junk foods are also made to trick your brain into thinking that you are getting just enough energy or calories from the food but not enough to make you feel full and satisfied. This causes cravings and before you know it, you’ve eaten the entire packet of wafers!
• When you eat junk food, your brain registers how you feel while eating it and then the next time you even see or smell that good, that memory causes you to want to eat that food again and you also salivate. This causes you to want to eat junk food over and over again.
• Last but not the least is the texture of the food. Junk food is often a mixture of tantalizing combinations such as the crispy patties of burgers with soft buns and spicy sauces. This causes your brain to be stimulated and not get bored of the food.

But what’s the harm?

So we get it. It’s addictive. But still, what’s the harm in indulging your mind as well as your body? Well, that’s the point! Junk food is only meant to fool your brain and all it does to your body is harm. Here’s how: 

• Research shows that junk food makes us impulsive! It means that being on a diet of sugary and salty foods for a long time makes people give in to temptations easily and it makes it tough for adolescents to follow rules. 
• Excess junk food consumption also causes inflammation in the part of the brain called the hippocampus. Individuals with a damaged hippocampus report higher levels of hunger, which causes them to consume even more junk food! 
• Junk food is also known to shrink our brain’s learning capacity. Neurons help our brain remember and create memories and junk food reduces the neurons’ ability to form connections. It also reduces the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus, which could potentially lead to mental health illnesses. 
• Excessive junk food can make us unhealthy and obese, leading to digestive tract problems, and the possibility of getting various cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other health problems as we grow up. 

What can you do to eat less junk food?

It is important to realise that healthy, home-cooked food is delicious too! Consuming healthy foods will help you feel fuller and you will not feel the need to eat junk food! Eating less junk food also causes you to crave it less, making it easier for you to eat healthier food. 

Making different combinations of food such as crunchy cucumbers with creamy homemade sauces and dips can help you fulfil your cravings for something exciting and varied. Fruit chats, roasted namkeens and homemade versions of your favourite junk food with healthier ingredients should satisfy your junk food needs!

Do you have any questions for Science Lab? Post them in the comments box below. We will respond to them in our upcoming articles. Please don’t put any personal information.

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This article was first published on Aug 9, 2022 . 

The genie of genes

Genes are fascinating! They basically define the traits you inherit from your parents. They provide the information that makes you, well you. These traits include physical features to behavioural patterns you get from Mumma and Daddy dearest. Now you don’t have to wonder how you got your Dad’s eyes or your Mom’s nose. You can thank genetics for that!

• Genes play a vital role in your growth and each gene has a special job to do. The Science Lab brings you ten interesting facts about genes!
• Genes are found in string-like structures called chromosomes. Chromosomes are found in every human cell in pairs, 23 pairs to be precise. One chromosome comes from your Mom while the other one is from your Dad. That’s what we call a true partnership!
• There is a method to how genes work. There are dominant genes which are strong and usually overpower the recessive (weaker) gene. A recessive gene won’t show up in your parents but could show up in you.
• So, consider this – how your eye colour is determined. Two dominant genes of brown eyes – one from Dad and one from Mom will give you brown eyes. One dominant gene of brown eyes and one recessive gene of green eyes will also result in brown eyes. However, if you inherited both recessive genes of green eyes, then guess what? You’ll have green eyes!
• Genetics just isn’t about inheriting traits from your parents. Traits can be passed down to you from them that don’t show in either of them.  It’s all because of the recessive genes we were just talking about. So if a person is tall but their parents aren’t, she may have got her height from another family member, say a grandparent or an aunt.
• Recessive genes can be hidden for generations. So just because everyone in your family wears glasses, there’s always a chance that you may not need them. All thanks to a great, great grand uncle whom you never met!
• When you hit puberty could also have something to do with your genes. Let’s say your Mom had her period when she was 12 so as a girl it is likely you could get your period around the same time. Likewise, as a guy, your voice may crack at the same age as your Dad’s did. Of course, this isn’t set in stone and isn’t true for all.
• As hormones surge through your body during puberty causing physical changes they also interact with your genes. This means a lot of the changes that you’re going through like your height, the size of your breasts, body hair growth and so on, are partially influenced by your genes.
• Behaviours such as mood swings, being an extrovert or preferring to stay quiet can also be attributed to genes. However, your surroundings and situation also play a key role in shaping up the person you grow to be. Happy and healthy relationships with your friends and family can make such a difference.
• Some scientists believe that children may also inherit certain talents from their families. Like how a musician’s child may become a musician as well. But then again, this isn’t true for all. Just because your Mom is good at maths, it doesn’t mean you have a liking for the same.  On the other hand, your parents could have two left feet but as you grow and develop skills, you may be the next Prabhu Deva!
• There are times when the wrong mix of genes may cause health complications. While many of them are found at birth, some may come to light, if any, as one grows older.  Regular medical check-ups are always a good idea to keep check on your health, no matter your age.
• There is no denying genes play an important part in your growth. However, your lifestyle and environment are key players as well. Toxins, poor nutrition, and no physical activity are harmful. Solely relying on good genes isn’t a wise idea. Eating right, getting rest, and exercising is just some of the ways to ensure you have good health.

