When a Sketch Said What I Couldn’t – My MBA Final Year Story

When a Sketch Said What I Couldn’t – My MBA Final Year Story *By Kunal Malhotra* Final year of MBA is supposed to be about placements, projects, presentations, and pressure. For me, it was all of that… but it was also about feelings I didn’t know how to express. I still remember those days clearly. Classes during the day, group discussions in the evening, and late-night overthinking about career and life. But somewhere between case studies and campus interviews, my heart was quietly writing its own story. There was someone special. I was not the kind of person who could easily say “I like you” directly. I would think a hundred times before sending even a simple message. I was scared of losing the bond, scared of rejection, and maybe scared of my own emotions. One day, instead of typing long paragraphs on WhatsApp, I picked up a pencil. I decided to make a sketch for her. It wasn’t perfect. I am not a professional artist. My hands were shaking while drawing. I erased lines again and again. But with every stroke, I was putting my feelings on paper. It was not just a sketch of her face; it was a sketch of how I saw her — simple, strong, beautiful in her own way. That paper carried everything I couldn’t say in words. When I completed it, I kept looking at it for a long time. I was nervous. Should I give it to her? What if she doesn’t like it? What if she misunderstands me? My mind was full of questions, but my heart was calm for the first time. Because I knew one thing — this was honest. In MBA, we learn about strategy, management, leadership, and risk-taking. That day, I learned something more important: expressing your feelings is also a kind of courage. Whether the result is yes or no, at least you are real. That sketch taught me that love is not always about grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s about small efforts. A simple drawing. A silent message. A pure intention. Today, when I look back at my MBA final year, I don’t just remember exams or placements. I remember that sketch. I remember that version of me — nervous but genuine. And I’m proud of that boy. Because he chose to express, not suppress. — Kunal Malhotra*

Soulmate

# The Truth About a Soulmate *By Kunal Malhotra* We grow up hearing the word *soulmate* in movies, songs, and love stories. It sounds magical — like there is one person in this entire universe made just for us. Someone who understands our silence, feels our pain without explanation, and stands beside us no matter what. But what really is a soulmate? For me, a soulmate is not just about romance. It is not only about butterflies, late-night calls, or dreamy promises. A soulmate is someone whose presence feels like home. With them, you don’t need to pretend. You don’t need to impress. You don’t need to act stronger or smarter than you are. You can simply *be*. A soulmate connection feels different. It is calm yet intense. Comfortable yet exciting. It is when conversations flow naturally, and even silence feels meaningful. It is when you care about their happiness as much as your own. When their pain affects you. When their smile becomes your peace. Many people think a soulmate relationship will be perfect — no fights, no misunderstandings, no distance. But I believe a true soulmate is not someone who avoids storms with you; it is someone who chooses to stand with you during them. Love is not about perfection. It is about patience, understanding, and growth together. Sometimes we meet someone who changes us. They make us more mature, more emotionally aware, more serious about life. They make us want to become better — not because they demand it, but because their presence inspires it. That, to me, feels like a soulmate connection. But here is something important I’ve realized: before finding a soulmate outside, we must become one for ourselves. We must learn to love ourselves, trust ourselves, and respect our own journey. Because when we are emotionally complete, we attract someone who complements us — not someone who completes us. A soulmate is not someone who fills your emptiness. A soulmate is someone who walks beside your fullness. And maybe, just maybe, the universe doesn’t send soulmates to make life easy. It sends them to make life meaningful. — *Kunal Malhotra*