Sitting on the harbour wall after night classes, just listening to the waves come in. Whatever the day did to me, the sea quietly takes it all back. Man, I really love this place.

Took the train up to Araku Valley on my own for the first time — coffee hills, tunnels, cool air, spent almost nothing. Sometimes your own state is hiding the best trip you'll ever take.

Failed my first merchant-navy medical over eyesight and cried the whole bus ride home. But the doctor said it's fixable, so now I'm saving for the correction instead of giving up on it.

I swim in the sea before sunrise every day — free gym, best view in the country. Down 6 kg since January, and my father has finally stopped calling me 'weak city boy' as a joke.

From a Vizag fishing family

Hi, I'm from a fishing family near Vizag and the first in my house to finish 12th. Doing a marine diploma now, and the dream is to work on the big cargo ships one day. Nice to meet you all.