Guwahati, June 22 -- Written by Akshita Pandey, Moitrayee Das

Sometimes, the loneliest part of being a young adult in a city is realising how few places exist where you are allowed to simply be. No expectations, no urgency, no performance. Just a chair by the window, the sound of strangers talking in the background, and the temporary comfort of not feeling entirely alone.

There is something strangely comforting about sitting alone in a cafe among strangers. The low murmur of conversations, the sound of milk steaming behind the counter, the tapping of laptop keyboards, and the occasional laughter from a nearby table create a feeling that is difficult to articulate but immediately recognisable. One feels alone, but not entirely lonely.

F...