Do you have any questions for Science Lab? Post them in the comments box below. We will respond to them in our upcoming articles. Please don’t put any personal information. 

Photo: Shutterstock/NatashaRamenskaya/The person in the photo is a model, names changed. 

FOMO and Conformity

Pressure can do a lot of things. It can blow a balloon (Good Fun!), but it can also burst a balloon (painful and loud). The atmosphere exerts pressure on you all the time, and you barely feel it. Then again, while you can barely feel atmospheric pressure, there is pressure that you can strongly feel, that makes decisions for you, the pressure that is called… peer pressure!

“So what is peer pressure?” I hear you ask. I know what it is, but I don’t know what it is. Well, peer pressure is something you feel when your peers, friends, and classmates can do something, own something, or know something that you don’t, making you feel the need to be able to do, own, or know the same things that they do. 

Imagine this – You are the only person in your group of friends who doesn’t have a phone, and you always feel bad about it. This feeling doesn’t go away, and you keep on begging your parents for one, even though they say that they do not see the need for you having a phone. This begging that you did was a result of peer pressure. So, now you know. Peer pressure is a mix of Fear Of Missing Out and Conformity.  

Me telling you this will be followed by you saying, “Oh Now! FOMO and Conformity! We don’t stand a chance. No wonder so many people are affected by peer pressure!”. Fear not dear reader, for I will swoop in to help you. This gargantuan team up may be deadly, and we may be tiny compared to its power, but as a wise green Jedi Master once said, “Size matters not. Judge me by my size, do you?”. 

There! He’s right! We can defeat peer pressure with strategic attacks, and we only need a few. Why? Because this team up is huge, but remember, the bigger they are… The harder they fall! So let’s dive straight into my latest miniature novel- ‘Superior Secret Strategies: A deep dive into battle strategies against Peer Pressure’: 

Remember who you are

It doesn’t matter if your entire class has phones, or follows the latest trends, or knows cheat codes for all the popular games! You may be different from everyone in your group of friends, your class, or even your school; but don’t forget that you are still you. No matter who you are, everyone has a purpose, and no one else can do the same things you can. 

You are you, and nobody can fill the gap you create in the world by trying to change yourself just to fit in. Even if everyone in your class, including you, can speak the same language, you are the only one who can speak that language, and do other specific things that others cannot, and for each person who dislikes you for who you are, there will be 5 people who love you for it.

Does them doing/owning/knowing that something makes it necessary?

Using the same  phone example, does everyone in your group of friends, class, or even school owning a phone make it necessary? If you don’t have a phone, there must be a reason behind it, right? 

Your parents obviously have their reasons for not giving you a phone. Just because someone else has a phone doesn’t mean you need to have one too. 

So when you hear everyone in your class talking about the new iPhone 13, or the Samsung Galaxy s21, remind yourself not to fall prey to peer pressure! The world is moving so fast- today’s technology will be obsolete tomorrow; so does it really matter if you get that latest tech today or later, when you really are ready?

Put things into perspective

Just because you are missing out on the amazing pop-up camera, or the latest in-display fingerprint sensor, doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the world, does it? Your not owning the latest gadget or not following the latest trends doesn’t make you any lesser than anyone else, and it won’t make anyone hate you, or even dislike you. 

On the off chance that anyone does begin disliking you for it (I mean seriously, who will dislike you for not having a phone?), remind yourself that their dislike is baseless, and you shouldn’t care about it!

It’s over now! You have finished my miniature novel, and are on the fast track to beating peer pressure! So what are you waiting for? Get out there, strategically plan your attacks, and show peer pressure the consequences of picking on everyone. After that, become a superhero, and teach other people how to do the same things I wrote about, and you will succeed!

