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New Year Letter Without Fireworks


Dearest you,

First of all, many thanks for being my support all these years…

I don't know who I am to you, an honest blogger who expresses his view about the world, or a clown who provide free entertainment for his own fun. So far I’ve only tried to bring forth stories that I believed was worth your time and I'll continue this endeavour. I want you to bear some more of my musings in the form of blog/social media posts but with absolute freedom of your choice.

I'm no comedian, but keeping the humour alive is one of the prime objectives of my writings. I can’t sacrifice humour to sound serious and intellectual. But unlike professional comedians, I won't guarantee if I’ll always make you laugh. Sometimes my jokes are really bad. I have no political affiliation, but sometimes I do take sides, not extreme though. The 2019 political battle will be exciting, especially after BJP’s recent defeat in the four major state assembly election.

I’ve been quite inconsistent in the last year. To be honest with you, I must tell you that no matter how hard I try to escape, writer’s block stalks me; play hide-and-seek with me. In 2019, I’ll try my best to trick my stalker.

The year is new so do our ambitions and expectations, then why brood over the past.  Let’s hope for the best because it is the only thing that keeps us going.

Happy New Year !!
Amitesh Gupta

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