
## The GTA Game

I've been thinking about money a lot lately, and honestly, I'm confused as hell. Like, really confused. Everyone around me seems to have it figured out - work hard, earn money, buy stuff, be happy. But I'm sitting here questioning the whole damn thing.

You know that feeling when you're playing GTA Vice City with unlimited money cheats? Everything's unlocked, you can buy whatever you want, do whatever you want. But after an hour or two, I always ended up turning off the game. It became boring. Pointless.

This got me thinking: what if real life is the same? What if I actually earn unlimited money? Would life become boring too? Would I just turn off the game?

---

## Everyone Defines "Rich" Differently (And That's the Problem)

I keep asking myself: who are the rich people? What makes someone rich?

Take my college friends S and N from our health consciousness group. For them, being rich means having perfect health - hitting the gym every day, eating clean, having that perfect sleep schedule. They'd rather spend ₹5000 on organic food and supplements than on a fancy dinner. To them, a healthy body is wealth that money can't buy.

For most people, it's physical stuff - cars, houses, expensive watches. For others, it's mental peace. Some say it's having a loving family. But for most people I know, including me, we just think it's money. Cold, hard cash.

But is that really it? Is it only about money? I don't even know what rich means to me.

---

## The Prison Sentence I Signed Up For

I'm still young, but I keep thinking about this: I have maybe 30-50 years of working life ahead of me. That's it. The net span is just 50 years. I'll spend these years earning money so I can enjoy the remaining years of my life.

But here's what's messing with my head - I want to earn money today, but I honestly don't know what I'll do when I have sufficient money. What even is "sufficient"? Like, what's the number? What's the goal?

---

## The Question That Haunts me

Can money ever be sufficient? This question haunts me.

I look around and see people who have good money, and they're still stressed about earning more. My friend got a promotion and a salary hike, now he wants an even bigger one. Even S and N, despite being obsessed with health, still worry about affording their expensive organic lifestyle.

It feels like a never-ending cycle. No matter how much I earn, will I ever feel like it's enough?

---

## I'm Working Towards a Goal I Can't Even See

The weird part is, I'm actively trying to earn money - doing MBA to get a good job maybe, or to learn something, but the ultimate aim is money. I stress about my career, I think about investments, placements, apps. But when I really think about it, I don't have a clear picture of what I'll do when I have "enough."

Will I travel? Will I buy a house? Will I become like S and N and invest everything in my health? Will I just sit and relax? I have no idea. I'm literally earning money without knowing what I'm earning it for.

---

## The Truth That Scares Me More Than Being Broke

Sometimes I feel like people are more important to me than money. Like, what if I had all the money in the world but no one to enjoy it with? What if I had enough money but my favorite people were mad at me? I would never be able to sleep peacefully. What's the whole point then?

I keep thinking - would I rather be broke but surrounded by people who love me, or rich but alone? The answer seems obvious, but then why am I still chasing money like it's the most important thing?

Even watching S and N, they're healthiest people I know, but they're happiest when we're all hanging out together, not when they're alone with their perfect meal prep.

---

## The Confession I'm Too Scared to Make Out Loud

The truth is, I'm lost. I know I need money to survive and be comfortable. But beyond that basic level, I have no clue what I'm aiming for.

I'm scared that I'll spend the next 30 years chasing money, only to realize I never figured out what I actually wanted to do with it. I'm scared of becoming that GTA player with unlimited money and nothing meaningful to do.

Maybe being confused is normal. Maybe everyone is just as lost as I am, but they're better at pretending they have it all figured out.

For now, I'll keep studying, working and earning, but I really need to start thinking about what I actually want from life beyond just "more money." Because honestly, I don't want my life to become like that boring GTA game with unlimited cheats.

---

## If You're Reading This...

Yeah I know no one is reading this. These are some random thoughts that I had now and just put here. If you are reading it, you might know me. Let's have a discussion about it sometime ;

---
Peace,
Pulkit (Pulket)

My honest thoughts about earning money when I don't even know what I'll do with it.

I Want to be Rich (But I Have No Clue Why)


## I Know This Sounds Lame But Hear Me Out

This isn’t one of those posts where I act like I’m “too cool to care.” Truth is—I’m really *not* cool. Not in the way everyone seems to be these days.  