Abhimanyu R. is a writer, co-editor and co-publisher at the Paperless Press, a students-led news magazine dedicated to spreading positivity and uplifting news. Check it out at thepaperlesspress.net! This article was first published in the Paperless press. Read the original article here. 

Do you have anything on your mind? Share with us in the comment box below. Remember not to put any personal information in the comment box.
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‘Something is bugging me’

“Hey Sameer! What’s up? I haven’t seen you during lunch since forever!” said Neha as soon as she saw him walking towards her.

Also, do watch this video based on sexual assault below. Read the rest of the article below video:

Sameer had been avoiding going to the café for lunch for the last few weeks. He hadn’t talked to anyone about it yet and he really wanted to tell Neha, but he was still hesitant.

”Hey Neha, not much. I just had a lot of school work so I didn’t really get the time”, he replied.

“Don’t you try to fool me, we’re in the same class and you’re not even playing any sports these days so you have nothing to catch up on”, retorted Neha. “And you seem so distracted lately. It’s like you’re always looking over your shoulder”.

Neha was right. Sameer had been very uncomfortable lately and he couldn’t keep it from her anymore, “Yeah okay something is bugging me. But you have to promise not to tell anyone. ANYONE!”

“Woah grumpy pants, not to sound braggy but when have I ever done that. Okay so spill. What is going on?” asked Neha patiently.

‘He makes me feel awkward’

“Okay. So there’s this uncle in our neighbourhood who visits our house pretty often. And I feel like he’s been getting more and more physical with me lately. He always tries to hug me and kiss me. Even when I made it clear I didn’t like it, he laughed it off and did it anyway. I know he’s an elder but I have thought about it for so long and I swear I’m not overreacting, he just makes me really uncomfortable”, confessed Sameer somewhat nervously.

 “Hey! Why didn’t you tell me before? Are you okay?” asked a worried Neha. “No, no I’m okay. I just wasn’t sure anyone would believe me, so I’d been a little stressed about it”, said Sameer.

“Have you talked to your parents about this?” asked Neha. 

“No. That’s what I’m worried about. What if they don’t believe me? He is my father’s friend you know. What if they think I’m overreacting or doing it for attention?”

‘You’ve got to tell them’ 

“They’re your parents Sameer, of course, they’ll believe you. Just calm down and talk to them. Tell them why you feel uncomfortable and I’m sure they’ll understand”, advised Neha. 

“Yeah okay, I guess you’re right. I’ll talk to them today”, he sighed. “It will make me feel better, I guess.” 

“And thank you too, I didn’t realize talking to you would be so helpful”, he teased Neha. 

“Excuse me! I’m pretty awesome okay? But you have to promise to come back to the café for lunch, I can not handle these gossip bees for one more day, I swear!”, exclaimed Neha, pointing at a group of excited girls.

They both laughed and walked off as the bell rang for their next class. 

Have you ever been in this situation? Share with us in the comments box below. Remember not to share any personal information in the comment boxes.

Four friends 

Everyone loves to be happy! It is the greatest feeling in the world and although sometimes the feeling is hard to come by, you can do a few things that can help you feel better.

There are four hormones, let’s call them chaar yaar (or four friends) who live inside our body and help us feel good or happy! They are dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins. Really fancy names right? Well, let us introduce you to each one of them now. 

First, comes dopamine. It is the ‘feel-good’ hormone. It is released when we feel pleasure like winning that Call of Duty match or when we eat our favourite foods! It is also associated with learning, memory and our motor function system among others.

Next comes, serotonin, which helps regulate our mood and also plays an important role in our sleep, appetite, digestion, memory and learning abilities. Next time you feel moody, you know whom to blame! 

Now that you know about the two friends, let’s talk about the other two! We bet you’re going to love them too! 

Don’t forget to check out the amazing video Sad and Happy: Feelings Happen – below: Read the rest of the article below the video: 

Love and pain! 

So next comes oxytocin, also known as the ‘love hormone’ that helps promote trust, empathy and bonding in relationships. You can’t stop crushing about Ranveer Singh or BTS because of oxytocin! This hormone is also responsible for making you and your best friend – so madly in love with each other. 

Last comes the endorphins that are the body’s natural pain relievers! Yes, you heard it right. They are produced when the body experiences pain or discomfort. They also increase when you engage in reward-producing activities such as eating or working out! 

Next time you are feeling dull, lazy or depressed – go out for a long walk or indulge in cycling! Your endorphins will surely make you happy! 

Now that you know why and how you feel happy, let us tell you about various activities that you can partake in to feel happy! 

