Our generation is undeniably wild—drifting without a clear sense of direction, unsure of what it wants in the present, let alone the future. We move with the tide, adapting to whatever trend or idea catches our attention, only to change course within months, days, or even hours. It’s as if we’re living in a world of fast fashion—not just in clothes, but in our ambitions, passions, and even relationships. Everything feels temporary. Nothing seems to last.
I often feel like an outcast in my own generation. These days, people seem to live by the saying “खुट्टा भए जुत्ता कति कति” (If you have feet, how many shoes are enough?), but that’s not how I see things. I wear my clothes until they’re truly worn out and my shoes until they have holes in them. For me, people aren’t replaceable—whether in friendships or relationships. It takes me time to truly love something, and just as much time to let go of it. I value comfort over trends, and good vibes over appearances.
A few years ago, we had a teacher who shared his experience of teaching in a rural part of the country. He noticed that all the students seemed to be paired up as couples. When he randomly picked one girl and asked why that particular boy was her partner, she replied, “यही एउटा त बाँकी थियो, अरु सबको जोडी छ” (This was the only one left—everyone else already had a partner).That single statement perfectly illustrates how many people approach relationships—not with real connection or understanding, but with the attitude: “Everyone else has someone, so why shouldn’t I?”. The same mindset shows up in how we choose our clothes. We see others wearing short or trendy outfits that give off “cool” vibes, and despite our own comfort or circumstances, we try to copy them. The easy availability of cheap replicas of popular brands is a perfect example of how fast fashion thrives on this imitation culture.
So why do I call this generation *toxic* and *trapped*?
Out of ten people, you’ll find nine who are broken and one who’s blindly in love. Why is everyone so broken? Because people treat hearts like disposable things—taking and breaking them at their convenience, then just moving on to the next person. The ones who can move on easily seem to enjoy life without a care in the world. But those who can’t? They stay broken, endlessly questioning life. Isn’t that toxic? I truly think it is.
There’s a saying my mother always tells me: “कि देखेर सिकिन्छ कि भोगेर सिकिन्छ।” (You either learn by seeing or by experiencing.) I learned by seeing. I chose not to “go with the flow” because I saw girls running away from home at barely 15, only to end up ruining their lives, and boys threatening their parents for bikes and then getting into accidents. It honestly scares me. That’s why I tried to raise my younger brother to never threaten us with his life, and my sister was born fearless.
I feel this generation is trapped because many think the only choices are to follow trends or to end their lives. In all this fuss to “keep up,” the real problems people face get ignored.
Just a few months back, a neighbor of mine took his own life. Did anyone ask what he was going through? Did anyone try to know the cause? No. People just said dismissively, “केटी ले धोका दी होला अनि मर्यो।” (A girl must have betrayed him, so he killed himself.) But at his funeral, the same girl they blamed was crying over his body, revealing he’d actually been suffering from depression.
It’s not just our generation at fault—the people guiding us share the blame too. The expectations they place on us feel like unbearable burdens. And when we can’t live up to them, the fear of letting our parents down traps us so tightly we see no way out. We just struggle in silence. Some cope alone, some lean on friends or partners, which they later regret. Isn’t that a trap too?
We feel forced to either trust no one and keep everything inside, or risk being hurt. To either fit into the trend or be outcast. That’s the reality I see—and that’s why I call this generation toxic and trapped.
So how do we really get out of this toxicity and trap?
Honestly, I don’t see an easy way. The hard truth is that the same generation that hurt us is also the only one that can heal us. But we can’t wait around hoping someone else will come and save us. No one’s coming. We have to be the ones to save ourselves—and each other.
So let’s start small. Let’s choose to be a little kinder, even when it feels hard. Let’s appreciate the people around us—even strangers. You never know how much a few genuine words can mean to someone; sometimes they’re enough to save a person’s day, or even their life.
Let’s follow trends only if they truly make us comfortable and happy, not just to fit in. Let’s make our own choices with honesty and courage.
We can’t undo the hurt we’ve seen, but we can try to make sure no one around us feels alone in it. Let’s help each other heal. Let’s choose to live with more compassion, more understanding, and more hope.
Because in the end, the only way out of this trap is together.