Sometimes I scroll Instagram or watch Reels and think: *Did I miss the memo?*  

---

## Slang? Sorry, What?

Everyone’s speaking in code. *“Bet.” “Slay.” “Rizz.” “Delulu.”* It’s like an entire new language. I hear it and smile blankly while frantically translating in my head.  

By the time I figure out what “no cap” even means, they’ve moved on to the next trend.  

Honestly? I’m exhausted. I just want to say “okay” without sounding like someone’s dad.  

---

## Smoking trend

I don't smoke. I don't vape. Not even for the “aesthetic.”  

It’s everywhere—those perfectly moody photos with smoke curling around signs, people exhaling giant vape clouds like dragons.  

It’s supposed to look mysterious and rebellious, but to me it just smells bad. I’m the person coughing in the corner and asking them to please blow it away from my face.  

---

## Pop Songs

I *try* to listen to what’s popular. Really.  

But half the time it’s someone singing about heartbreak they got over in 2 hours, or rapping about private jets and cash stacks.  

I’m sitting there like—*Bro I’m trying to pay my rent and figure out if I want aloo or paneer today.*  

---

## F1 Racing? Yeah, No

Everyone’s obsessed with F1 lately.  

People pick “their driver,” watch every qualifying lap, and have heated debates about tyre strategies at 2 am.  

I watched a race once. Fast cars turned left and right for two hours. That’s it. Sorry. I don’t get it. I tried.  

---

## Hookup Culture and Situationships

This one makes me feel *ancient.*  

It seems like dating is just:  
*“We’re vibing.”*  
*“We’re exclusive but not official.”*  
*“We’re on a break.”*  

I don’t even know how to “bench” or “breadcrumb” someone.  

If I like you, I’ll tell you. If I don’t, I’ll leave you alone. I can’t do these mental gymnastics.  

---

## Social Media Pressure

Everyone’s a content creator now.  

There’s a perfect “photo dump” for every mood. Beach trips, sunsets, mirror selfies, carefully messy bedrooms.  

Me? I post once a year and then panic about whether anyone liked it.  

---

## So Yeah, I’m Uncool

I don’t smoke.  
I don’t know the slang.  
I don’t have viral Spotify playlists.  
I don’t get F1.  
I don’t do hookups.  
I don’t curate an aesthetic feed.  

And honestly? That’s fine.  

I admire everyone who lives like that. It’s bold. Creative. Expressive. But it’s not me. I don’t want to fake it just to fit in.  

I’ll take being boring over being inauthentic any day.  

---

Pulket (Pulkit Aggarwal)


A confession about why I can never fit into pop culture, and why that's actually fine.

Yes, I Am Uncool


# Why I Love Kerala

I didn’t fall for Kerala because of my dear insta influencers.  
I fell for it because it felt real.  
Messy, honest, unpredictable, and weirdly welcoming from the first moment.

This isn’t a list of places to see. It’s what actually happened to me there—the kind of stories you don’t plan for, but end up carrying with you.

---

## Varkala

First stop: Varkala. No fixed plans. I just ended up at a beachside shack, phone forgotten somewhere in my backpack. Here, nobody’s rushing you.  
Nobody cares what you do.  
That weird sense of freedom hit me harder than any sunset.

I met a stranger, and we just… talked. About nothing and everything.  
Sometimes you travel a thousand kilometers to feel seen.

---

## Hitchhiking Through Kerala

I didn’t hitchhike because I was broke.  
I did it because I wanted to see what happened if I stopped “traveling” and just let people in.

One random morning, I stuck out my thumb on a palm-lined highway, just to see who’d stop.  
After a few curious stares, a small white car pulled up—a family out for the day, kids in the back, all looking at me like I was the plot twist they didn’t expect.

I tried to play it cool, but honestly, I was nervous as hell.  
“Hey… I’m actually heading to Trivandrum,” I said, a little hesitant. “Just thought I’d try something new and see who I’d meet on the way.”

Banana chips were passed around.  
I got a crash course in Malayalam and in how welcoming strangers can be when you actually let them.  
The mother invited me to try homemade snacks. The kids laughed at my accent.  
They asked about my city, cricket, why I was traveling like this.  
No judgment. No expectation. Just… humanity.