1. Spending time in nature is a great way to boost happiness. Exposure to sunlight can increase the production of serotonin and endorphins (don’t forget your sunscreen)!
2. Exercising is also a great way to feel positive! It increases one’s dopamine and serotonin levels. Doing it with friends is an added plus!
3. Laughter is the best medicine and, in this case, laughing with a friend can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, increasing your dopamine and endorphins levels! Bonding with someone while laughing also releases oxytocin, helping you feel extra happy!
4. Cooking or eating your favourite meal helps boost all the four happy hormones! While doing so, your dopamine and serotonin levels increase and while cooking with someone, oxytocin increases. Certain foods also release certain hormones. Spicy foods trigger endorphins to release while yoghurt, beans, and eggs along with low-fat meats and almonds help in dopamine release. Foods rich in tryptophan (an amino acid) such as eggs, cheese, fish, peanuts and milk help in the release of serotonin. 
5. Listening to music helps increase serotonin production! So, put on your favourite playlist and just vibe. Dancing also helps release oxytocin, so now you have an excuse to dance whenever!
6. Meditation also helps one to improve their sleep and reduce stress. This increases the release of dopamine and can also provide a nice dose of endorphins!
7. Spending time with your loved ones can also boost oxytocin, making you feel relaxed and positive. 
8. Being surrounded by animals also helps in the release of oxytocin. So pet the dog you see and cuddle with cats, it’s worth it!
9. Getting a good night’s sleep also increases dopamine, making you feel refreshed and energetic!
10.  Massages help one release stress and boost all the four happy hormones! 
11.  Practising gratitude helps one realise all the things they should be happy for, focusing on the positive rather than the negative, boosting dopamine.
12.  Being kind to others and helping other people have also proven to be activities that help boost our happy hormones!

 Fun facts on happiness! 

1. Happiness is contagious! 
2. Spending time with happy people can make you happy too. 
3. Floral scents (especially roses) can make you happier. 
4. Happiness helps build a stronger immune system. Less cold and flu! 
5. Happy people live longer.
6. Happy people experience less stress. 
7. Happiness has its own day! 20 March is World Happiness Day!

So remember, the next time you are feeling down or a little sad, try doing a few of these activities or just eating your favourite foods! 

Do you have any questions for Science Lab? Post them in the comments box below. We will respond to them in our upcoming articles. Please don’t put any personal information.
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Dear Diary,

I know I haven’t written in a long time but things have been a little weird lately. First of all, you remember how I told you about my crush who approached me on Instagram, right? Well, when he texted, I was ecstatic! We couldn’t stop talking and would text each other day and night. We shared so many interests, he even enjoyed the same movies as I did! 

Also, don’t forget to check out this amazing video on What Makes A Relationship Healthy? Read the rest of the article, below video: 

So after a few weeks of talking, he asked me to be his girlfriend, I said yes! As you already know I have never had a boyfriend before so I was just really happy about this. We would meet in our evening classes and text on the phone for the rest of the day. Things were going really well but then I started to notice some weird things too.

Little things

At first, it was just him laughing at me when I asked about a term I didn’t understand in football or memes on social media and I ignored that. But then I realised I had started to hide things from him because I didn’t wanna feel stupid for not knowing. 

Whenever I had a question or something that confused me, he would laugh and make me feel stupid for not knowing it. Or the time I hit 5k followers on my cooking account, and he told me that it’s not a big deal and I shouldn’t let it get to my head. 

Even when I talked to him about how I wanted to be a lawyer in the future, he laughed it off and reacted in a way that made me regret even telling him about it. I know it seems like little things but they made me feel really bad about myself.

And I never even realised how his behaviour was affecting my self-esteem because I was so smitten with him. But once it hit me I started to notice all the things he had done and the ways he had started to belittle me for everything. 

Was I not smart enough? 

Be it the things I found funny, or the things I loved. He would find a way to make me feel bad about it. I started to keep things to myself and stopped participating in group conversations assuming that they wouldn’t find my input helpful either. I avoided competitions and underestimated myself a lot because I thought I wasn’t smart enough to do anything. 

When I tried to talk to him, he said that I didn’t know how to take a joke and I was overreacting. All of this was affecting me so much that I stopped talking to my best friends. I mean I couldn’t even write to you! 

My sister noticed my slip in moods and tried to talk to me. After a lot of poking, I finally decided to tell her everything and we had a heart-to-heart which made me feel a lot better. She told me I was in an unhealthy relationship. Since our talk, I have decided to break up with my boyfriend and then I thought I should tell you all about it.

