For the last few days, my routine had been disrupted because my laptop started acting up again. Since a major portion of my work depends on it, even minor issues felt overwhelming. I had already decided that a visit to Srinagar was necessary to get it checked at the service centre, and today was fixed for that purpose.
The day began early with ablution and prayers, which helped me set a calm and positive tone. After breakfast, I stepped out with multiple responsibilities lined up. Before heading towards Srinagar, I needed to visit my newly assigned office, where I am currently posted on special duty. I had to get my attendance certificate verified so that it could be forwarded to my previous office for salary-related formalities. The office is located nearly 20–25 kilometres away and lies in a completely different direction.
Along the way, I also carried a few items that my sister-in-law wanted me to hand over to her friend, who lives roughly halfway on the same route. After reaching the office, I realized the work wouldn’t be completed quickly. The officials were busy, and I had to wait patiently until afternoon. Once the certificate was finally signed, I immediately emailed it to my old office to avoid any complications.
After completing this task, I turned towards Srinagar city to visit the service centre where I had previously taken my laptop. The device had once again started malfunctioning, which made me anxious, knowing how much I rely on it. I parked my car and walked to the centre, where I met the same technician as before. Although they were cooperative, my late arrival meant the centre was about to close, and I was asked to bring the laptop the following day.
With that done, I moved on to another pending task—shopping. My sister-in-law had given me a small list that included detergent, room fresheners, brushes, a gas heater, and some grocery items. I went to a government cooperative store near Lal Chowk, where we usually get items at discounted rates. The variety available there made the process a bit time-consuming, but I eventually managed to pick everything.
As the day drew to a close, I began my journey back home. The drive felt refreshing, especially while crossing the flyover during sunset. At Chadoora town, I stopped to get a haircut. I learned that my regular barber had gone back to his home state, but another professional was available, and I got the job done. The haircut itself brought a sense of relief, as my overgrown hair had started bothering me.
Later, I took an alternate route back home due to a recently collapsed bridge. Though the road was unfamiliar, the drive was smooth and enjoyable. It was around 8 p.m. when I finally reached home. After resting for a while and having tea, I waited for dinner. The day had been tiring, so I chose to retire earlier than usual.