---

## Trivandrum & Padmanabhaswamy Temple

I reached Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum for the uninitiated) with no plan except to see the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.  
On the way, a shopkeeper let me duck inside during a heavy rain burst—no questions, just a smile and a hot chai.  
So much color, noise, music—overwhelming and beautiful.

At the temple itself, I stood outside for a while, just watching the flow of people, families, and rituals I barely understood.  
Nobody cared if I fit in.  
I felt out of place, but not unwelcome.

---

## Couchsurfing

Not all my nights were spent in hostels.  
I tried couchsurfing, half-expecting it to be awkward.  
Instead, my host treated me like family—fed me, showed me their favorite local spots, laughed at my malayam (limited knowledge of just 3 words), and insisted I join them for breakfast the next day.

You can’t fake that kind of hospitality.  
It makes you question what “stranger” even means.

---

## Why Kerala Feels Like Coming Home

Maybe it’s the way the state smells after rain, or the late-night conversations with people I’ll probably never meet again.  
Maybe it’s knowing that if you’re lost, someone *will* help you, just because.

Kerala isn’t about “sights.” It’s about the small, honest, human moments that remind you the world is still a good place if you let it be.

I’ll keep going back—not for the Instagram stories, but for the stories that never make it online.

---

Pulket (Pulkit Aggarwal)


Not a travel guide—just the real stories of hitchhiking, kindness, and belonging that Kerala gave me.

I Hitchhiked Across Kerala


# Building Apps, Breaking Apps, and Everything in Between

I didn’t plan to be a “founder.”  
Honestly, I just wanted to solve small annoyances.  

My first app was built because I was sick of saving WhatsApp numbers just to message someone.  
So I coded a simple app for it.  
It was messy, half-baked, but somehow got **200,000+ downloads**.  

That feeling was addictive.  
So I kept going.

---

## Why Zendiary Happened

After that, I wanted to make something that *actually* meant something.  
Not just another tool.  
Something that helped people figure themselves out.  

That’s where **Zendiary** came in.  (Zendiary.in)
A journaling app with AI insights.  
Write your thoughts, get some perspective.  

Because honestly?  
Most of us don’t talk about what we feel.  

---

## I Vibe-Coded Most of It

I’m not some startup CEO in a suit.  
But I’m the guy on my bed with my laptop at 2 AM debugging why the app crashes when you press back twice.  

I wrote most of the code myself and ofc my dear Claude helped me alot.  
The UI, the AI integration, the features.  
Firebase blowing up my bills.  
Bugs that refused to die.  
Late-night deploys that killed things.  

It was chaotic.  
It still is sometimes.

---

## What Makes Zendiary Different (At Least for Me)

- **AI Insight Engine:** Not just for dumping thoughts. It actually reads them and gives insights about your mood or patterns.
- **Anonymous Community (Boo):** Because sometimes you just want to ask things without your name on it.
- **Charts of Your Moods:** It’s cool seeing your ups and downs over time.
- **Privacy-first:** Encryption. 

---

## What Went Wrong

- Released too early.  
- Features broke in production.  
- User data issues (fixed now, thankfully).  
- Ignored marketing at first.  
- Tried to do everything alone.  

---

## What Went Right

- Real people use it every day.  
- Messages saying it helped someone feel better.  
- 25K+ downloads without any big company backing.  
- Learned a ton about building, failing, trying again.

---

## What I Learned

- Ship even if it’s not perfect.  
- Negative reviews sting, but they help.  
- You can’t do everything alone forever.  
- Users don’t care how hard you worked—only if it works for them.  
- It’s okay to fail. Just fix it and try again.

---

## Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about building something—do it.  
It won’t be perfect.  
You’ll break things.  
You’ll feel lost.  

But seeing something *you* made help someone else?  
That’s worth it.  

**Pulket (Pulkit Aggarwal)**


How I ended up building Zendiary, coding most of it myself, breaking it, fixing it, and what I learned along the way.

Building Apps, Breaking Apps, and Everything in Between


## IK no one will read this but anyways..

This story begins two years ago, in 2022. As a student at IIIT Surat, my world revolved around Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA), placements, and the dream of landing a job at a top tech company. Life was on a clear track.