It may take a little while to get my confidence back up again but I promise I’m going to try my best and never let anyone else dictate my worth again. I’ll update you about my progress very soon.

Photo: Shutterstock/Red Fox studio/Person in the photo is a model. Names changed.

Would you like to share your feelings with TeenBook? Send us your thoughts in the comments box! Remember, not to put any personal information in the comment box.

The D-word 

Mehul’s (13)  parents are not on good terms with each other and have always had fights for as long as he can remember. However, last night was really stressful as his father left home after a massive fight saying he would file for a divorce. 

Divorce? He can’t get the word out of his head and the thought that his parents would separate. He is scared that his life will change forever. 

What would they say?

He was also worried about what to say to his friends. Would they judge him? Would they think ill of his family? Would they think his parents are bad people?

His thoughts were interrupted as his friends began talking to him during morning meal time.

“Why aren’t you eating any food, Mehul? Don’t you like the taste?” Ansh asked.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I was thinking about something”, Mehul answered.

“Is something wrong with you, Mehul? You look really distracted these days”, Sakshi asked with concern.

“No no, everything is fine yaar. Nothing is wrong”, Mehul replied.

“You can talk to us, Mehul. You will feel better”, Pranav suggested.

“I don’t want to talk about it, guys. I know all of you will judge me a lot”, said Mehul.

“We can’t force you to share anything with us but I assure you that we are your friends no matter what and friends don’t judge”, said Ansh.

“Whatever it is that you’re facing, we’ll try to help you get through it”, Sakshi added.

“Okay, I will tell you guys”, he hesitated a little, “My parents…they are….. divorcing each other and I don’t know what to do about it. My life will change forever”, he couldn’t control his tears as he managed to get the words out of himself. 

“Oh my god. I hope you’re okay. This sounds so scary. What will you do now?” said Ansh.

“Stop it, Ansh! You are making him feel more anxious this way. It will get better with time, Mehul. Trust me”, said Pranav.

I get it 

“I don’t know. Yesterday Papa left the house and I have been so scared since then. How will this ever get better? I will not be able to live with both of my parents anymore. I will not have a family the way you all do”, Mehul cried.

“Mehul, I understand how hard this is going to be for you. I’ve been through it”, Pranav said softly.

There was a minute’s silence as this was the first time Pranav had shared this. Ansh and Sakshi seemed a bit taken aback but Mehul felt a little relieved as there would be at least someone who would understand what he was really going through.

“I am sorry Pranav. Were you scared too?” asked Mehul.

“I remember initially I was more scared about what everyone else would think about my family. I didn’t want anyone around me to get to know about this either. But you can’t really ensure that. Instead, after a time I stopped caring about what others were saying as it made me more upset. You shouldn’t care about what others will say. I know it’s hard but try not to think about that”, Pranav replied.

It’s not the end 

“But how hard was it for you to get through this entire process of your parents separating?” asked Mehul.

“I will not lie to you. Initially it was really hard to go through this process. It takes a lot of time, but after that things do settle down and you realise that you aren’t in an unhealthy environment anymore. You too will gradually feel better and realise that all the things that have been disrupting your physical and mental health will fade away”, Pranav answered.

“But I don’t want to be separated from my parents. I can’t live without any of them. I need  both of them”, said Mehul as he became teary-eyed once again.

“I know it is hard Mehul. But them separating doesn’t necessarily mean that you will lose them. In my case, my parents have been able to provide my sister and I with more and better-quality time. It feels like I am getting more attention from them now than I did before their separation. Even though this is not the same for everyone. But you should hope for the best”, said Pranav with a sense of comfort in his voice.

Mehul nodded without much confidence in his manner. 

Give it time

Pranav continued speaking, “I remember I thought settling down would be impossible for me. But as you leave an unhealthy environment, you will begin to realise after a period of time that as your parents are not fighting anymore, your day to day life will not be disrupted and this will make your healing process easier”, said Pranav.

“Things will get better. Trust me. Time is the key to that”, he added. 

“Yes, I am sure this will get better. Even though it may not feel like that right now”, said Sakshi giving Mehul a tight hug.

“And we are all here to support you. You can always talk to us”, said Ansh, as he patted Mehul’s shoulder.

As the bell rang, they all walked back to the class with Mehul in the centre. Mehul was now feeling a bit lighter. He was still feeling very upset about his parent’s divorce. But he was glad to have his friends by his side. 

Have you ever been in this situation? Share with us in the comments box below. Remember not to share any personal information in the comment boxes.

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