At the time, our campus was still a work in progress, located 17 km outside the main city. I often wondered how I ended up there, especially when I had hoped for SVNIT. But life, as I was beginning to learn, had its own script for me.

---

## A Shift

After countless hours, I had to admit that DSA wasn't my calling. I could code, and I was decent at it, but my heart wasn't in it. This realization pushed me toward mobile app development. In 2022, I launched my first app, a simple tool that solved a common WhatsApp frustration: the inability to message someone without first saving their number. My app streamlined this into a single step. To my amazement, it went viral, accumulating around 200,000 downloads.

This initial success was incredibly validating and encouraged me to continue developing apps that solved real-world problems.

---

## I was lost

The year 2023 brought a new, all-consuming experience: I fell in love. Life suddenly felt complete. Weekends were a blur of dates and newfound happiness. I was on autopilot, living for the moments we spent together. However, I didn't realize the trade-off I was making. My focus had shifted entirely. I stopped studying, paused my app development, and paid little attention to my academics.

During this time, I decided to prepare for the CAT and joined an offline coaching center in Surat. I was in love, and she loved me back—everything felt perfect. But looking back, I see I couldn't manage it all. I was enrolled in coaching but wasn't studying. My thoughts were consumed by the weekend and the time I'd spend with her.

When I finally sat for the CAT exam, the result was a brutal wake-up call. I failed. Miserably.

A wave of self-doubt washed over me. *Am I capable enough? Am I on the right path? Do I deserve this?*

Failure wasn't new to me. I had failed my first JEE attempt, my BITS attempt, and the IIT exam. I was never a class topper or great at sports. But one belief always kept me going, inspired by a quote from Nikhil Kamath: no matter the setback, you get back up. So, I remembered that and decided to try again. I was incredibly grateful to have my girlfriend, family, and friends supporting me, making me feel like I was still on the right track.

---

## That Year

By early 2024, not much had changed. I failed the XAT and NMAT exams, and my confidence hit rock bottom. I was at a crossroads: I hadn't sat for college placements, my apps were running on their own without active development, and I had failed all the management exams. The choice was between finding a job or dedicating myself to an MBA. Deep down, I knew an MBA was my path. It was an emotional decision, like most of my decisions, but my gut told me it was the right one.

I decided to take a drop year. By May, I was fully committed to my CAT preparation. The relationship, now long-distance, began to strain under the pressure. I was in a constant state of anxiety, but somehow, through sheer hard work and a bit of luck, I managed to score well on my second CAT attempt.

Finally, a win. But the battle wasn't over. Next came the interviews.

My first interview, for MDI Gurugram, was a disaster. My second, for IIT Delhi, didn't feel much better. I knew I had a unique story—my "X-factor" with the apps—but I was failing to present it effectively.

Then, luck finally turned in my favor. I received an offer from **IIM Mumbai**. I was immensely grateful.

---

## A Second Chance

Just as things were looking up, my relationship reached its breaking point. The long distance had created a chasm between us. We hadn't seen each other in person for a year, communication was strained, and our conversations were filled with disappointment. A week before I was due to join IIM Mumbai, we broke up. The feeling of emptiness was overwhelming.

But then, Mumbai happened.

The relentless pace of IIM Mumbai became my unlikely savior. The workload was a tidal wave of lectures, case studies, and group projects that demanded my complete attention. There was simply no time to dwell on heartbreak. My days were packed from dawn till late at night, fueled by endless cups of chai and the shared ambition of my peers.

This demanding schedule was a blessing. It forced me to connect with my new environment. I built friendships during intense brainstorming sessions, found laughter in the common room, and discovered new passions through various clubs. I was too busy learning, growing, and experiencing new things to look back.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the girl who had once occupied my every thought faded into the background. I don't know exactly when it happened, but I realized I no longer thought about her. Though she remains one of the best people I've ever met, her life and her decisions no longer affected me. The emptiness had been filled with a quiet confidence and an excitement for the future.

Mumbai wasn't just a city or an institution; it was the catalyst that allowed me to heal, to thrive, and finally, to move on.

---

Pulket 
```

Sometimes life has a plan you never saw coming. This is my story of how Mumbai rewrote everything.

And Then Mumbai Happened


# The Lies I Tell Myself

We all lie to ourselves a little, right? If you say you don’t, congrats—add that to your own list of daily delulus :). In this era of “authenticity” and performative self-awareness, sometimes a little bit of well-placed self-deception is less a character flaw and more a survival tactic.

So, here’s my confession. These are the lies I tell myself, why I keep telling them, and why I’m honestly not that eager to stop.

---

## 1. “I’m an Extrovert. People Recharge Me.”

I can say this with a straight face at parties, in interviews, and—if I’ve had enough coffee—on dates. There’s just something so… respectable about being “outgoing,” right?  
**Reality check:** Ten minutes into any social event, I’m eyeing the exits, quietly strategizing how soon I can leave without looking rude.  
**But here’s the twist:** Pretending to be an extrovert gets me into rooms I’d never walk into if I admitted the truth. It forces me to collect new stories, stumble into new connections, and sometimes, accidentally have a good time.

*Fake it till you make it? I just fake it and then go home to recover, and that’s perfectly fine.*

---

## 2. “No One Gives a F*** Anyway—So I’ll Just Do Me.”

This one’s my armor, my shield against a world where every opinion is a potential landmine.  
“I’m just vibing. Posting for myself. Literally no one cares.”  
**Reality check:** I refresh my stories more times than I’d like to admit, keeping tabs on who viewed, who liked, and who’s suspiciously silent. The truth? I care. I care a lot.  
But clinging to this lie is the only way I keep hitting “post” on my weird thoughts, questionable photos, and painfully vulnerable rants.

---

## 3. “I Don’t Care About Validation.”

I tell people (and myself) that I’ve “outgrown” the need for external validation.  
That likes, comments, claps, and compliments are just “noise.”  
**Reality check:** If a post tanks, I spiral. If it soars, I ride the high all week.  
But by insisting I don’t care, I give myself the freedom to experiment, try, fail, and try again—without constantly feeling like I’m on display.  
The lie cushions the blows and turns failures into “experiments.” That’s good enough for me.

---

## 4. “Overthinking Is My Superpower.”

Sure, some people meditate. Some journal. Me? I overthink until I’ve re-lived every awkward interaction that i had.  
**Reality check:** Overthinking is exhausting it saps the joy out of small wins.  
But I’ve also noticed something: It makes me empathetic. It makes me careful, considerate.  

---


## Why These Lies Aren’t All Bad

Here’s the thing: These aren’t just lies—they’re coping mechanisms.  
Little fictions that soften the world’s rough edges and push me to keep trying, even when reality feels too heavy or embarrassing or uncertain.

*Every “lie” has given me something: confidence to speak, courage to post, hope to start again, patience to overthink, and a version of calm that sometimes actually feels real. Maybe I’m just building a life out of wishful thinking and half-truths. But honestly? It works for me.*

If you recognize yourself in any of these, you’re not alone.  
Maybe our little self-delulus aren’t flaws—they’re just part of being human, surviving, and (occasionally) thriving in this strange, hyperconnected world.

---

**Pulket (Pulkit Aggarwal)**  



A brutally honest (and sometimes funny) look at the delulu I repeat daily.

The Lies I Tell Myself (And Why They’re Not All Bad)


# Why I Don’t Smoke or Drink (And What People Get Wrong About It)

Let’s get this out of the way:  
No, I’m not “holier-than-thou.”  
No, it’s not because I’m scared, or because my parents would kill me (though, maybe that’s a small part).

---

## My Reason? It’s Simple.

I just never felt the need.

I’ve been to the parties, sat at the table with all the glasses, watched the smoke float around me.  
And I’m not going to lie—sometimes, I wondered what the hype was all about.  
But every time, the same thought came up:  
*Do I really want this, or am I just trying to fit in?*

---

## The Pressure Is Real

The jokes, the nudges, the classic “Bro, ek try toh kar le.”  
Some nights, saying no feels more rebellious than giving in.

But I realized, if I can’t be myself when everyone else is doing something, then what’s the point of being there at all?

---

## What People Get Wrong

- It’s not about judging anyone who does.  
- It’s not about being “boring” or missing out.  
- It’s not about being scared of the “bad stuff.”

For me, it’s just a choice—like picking chai over beer, or silence over noise.  
And honestly, the best conversations I’ve ever had happened over cutting chai, not a shot glass.

---

## What I’ve Learned

- You don’t need to drink or smoke to have fun, to make memories, or to be a part of the group.
- Real friends don’t care what’s in your glass—they care about what’s in your heart.
- The best version of me is the one that’s comfortable, not the one that’s “trying to fit in.”

---

## Will I Ever Try It?

Maybe, maybe not.  
But if I do, it’ll be on my own terms—not because I was afraid to say no.

---

If you’re someone who feels out of place for not joining in—trust me, you’re not alone.  
Do your thing. The right people will respect it. The rest don’t matter.

---

Pulket (Pulkit Aggarwal)


A real talk about my choice to stay away from smoking and drinking, and what I wish people understood.

My High Is Saying No


## Why I Started This Blog (and What You’ll Find Here)
Alright, let’s get one thing out of the way: I didn’t start this blog for the likes, the shares, or the fancy “thought leader” badges floating around LinkedIn these days. This space is raw, real, and as unfiltered as I can be (without crossing the line).

I’m here to write about what matters to me—my life, the products I’m building (breaking and using), my hot takes on tech, and all those little (and big) lifestyle moments that make us pause, smile, rant, or just wonder what comes next. If something excites me, frustrates me, or changes the way I see the world—you’ll read about it here. Sometimes it’ll be deep, sometimes it’ll be a random story from a coffee shop or a train ride. No strict rules.

### The Backstory

I’ve always been fascinated by stories—how a single conversation or unexpected event can shift the way you see everything. Over the years, I’ve built products, broken a few, taken detours, tried (and failed at) new habits, questioned the hype, and occasionally found my own little moments of clarity in the chaos.

Most of these stories, thoughts, and learnings were either scribbled in a notebook, lost in half-finished drafts, or buried in endless WhatsApp chats.  
I realized I wanted to keep them somewhere that felt a little more permanent—and maybe even share them with someone who’s also figuring things out, just like me. I know no one’s probably going to read this—mainly because I’m not planning to post it anywhere. So in a way, this is just our personal space in public.
A quiet corner of the internet for thoughts that would otherwise stay stuck in my head.If you did somehow stumble here and decided to read, thank you for sharing this small space with me.

### What You’ll Actually Find Here

- **Real-Life Chronicles:** Honest accounts of things I try, mess up, and sometimes succeed personally and professionally.
- **Product Diaries:** The journey from "idea” to launch (and all the stumbles in between). Insights on what *actually* works, and what just looks good on a pitch deck Look I dont konw eveything but i will share whatever i know openly.
- **Tech & Tools:** No-nonsense thoughts on tech trends, tools I love (or hate), and why most online “hacks” don’t really work in real life.
- **Lifestyle Experiments:** From productivity attempts to lazy Sundays, fitness challenges, travel stories, thoughts on love and relationships, and the tiny routines that keep me sane.
- **Lessons & Reflections:** Deep dives into moments or encounters that changed my thinking—goodbyes, failures, weird wins, and everything in between.
- **Unfiltered Opinions:** I promise to say what I really think (without crossing the line), even if it’s not the popular take.
- **Everything & Anything:** If it excites me, confuses me, or just makes a good story, it’ll end up here. No topic is off-limits.

### What This Blog Isn’t

- Not a highlight reel or a “look at me”.
- Not a collection of listicles, clickbait, or recycled LinkedIn advice.
- And definitely not the kind of blog that’ll get me a friendly call from anyone

### Should You Read?

Maybe you’ll find a story that feels familiar, a lesson you can use, or a new way of looking at things.  
Or maybe you’ll just enjoy knowing you’re not the only one making it up as you go.  
This isn’t a community or a movement. It’s just one person, being honest, in a world that sometimes forgets how to be.
And if you’re here doing deep research on me—well, hope you find what you’re looking for (and don’t worry, I’m pretty harmless).

### The Fine Print

No bad words, but I’ll keep it as raw as possible. I believe in sharing details—the stuff that doesn’t fit in a tweet or a status update. If you want polished perfection, there’s plenty of that elsewhere. If you want something genuine, stay awhile.

---

Pulket (Pulkit Aggarwal)


More than just another blog, this is my unfiltered stories, experiments, failures, tech musings, and the everyday moments that shape how I see the world.

Read my thoughts